CD Projekt Red has revealed new technical ambitions for The Witcher 4, aiming for a solid 60 FPS performance on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. However, the developers have acknowledged significant hurdles in delivering the same performance on the less powerful Xbox Series S.
Witcher 4 Tech Demo Shows Stunning Unreal Engine 5 Performance
During the recent State of Unreal presentation, CD Projekt Red showcased a tech demo of The Witcher 4, built on Unreal Engine 5. This early demo, running on a base PlayStation 5, impressed fans with its stunning visuals and real-time ray tracing, achieving 60 FPS performance. However, the studio clarified that this demo did not feature full gameplay or combat systems and serves only as a demonstration of technical capabilities.
In an interview with Digital Foundry, CDPR’s Vice President of Technology, Charles Tremblay, emphasized their commitment to achieving 60 FPS on consoles: “This is a tech demo. Not the whole gameplay loop is implemented yet, but the ambition is set. We’ll work as hard as we can to deliver 60 FPS for the full game.”
Series S Poses Significant Challenges
While targeting 60 FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X is feasible, achieving the same on the Series S presents a serious technical challenge. Tremblay candidly admitted: “60 FPS will definitely be extremely challenging on the Series S. This is something we need to figure out.”
The Xbox Series S has previously posed problems for other developers due to its lower GPU and memory capacity compared to its Series X counterpart. Under Microsoft’s policy, games must launch with feature parity across both consoles, leading to optimization headaches.
Series S Hardware Limits Delay Multiple Games
The Series S limitations have impacted several recent AAA titles:
- Baldur’s Gate 3: Delayed due to difficulties in implementing split-screen co-op on Series S. Eventually launched without this feature on Series S.
- Black Myth: Wukong: Developers cited optimization issues on Series S as a cause for delayed Xbox release.
Microsoft’s requirement for synchronized launches on Series X and Series S continues to complicate development for studios striving for high-end performance standards.
The Witcher 4: A New Trilogy Begins
The Witcher 4 marks the beginning of a new trilogy within the beloved RPG franchise. CD Projekt Red has confirmed that the game will not release before 2027, giving the team ample time to refine the experience on all platforms.
According to Bloomberg, the tech demo signals CDPR’s commitment to cutting-edge visuals, vast open worlds, and advanced RPG systems. However, final gameplay footage and release windows remain under wraps for now.
Conclusion: High Ambitions, Tough Challenges
With a multi-year development window and next-gen technology, CD Projekt Red is setting ambitious performance targets for The Witcher 4. Achieving 60 FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X looks promising based on the early tech demo, but the underpowered Series S remains a potential bottleneck. Gamers will have to wait for more concrete updates as development progresses towards its 2027 launch target.
For more detailed breakdowns of Witcher 4’s technical development, check out our Witcher 4 Unreal Engine 5 Tech Preview.
