The Witcher 4: CD Projekt Prioritizes Console Development

CD Projekt has revealed why it adopted a "console-first" development strategy for the highly anticipated The Witcher 4, departing from its traditional PC-centric approach.

Earlier this month, CD Projekt showcased an impressive The Witcher 4 tech demo built in Unreal Engine 5, offering fans a glimpse of what's to come.

The PlayStation 5 demo, running at 60fps, follows Ciri exploring Kovir's uncharted lands during a monster hunt.

The demo features unprecedented detail with fluid animations surpassing current-gen standards. Ciri and her horse Kelpie demonstrate remarkably lifelike movements and interactions while traversing Kovir's mountains toward Valdrest port town. One market scene highlights 300 independently animated NPCs, culminating with Lan Exeter, Kovir's winter capital.

CDPR's VP of Technology Charles Tremblay explained the console-first strategy to Digital Foundry, marking a shift from their previous development philosophy.

"Historically we'd push PC limits then scale down," he admitted. "Past challenges led us to prioritize consoles this time."

This references Cyberpunk 2077's troubled 2020 launch, where console performance issues prompted PlayStation Store removals and refunds. CD Projekt later acknowledged insufficient optimization for PS4/Xbox One.

The studio successfully overcame these technical hurdles, with Cyberpunk 2077 eventually becoming critically acclaimed and launching successfully on Nintendo Switch 2.

The Witcher 4 UE5 Tech Demo Screenshots

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With The Witcher 4 not arriving until 2027 at earliest, CDPR aims to avoid past mistakes. Global Art Director Jakub Knapik discussed the advantages of developing for consoles first before scaling up to PC.

"We prioritized establishing core foundations," Knapik noted. "Scaling upwards proves more efficient than downgrading."

"Once technical foundations are set, we'll push PC capabilities - it's in our DNA to maximize hardware potential," he added.

Tremblay reassured PC gamers would receive commensurate value despite the console focus.

"We respect hardware investment," he emphasized. "PC remains fundamental to our origins and will receive proper attention."

The Xbox Series S presents unique technical hurdles. While targeting 60fps across consoles, Tremblay acknowledged maintaining performance on Series S would be "extremely challenging."

"Series S optimization remains unfinished," he conceded. "Achieving 60fps will demand innovative solutions."

While the tech demo showcases CDPR's ambitions, IGN confirms it doesn't represent final gameplay for The Witcher 4's long development journey.