Witcher 4's PS5 Tech Demo Prepare to Have Your Jaw Dropped

Article Heading: The Witcher 4 Tech Demo: Impressive Optimization on Base PS5 Signals Exciting Future

The gaming world is buzzing after Epic's State of Unreal keynote, and for good reason. The opening technical demo, showcasing the visual prowess of The Witcher 4 in Unreal Engine 5, was nothing short of breathtaking. From a vibrant port city teeming with life to a lush, realistic forest and a convincingly animated horse, the demo offered a tantalizing glimpse into the future of the franchise. What's even more remarkable? It was running at a smooth 60 frames per second on a standard PlayStation 5.

This wasn't accidental. According to Julius Girbig, Senior Technical Animator at CD Projekt Red, the choice of hardware was deliberate. He explained to The Verge:

“Everyone has the idea of how fast a PS5 is and what kinds of games it can run. That’s why we specifically wanted to go that route of: let’s start with the consoles, let’s show how much we can optimize this engine together with Epic and make it work on current gen, instead of running it on some high-end hardware.”

This statement speaks volumes about CD Projekt Red's commitment to optimization and accessibility. Rather than relying on powerful, top-of-the-line hardware, they're focusing on making the game shine on readily available consoles.

It's crucial to understand that this demo isn't a direct slice of the final game. Girbig clarified that it's "a demonstration of the tools that we are currently building that will eventually power The Witcher 4," offering a glimpse into "the style and direction that we’re going for, and the fidelity that we’re aiming at with the final game."

Here's what we know about the move to Unreal Engine 5:

• Enhanced Scale: UE5 allows for the creation of vast open worlds, filled with hundreds of NPCs driven by more complex AI.
• Streamlined Production: The engine provides a better production pipeline for managing multiple projects, including the upcoming remake of the original Witcher game, also being developed in UE5.
• Artistic Freedom: UE5 removes limitations, allowing artists to realize more ambitious ideas.

Girbig emphasized the artistic benefits, stating, "It allows an artist to express themselves much more easily when the engine isn’t a limitation anymore. That’s what we’re aiming for here. As an artist, for me, this unlocked myself to think bigger, and on bigger scales.”

The decision to leverage Unreal Engine 5 appears to be a strategic one, aimed at pushing the boundaries of visual fidelity, gameplay possibilities, and artistic expression. The Witcher 4 tech demo on the base PS5 isn't just a technical showcase; it's a powerful statement about CD Projekt Red's ambition and their dedication to delivering a truly next-generation experience. The future of The Witcher franchise looks incredibly promising, and we can't wait to see what they create.

Tags: Witcher 4, Unreal Engine 5, PS5, CD Projekt Red, Gaming, Technical demo, Next-gen, Optimization, Julius Girbig, Consoles

Source: https://www.theverge.com/games/678895/the-witcher-4-ue5-tech-demo-ps5-interview