&w=3840&q=100)
State of Unreal 2025: The Witcher 4 previewed with Unreal Engine 5 graphics
Polish game developer CD Projekt RED has offered the first look at the gameplay of its upcoming title The Witcher 4 during the State of Unreal 2025 event. While the company clarified that the presentation wasn't actual gameplay footage, the technical demo provides a strong glimpse into the visual fidelity and systems the studio is building with Unreal Engine 5.
On its official website, CD Projekt RED said: 'The Witcher 4 Unreal Engine 5 Tech Demo, presented at the State of Unreal 2025, dives into some of the innovative technology and features that will help bring the game's open world to life. Taking place in the never-before-seen region of Kovir, the tech demo is a first look at the cutting-edge technology powering The Witcher 4.'
Captured on a PlayStation 5 running at 60 frames per second with ray tracing enabled, the demo showcases a 'standalone' demo built specifically to highlight the capabilities of Unreal Engine 5. For the uninitiated, Unreal Engine is a 3D creation tool developed by Epic Games that is primarily used for game development.
Key highlights from The Witcher 4 demo:
Seamless cinematic-to-gameplay transition
The demo begins with a cinematic sequence showing a carriage being attacked by a winged creature. The action then shifts seamlessly to Ciri — confirmed as the main protagonist — as she investigates the scene in the new region of Kovir. The transition between cinematic and gameplay elements is smooth, offering a glimpse of the game's visual consistency and narrative immersion. CD Projekt RED also confirmed Kovir will be a playable region in The Witcher 4.
Although the developer clarified that it's not actual gameplay footage, the seamless transition between cinematic and gameplay elements is still quite impressive.
New Physics and realism
The presentation demonstrated the enhanced power of Unreal Engine 5, particularly in environmental detail and character movement. One standout moment featured Ciri riding her horse Kelpie through the wilderness, with close attention paid to muscle flexing during each stride.
The foliage and terrain were brought to life using Nanite Foliage — a feature in UE5 that enables developers to populate worlds with highly detailed, full-geometry grass, trees, and plants.
The demo also showcased dynamic NPC (non-playable character) interactions. In one scene, Ciri bumps into a fruit vendor in a crowded market, spilling his crate of apples. A nearby NPC then rushes over to help pick them up. CD Projekt RED noted that such incidental reactions will be a part of the game world, increasing realism and immersion.
Launch timeline
Despite showing significant development progress, The Witcher 4 isn't expected to launch before 2026. In fact, a delay to 2027 remains likely. At a previous earnings call, CD Projekt RED CFO Piotr Nielubowicz stated: 'All we could share for now, to give more visibility to investors, is that the game will not be launched within the timeframe of the first target for the incentive programme, which ends 31st of December 2026.'
Ciri taking on the role of protagonist was first confirmed in the game's reveal trailer during The Game Awards 2024, marking a new chapter in the franchise after the Geralt-led trilogy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Russia says NATO's defence spending risks collapse of alliance
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday (June 30, 2025) that Moscow planned to cut its defence spending, but that he thought a decision by NATO members to increase their own defence spending could ultimately lead to the alliance's collapse. NATO leaders on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) backed a big increase in defence spending that U.S. President Donald Trump had demanded, and said they were united in their resolve to defend each other against what they cast as a threat from Russia. Asked about remarks by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who was reported to have said that an arms race between Russia and the West could trigger the fall of President Vladimir Putin, Mr. Lavrov said he thought NATO could collapse. "Since he is such a predictor, he probably foresees that a catastrophic increase in the budget of NATO countries, according to my estimates, will also lead to the collapse of this organisation," Mr. Lavrov said. Russia, which launched a full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022 after eight years of fighting in eastern Ukraine, dismisses Western claims that it will one day attack a NATO member, a step both Russia and the United States say could trigger World War Three. Mr. Putin said on Friday that Russia was looking to cut its military expenditure from next year. Russia hiked state spending on national defence by a quarter in 2025 to 6.3% of gross domestic product (GDP), the highest level since the Cold War. Defence spending accounts for 32% of total 2025 federal budget expenditure.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Priyanka Chopra gets ‘FOMO' as family hosts ‘Heads of State' screening in India: ‘Miss you all'
Priyanka Chopra is all set for the release of her much-awaited action-comedy 'Heads of State'. The film, also starring John Cena and Idris Elba , will hit cinemas on July 2, 2025. But even before it reaches audiences worldwide, Priyanka's family in India got a special first look—and it left her feeling a bit left out! A family screening in India Priyanka's mother Madhu Chopra , brother Siddharth Chopra, and sister-in-law Neelam Upadhyaya planned a sweet surprise by hosting a private screening of 'Heads of State' back home. They posed happily in front of a poster from the film, clearly excited to see Priyanka shine on the big screen. Sharing the lovely moment on her Instagram, Priyanka wrote, "When your family hosts a screening back home. FOMO. Miss you all." Working with John Cena and Idris Elba was 'fantastic' As reported by Money Control, Priyanka spoke about what it was like teaming up with John Cena and Idris Elba. She shared that the experience was "fantastic," and she never felt left out or awkward on set. The project first took shape when Cena and Elba, after working together on 'Suicide Squad', decided they wanted to collaborate again. Seeing the potential, producer Peter Safran brought the idea to life, and soon 'Heads of State' was born. Priyanka loved being a part of this journey. Even though she was the only woman in a team full of strong male energy, she said she always felt included and thoroughly enjoyed herself. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo A perfect mix of action and comedy The Etimes review has praised 'Heads of State' for striking the right balance between action and comedy. It reads, 'As an action-comedy, the film strikes a fine balance between both genres—neither overshadowing the other. Amid the adrenaline-pumping sequences, there's plenty of room for laughter. Much of the comedy stems from Elba and Cena's sharp repartee, with their flawless comic timing and undeniable chemistry adding to the film's charm. ' It also highlights the exciting range of action scenes, from dramatic fights on Air Force One and speedy train chases to a light-hearted clash with some Polish punk teenagers. As the review puts it, 'From serious fights aboard Air Force One to one on a speeding train and those on the roads to a silly skirmish with Polish punk teenagers, every action sequence is thrilling.'
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Economic Times
Sci-fi movie lost to censorship got 100% rating; even film negatives were destroyed due to controversy. Check plot, cast
On the Silver Globe, a 1970s Polish sci-fi film directed by Andrzej Żuławski, was shut down by the communist government before it could be completed. The film, which critiqued authoritarianism, had parts of its footage destroyed on official orders. Years later, Żuławski salvaged the remaining material, filling in missing scenes with real-life footage and narration. Despite never being finished, the film has earned a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is celebrated for its bold vision and lasting impact. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads An Epic That Never Was: Plot Details On the Silver Globe poster (Image Source: IMDB) A Fragment Resurrected Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Legacy of a Lost Classic In the realm of science fiction cinema, few projects are as mystifying and tragic as On the Silver Globe , a 1970s film that was halted mid-production and partially destroyed by the government that funded it. The Polish film, directed by Andrzej Żuławski—renowned for works such as Possession (1981) and Fidelity (2000)—was intended to be an ambitious, philosophical space epic. However, the movie never saw full release due to political interference and remains one of cinema's most captivating unfinished per Unlilad, On the Silver Globe was adapted from a series of lunar novels written by Żuławski's great-uncle, Jerzy Żuławski. Production began in the mid-1970s and featured an ensemble cast including Andrzej Seweryn, Jerzy Trela, and Grażyna Dyląg. The story followed a group of astronauts who land on the moon and establish a new civilization. Over time, their descendants evolve into a society that regards a visiting Earth scientist, Marek, as a prophesied plot was rich with allegorical layers, blending existentialism, mythology, and science fiction. However, the film's critical undertones—particularly its perceived commentary on authoritarian regimes—did not sit well with the then-communist Polish government. As a result, in a rare and drastic move, the Ministry of Culture ordered the production to be stopped in 1977. According to Seweryn, the cast and crew were powerless to resist the decision, as all Polish cinema was under state control. Despite efforts to appeal the order, the project was abruptly shut down, and portions of the filmed negatives were deliberately a decade in limbo, Żuławski returned to the unfinished footage in the late 1980s. Though he couldn't complete the movie as originally envisioned, he decided to release what he could. Missing sequences were substituted with scenes from daily life in Poland, and Żuławski used narration to explain the gaps during the film's debut screening at the 1988 Cannes Film the result was an incomplete version of the original concept, critics and cinephiles praised its haunting imagery and intellectual depth. Despite its fragmented nature, On the Silver Globe has earned a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a testament to the film's lasting never completed, On the Silver Globe remains a poignant example of artistic ambition stifled by political censorship. Its partial release still resonates with audiences and film historians, not just for what it is, but for what it could have been. Reviewers continue to commend its originality and audacity, with one noting that even in its incomplete state, the film's emotional and visual power endures. Żuławski's vision, though obstructed, managed to transcend suppression—securing its place in cinematic history as a lost but legendary work.
