The Witcher 4 UE5 Demo Wows at 60 FPS—But Can You Play?

I’ll level with you: whenever Epic Games teases The Witcher 4, I drop everything. Their latest Unreal Engine 5 demo drops us into Kovir with Ciri front and center—running at a rock-steady 60 FPS on PS5. It’s the definition of next-gen eye candy, but remember: this is a tech showcase, not hands-on gameplay. Still, RPG addicts have plenty to dissect.

UE5 Showcase: Spectacle Over Play

• Stunning visuals: Seamless animations, dynamic lighting and dense crowds—yet no player input.
• Ciri in command: She’s clearly set to lead the narrative in this new saga.
• 60 FPS on console: PS5 handles volumetric fog and cloth physics without breaking a sweat.
• Epic partnership: CDPR pivots from its custom engine after Cyberpunk’s rocky launch.

Here’s the reality check: every angle you saw is pre-choreographed to flaunt UE5’s muscle—real-time reflections, subtle NPC reactions and photorealistic shading that outshine even Novigrad’s hustle. Ciri’s stroll through Kovir feels alive, but until you grab the stick, it’s pure cinema.

Tech demos are a double-edged sword: high on adrenaline, low on guaranteed polish. We all remember Cyberpunk 2077’s jaw-dropping trailers, right? The aftermath was a masterclass in managing hype. The silver lining here is CDPR’s transparency about early builds and Epic’s rock-solid engine—trading in-house tinkering for proven stability.

What really impressed me was the performance push: dense street scenes, swirling fog and realistic cloth, all at 60 FPS on PS5. Most modern RPGs force a choice between a cinematic 30 FPS or jittery “performance” mode. CDPR seems hell-bent on nailing both.

No release date yet, so everything could shift—good or bad—before launch. But sharing these early prototypes alongside Epic’s dev toolkit signals a commitment to rebuilding trust, not just stoking buzz.

For fans, this demo sends two messages: a bold tech leap and a fresh narrative focus on Ciri. The looming question: will this technical marvel translate into deep storytelling and robust gameplay, or is it just lipstick on an already pricey witch? Only time—and a playable build—will tell.

TL;DR: The Witcher 4 UE5 demo dazzles with next-gen polish and 60 FPS console performance but remains a cinematic, non-interactive preview. We’ll celebrate—once the controller’s in our hands.

Source: CD Projekt Red via GamesPress