Witcher 4 Shifts to Unreal Engine 5, Not Due to Cyberpunk Issues
CD Projekt Red is developing The Witcher 4 using Unreal Engine 5, a move they state is unrelated to Cyberpunk 2077's technical problems. This strategic shift was inspired by Unreal Engine 5's capabilities and involves close collaboration with Epic Games. The studio assures the game will maintain its unique style, aiming for a 2028 release.
Coverage across 3 outlets
CD Projekt says abandoning its in-house engine for The Witcher 4 had nothing to do with Cyberpunk 2077's technical woes: 'The dream of the company was actually never to make technology'
CD Projekt's co-CEO Michał Nowakowski stated that the decision to switch from their in-house REDengine to Unreal Engine 5 for The Witcher 4 was not due to Cyberpunk 2077's technical issues. Instead, the company's core ambition was always storytelling, not technology development, leading them to adopt third-party solutions like Unreal Engine 5.
The Witcher 4 abandons CD Projekt Red's in-house tech for Unreal Engine 5, but studio lead says it's not because of issues with Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt Red's joint CEO Michał Nowakowski stated that the decision to use Unreal Engine 5 for The Witcher 4 was a strategic collaboration with Epic Games, inspired by the Unreal Engine 5 demo, and not a direct result of issues with Cyberpunk 2077's REDengine. The studio is now working closely with Epic to help forge the engine, a collaboration also being used for The Witcher 3 remaster.
CDPR: The Witcher 4 kommer inte att se ut som "ytterligare ett Unreal Engine-spel"
CD Projekt Red's CEO Michał Nowakowski addressed concerns that The Witcher 4, built on Unreal Engine, will resemble other games using the engine. He assured that the game will retain CDPR's distinct style and that the underlying technology will be irrelevant to players. The company aims to release The Witcher 4 by 2028.
