CD Projekt RED has offered insights into the development of The Witcher 4, promising a bigger and better experience than their previous titles, with a strong emphasis on console optimization.
Ambitious Goals and Technology Shift
Joint CEO Michał Nowakowski affirmed the studio's ambition, stating:
The next game we do will not be smaller, and it will not be worse. So it will be better, bigger, greater than The Witcher 3, it will be better than Cyberpunk.
VP of Technology Charles Tremblay explained the switch from the RED Engine to Unreal Engine 5, citing the difficulties of managing multiple projects with their in-house engine. UE5 allows for better knowledge sharing and resource allocation within the studio.
So the idea was that we can push the technology, we can finally have all the technical people in the company working together on different projects...
Console Optimization a Priority
Learning from the Cyberpunk 2077 launch, CDPR is prioritizing console optimization from the beginning. Tremblay emphasized:
Having the console working super late, it's unacceptable anymore, and it's part of our process.
This approach ensures all versions of the game perform well throughout development, avoiding a repeat of past issues.
Marketing Plans
Nowakowski also touched upon marketing, aiming for a shorter campaign (around one year) compared to Cyberpunk 2077's extended two-year promotional period. However, he hinted at potential teases before the full marketing push begins.
