CD Projekt Red has confirmed that it will be part of the State of Unreal 2025 event, scheduled to take place tomorrow. According to a post shared by the developer on X (formerly Twitter), the studio plans to highlight some of the technologies and features that will define the future of its upcoming games, including the next installment in The Witcher series.
This appearance could potentially mark the first in-engine look at The Witcher IV, a game that has been in early development since 2022 and is being built using Unreal Engine 5. While no official confirmation has been made regarding the showing of gameplay or footage, the language used by the studio suggests a visual presentation is likely. In-game or in-engine footage would serve as a suitable way to demonstrate new technical features in action, offering a clearer picture of how the next entry in the series is shaping up.
The Witcher IV marks a major shift for CD Projekt Red as it transitions from its proprietary REDengine to Unreal Engine 5 for future projects. This change was first announced in 2022 as part of a broader partnership with Epic Games. Since then, developers at CD Projekt Red have spoken publicly about their efforts to customize and extend the engine to meet the studio’s specific needs, particularly when it comes to building open-world RPGs.
However, Unreal Engine 5 has drawn criticism from the PC gaming community due to widespread performance issues, most notably stuttering and shader compilation delays. These problems have affected several high-profile releases and remain a point of concern among players. CD Projekt Red addressed these challenges in a developer-focused presentation last year, where the studio outlined its approach to optimizing performance on PC platforms. It’s possible that tomorrow’s event will include updates on how the studio is tackling these known issues, potentially by leveraging new engine-level improvements or custom middleware solutions.
While tomorrow’s showcase may provide the first detailed look at the game’s visuals and systems, players should not expect to get their hands on The Witcher IV anytime soon. CD Projekt Red has previously stated that the game is unlikely to be released before 2027. The team is still in the early stages of full production, with a strong focus on building the foundation for what it hopes will be a new saga within the franchise.
The next Witcher game is expected to shift the focus away from Geralt of Rivia, the protagonist of the original trilogy. While not officially confirmed, speculation continues to grow around Ciri taking on a leading role. This direction aligns with events from the original book series by Andrzej Sapkowski, in which Ciri plays a central part. However, introducing a new lead in the games will be a major narrative transition—one that CD Projekt Red will need to handle carefully to win over long-time fans.
The State of Unreal 2025 livestream is expected to begin tomorrow and will be hosted by Epic Games. Fans of the series and game developers alike will be watching closely to see how CD Projekt Red plans to utilize Unreal Engine 5 for its next big release.
