CD Projekt RED unveils first gameplay footage of The Witcher 4: starring Ciri, set in a new region, and built on Unreal Engine 5.6

During the State of Unreal 2025 presentation, CD Projekt RED showcased the first gameplay footage of The Witcher 4. The game is being developed on Unreal Engine 5.6 and will kick off a brand-new trilogy. This time, Ciri takes the lead role, and the story unfolds in a previously unexplored region — Kovir.

The footage begins with a cinematic scene of a caravan ambush and seamlessly transitions into gameplay. Ciri is seen riding a new horse named Kelpie, traversing mountainous and forested terrain. The trailer also features a bustling port city filled with interactive NPCs, and a monster hunt involving a manticore near a massive metropolis.

Developers noted that this is a technical demo, not final gameplay. However, it was running on PlayStation 5 at 60 FPS with ray tracing enabled, showcasing the project’s next-gen capabilities. Thanks to Unreal Engine 5.6, the game features “nanite” vegetation and a more vibrant, detailed open world.

The Witcher 4 is positioned as one of the first truly next-gen titles, alongside GTA 6. In addition to the main game, CD Projekt RED is working on a remake of the original Witcher and a multiplayer spin-off, Sirius, developed by The Molasses Flood.

The Witcher 4 is expected to launch in late 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.