CD Projekt Reveals Witcher 4 Console-First Plan

CD Projekt has detailed its decision to adopt a "console-first" development strategy for the highly anticipated Witcher 4, marking a departure from its previous PC-centric approach.

Earlier this month, the studio unveiled an impressive The Witcher 4 tech demo running on Unreal Engine 5 that offered fans a glimpse into the game's visual direction.

The PS5 demo, running at 60fps, follows Ciri exploring the previously unseen region of Kovir during a monster hunt. The footage showcases unprecedented detail for current-gen consoles, featuring remarkably fluid character animations as Ciri and her horse Kelpie traverse mountainous terrain to reach the port town of Valdrest. A particularly striking scene features 300 individually animated NPCs in a bustling marketplace before revealing Lan Exeter, Kovir's winter capital.

Following the reveal, CDPR's VP of Technology Charles Tremblay explained to Digital Foundry why they prioritized console demonstration over PC, stating this represents their new "console-first" philosophy for Witcher 4's development.

"Previously we developed for PC first then scaled down, but that caused issues," he explained. "This time we're adopting a console-first approach from the outset."

This strategic shift directly addresses the problematic launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020, when poor console performance led to Sony removing the game from PlayStation Store and offering refunds. CD Projekt later acknowledged they should have optimized better for base PS4/Xbox One hardware.

After years refining Cyberpunk 2077 into a commercial success - including a successful Switch 2 launch - CD Projekt aims to avoid similar pitfalls with Witcher 4, currently slated for a 2027 release at earliest.

The Witcher 4 Unreal Engine 5 Tech Demo Screenshots

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CDPR Global Art Director Jakub Knapik elaborated on the technical rationale: "Establishing core foundations first makes more sense - it's always easier to scale up than down. While we'll naturally push PC hardware limits, this approach gives us more controlled development."

Tremblay reassured PC gamers they'll receive premium experiences: "We began as a PC company and remain committed to delivering top-tier PC versions. Exactly how that manifests for Witcher 4 remains to be determined at this stage."

Acknowledging technical challenges, Tremblay noted maintaining 60fps on Xbox Series S will prove "extremely challenging" - an issue they've yet to fully address in development.

While the tech demo only represents CD Projekt's visual ambitions rather than actual gameplay, it demonstrates their commitment to learning from past mistakes as Witcher 4's lengthy development continues.