CD Projekt Red explains shift to Unreal Engine 5 for The Witcher 4

CD Projekt Red has detailed its decision to switch game engines for its upcoming titles, with The Witcher 4 set to utilize Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5. Co-CEO Michał Nowakowski clarified that while the troubled launch of Cyberpunk 2077 informed their technological considerations, it was not the primary driver for adopting Unreal Engine.

Nowakowski pointed to Epic Games' "The Matrix Awakens" technology demonstration as the key catalyst for evaluating Unreal Engine 5. CD Projekt Red assessed whether the engine could support large-scale RPG development, similar to The Witcher series. Although Unreal Engine 5 was not fully "out-of-the-box" ready at the time, the company believed that through a partnership with Epic, they could tailor the engine to meet their specific needs.

This strategic collaboration with Epic Games has already yielded results, including a technical demo of The Witcher 4 in Unreal Engine 5 showcased at the State of Unreal event. Nowakowski emphasized that CD Projekt Red's core mission is game creation, not becoming a technology company. By partnering with Epic, they can now actively contribute to the core development of Unreal Engine, allowing for deeper customization and potentially reducing the need to build proprietary technology stacks from scratch for future games.

Historically, CD Projekt Red has used its proprietary REDengine for titles like The Witcher 2, The Witcher 3, and Cyberpunk 2077. The Witcher 4 is currently targeted for a 2028 release window, though the company has stressed this is not a final launch date. The effectiveness of this engine transition will be assessed upon the game's release.