Community sleuthing and accidental developer slips led to a surge of new leaks that finally opened the vault. The Witcher 4It gives fans their first real look at the next chapter in the monster-slaying epic. CD Projekt Red is recruiting the best talent. The Witcher 4Some of the game's award-winning key film animators helped create this ambitious new story.
the witcher The series has long been a titan of the RPG genre, defined by the grit and stoic legacy of Geralt of Rivia. While the previous trilogy centered around Geralt, the upcoming title is expected to be a major advancement for the franchise.
The stunning Witcher 4 tech demo showcases jaw-dropping Unreal Engine 5 graphics.
A new tech demo showcases gameplay footage of CD Projekt Red's upcoming The Witcher 4, created using Unreal Engine 5.
Ciri's expanded skillset and realistic movements
While the gaming world already knows that players will take on the role of Ciri, an expert monster slayer and child of destiny, new details are emerging about what her journey will look and feel like. According to the AnsweRED podcast, the game's motion capture uses cutting-edge technology to specifically focus on depicting Ciri's emotions, contrasting with the more stoic Geralt seen in previous entries.
The technological leap to Unreal Engine 5 allows for a level of physical detail not possible in previous titles. Revealed on the AnsweRED podcast, the animation team is currently implementing a movement system that utilizes over 80 unique animations for the basic movements alone. This large motion library is designed to remove the “clunkiness” some fans associate with Geralt's movements. The Witcher 3. CD Projekt Red aims to focus on “surrealism” to give Ciri a sense of weight and responsiveness as she navigates Kovir's terrain.
Beyond just looking good, Ciri's gameplay mechanics are getting a major overhaul to reflect her unique status as “the source.” According to timestamps leaked from the development podcast, Ciri will have the ability to cast spells while walking or moving. This is a significant departure from the static cast animations of previous games. To further enhance exploration, the developers have confirmed the addition of a dedicated jump button and the ability to swim underwater, suggesting a much more vertical and interactive world.
Who is that character?
Check out the silhouette before time runs out.
start
Check out the silhouette before time runs out.
Easy (7.5 seconds) Medium (5.0 seconds) Hard (2.5 seconds) Eternal Death (2.5 seconds)
The leak also suggests a move to a more polished and varied combat system. The team is reportedly focusing on “mocap” data that is 20% faster than with live actors to make every hit and dodge feel fast and intense. Additionally, professional animators focus solely on boss fights, making them feel like cinematic spectacles with high stakes.
One of the sequel's most ambitious goals is to create a truly populous and responsive world. The developers noted on the AnsweRED podcast that they are placing a high priority on 'NPC diversity' to avoid repetitive character models that often break the immersion in large-scale RPGs. The open world itself is designed to be much more interactive than open world. The Witcher 3It has a more responsive environment and different social dynamics.
To address long-standing community feedback about the series' combat, CD Projekt Red assembled an industry “dream team.” Lead combat designer for both horizon zero dawn and Horizon Forbidden West I am working as the combat director for the project. Joining them is a lead combat designer who has previously worked on critically acclaimed titles. god of war (2018) and God of War: Ragnarok. CD Projekt Red even hired animators for the film. Claire Obsker: Expedition 33He joins the company's Warsaw studio in the same position.
while The Witcher 4 It's not expected to release until 2027, and the studio may have some surprises in store to keep fans busy. Rumors suggest finals witcher 3 The DLC is being developed to act as a narrative bridge between the two games, and is likely to be released in May 2026 to celebrate the game's 11th anniversary.
The AnswerRED podcast also hinted that fans will take a closer look. The Witcher 4 During Unreal Fest 2026, which runs from June 16th to 18th. The game's official marketing campaign is expected to begin through this event. To ensure these systems feel good at launch, CD Projekt Red is this time taking a “console-first” development approach, a strategy designed to avoid the optimization issues that plagued previous releases.
