A new trailer for The Witcher IV was unveiled today, featuring impressive gameplay footage showcasing its capabilities on the base PlayStation 5. This trailer, introduced during the State of Unreal presentation, provides the first in-engine glimpse of the latest installment in the acclaimed series by CD Projekt Red.
The gameplay highlights Ciri’s journey to a village in Kovir, accompanied by her horse, Kelpie. The developers demonstrated innovative technology such as multi-character motion matching, which enhances the animation of Ciri and her horse, and machine learning deformation techniques that allow for realistic rendering of the horse’s muscles with minimal impact on performance. Additionally, they introduced Nanite Foliage, a breakthrough that addresses the challenge of creating dense foliage without compromising the game’s performance, moving beyond traditional level of detail (LOD) techniques.
The showcased gameplay reveals an immersive world filled with responsive environments, where actions can trigger chain reactions among various elements. Viewers were also introduced to Lan Exeter, the winter capital and a significant port city in Kovir, suggesting a richly developed setting for players to explore.
While excitement builds for The Witcher IV, it is important to note that the game is not expected to launch until 2027 at the earliest, with a specific release window yet to be announced.
This latest announcement illustrates CD Projekt Red’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of open-world RPGs and provides hope for an engaging and visually stunning gaming experience in the coming years.