Introducing a ‘Console-First’ Approach for The Witcher 4
CD Projekt has recently explained the reasoning behind adopting a ‘console-first’ development strategy for the highly anticipated The Witcher 4. Unlike their previous titles, which primarily focused on PC, the studio is now emphasizing console optimization from the outset. This shift aims to deliver a more polished experience across platforms and avoid past pitfalls.
First Look at the Stunning Tech Demo
Earlier this month, CD Projekt unveiled a breathtaking The Witcher 4 tech demo, showcasing the game built with Unreal Engine 5. The demo offers fans a glimpse of what’s to come, featuring the character Ciri exploring the uncharted region of Kovir. The demo was captured on a PlayStation 5 and runs smoothly at 60 frames per second, highlighting the game’s impressive graphics and fluid animations.
The demo’s detail is remarkable, with lifelike movements and interactions. Ciri’s horse, Kelpie, displays realistic behaviors as they traverse the mountainous landscape of Kovir toward the bustling port city of Valdrest. Notably, during the demo, CD Projekt increased the NPC count in a market scene to 300 individually animated characters, demonstrating their ambition for immersive environments. The showcase concluded with a look at Lan Exeter, a major port city and winter capital of Kovir.
Why the Focus on Consoles?
Following the demo reveal, CD Projekt’s VP of Technology, Charles Tremblay, explained to Digital Foundry why the studio chose to showcase The Witcher 4 on PlayStation 5 first, before PC. He emphasized that the development process is now being prioritized for consoles, marking a significant change from their previous approach.
“We always develop for PC first and then scale down,” Tremblay noted. “But in the past, we faced numerous challenges, so this time we decided to be more console-first. Our goal is to establish a solid foundation on consoles before expanding to PC.”
Learning from Past Mistakes
This decision is a clear response to CD Projekt’s challenging launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020. The game suffered from severe performance issues on consoles at launch, leading Sony to remove it from the PlayStation Store and offer refunds. The studio publicly acknowledged that they should have focused more on optimizing the game for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One before release.
Since then, CD Projekt has invested years in fixing these problems, transforming Cyberpunk 2077 into a successful title that now runs well even on the Nintendo Switch 2. This experience has underscored the importance of thorough platform-specific optimization, which they now aim to prioritize for The Witcher 4.
Scaling Up: From Consoles to PC
In an interview, Jakub Knapik, Vice President and Global Art Director at CD Projekt, discussed the advantages of starting with console development and then scaling up for PC. He explained that establishing a strong visual and technical foundation on consoles makes it easier to enhance the game for more powerful systems later.
“It’s logical—it’s easier to scale up than down,” Knapik said. “Once we set certain standards, there’s room to improve and push higher on more capable platforms. We’re a studio that loves to maximize PC potential, so it’s about finding the right balance.”
Ensuring a Great Experience for PC Gamers
Despite the shift to a console-first approach, Tremblay assured PC players will still get a top-tier experience when The Witcher 4 launches. He emphasized that CD Projekt has always been committed to delivering high-quality experiences that match the hardware’s capabilities.
“We want our PC gamers to enjoy what their hardware can truly deliver, not a watered-down version,” Tremblay stated. “While it’s early days, we’re dedicated to making sure the PC experience is as impressive as possible.”
Challenges Ahead for Console Scaling
One of the upcoming challenges is ensuring that The Witcher 4 runs at 60 frames per second on the less powerful Xbox Series S, alongside the more robust Series X. Tremblay admitted that maintaining consistent performance on Series S while scaling down graphics will be “extremely challenging.”
“We haven’t yet done extensive work on that,” he confessed. “Achieving 60fps on Series S is a priority, but it will require significant effort. It’s something we’re actively working on.”
Looking Forward
While the tech demo provides a tantalizing glimpse of the game’s potential, it’s important to note that it doesn’t represent actual gameplay. Nonetheless, it clearly reflects CD Projekt’s high ambitions for The Witcher 4 and their commitment to delivering a next-generation experience across all platforms.
Emma Blake
Emma is a tech-savvy news editor who thrives on staying ahead of the curve. With a background in digital journalism and media studies, she brings readers up-to-the-minute updates on gaming, tech, and entertainment trends. Emma’s writing is sharp, insightful, and always backed by credible sources. Her mission is to keep the community informed and curious about the fast-changing digital world.
