PlayStation.Blog Unveils The Witcher 4 Tech Demo Using Unreal Engine 5 on PS5

Okay, so picture this: CD Projekt Red hanging out with Epic Games, scheming up something wild for open-world games. It’s kind of like they’re trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat, but that rabbit’s an entire continent. They gave us this peek, right, through the Witcher 4 Unreal Engine 5 Tech Demo. And man, they’re not just talking about adding some sparkle here and there—they’re bringing the whole Continent, more alive, more chaotic, and, ugh, utterly fascinating.

So, they tossed this demo out there—not an actual game clip, mind you—but it’s got Ciri, smack dab in a monster contract. And there’s Kovir—if you’ve never heard of it, no worries—it’s this rugged place trading away, keeping out of the battles up north. Anyway—uh, where was I? Oh right, it’s all about the tech. They showed it off, a real treat to run on a PS5 at some solid 60 FPS magic. What’s cooler? This tech isn’t just for them; they’re sharing the love with everyone in game dev. I mean, sharing is caring, right?

Here’s a funny bit—Ciri’s horse! Kelpie is way cooler than Roach. They’ve got this fancy ML Deformer thingie that makes Kelpie’s muscles flex just right—a nerdy detail, but it counts. It’s like putting high-def life into characters without slowing down the game. Odd how a horse ends up stealing a piece of the show, huh? Not that I’m complaining.

Now, zooming out a bit… This Fast Geometry Streaming is some slick action. I mean, imagine moving at warp speed through snowy peaks to dense forests, and it’s all so, so smooth. No lag, no awkward jumpy bits. Like you’re riding a hot knife through butter or whatever weird phrase works here. Ciri’s speeding to Valdrest, and bam! The world’s popping up seamlessly as she goes. It’s like magic, except tech.

And this forest detour in Kovir, wow. Nanite Foliage jumps in, adding this lushness. Trees are doing their thing—branches waving in the wind like they’re saying hi. The sheer detail—twist of a bark, a leaf, the whole thing—done without bogging down the system. Just art in tech form, really. Sounds dramatic, doesn’t it?

They’ve also whipped up this Unreal Animation Framework—got towns bustling with life like never before. Stick a band on stage—suddenly there’s a crowd, NPCs all doing their own thing. They’re not just standing like mannequins; everyone’s vibing to whatever’s playing. It’s human touch in a digital world, kind of closing the gap between player and game.

Oh, here’s a kicker. Mass Framework—what’s the deal? It’s like orchestrating chaos with these large crowds, making AI do relatable stuff. Ciri bumps into this apple guy at the market, apples rolling away like a slapstick comedy—kids dive in and pigs join the fray. All these little interactions—they breathe life into pixels.

Gosh, I went on a bit, didn’t I? Anyway, this is how they’re shaping The Witcher 4 to be the most immersive yet. Makes you wonder what’s next on their list.