The Witcher 4, the highly anticipated next installment in CD Projekt Red’s acclaimed RPG series, is officially in full-scale production. According to Charles Tremblay, lead engine programmer at CDPR, fans can expect a game that surpasses the standards set by both The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077. Speaking to Eurogamer, Tremblay outlined the studio’s lofty ambitions for the sequel, emphasizing that the team is determined to learn from past missteps and deliver a masterpiece.
“Better, Bigger, Greater”: The Studio’s Ambitious Vision
Tremblay confirmed that The Witcher 4 is being developed with the goal of exceeding the scale, quality, and innovation of CDPR’s previous titles. “The next game we do will not be smaller, and it will not be worse,” he declared. “It will be better, bigger, greater than The Witcher 3. It will be better than Cyberpunk 2077—because for us, it’s unacceptable [to launch] any other way.”
This bold statement is underpinned by CDPR’s transition to Unreal Engine, a departure from its proprietary REDengine. The switch is seen as a pivotal step in ensuring a smoother development process, allowing the studio to avoid many of the challenges that plagued Cyberpunk 2077. Tremblay explained that the new technology enables the team to maintain their hallmark ambition while avoiding the technical hurdles that previously caused delays and performance issues.
Unreal Engine Ushers in a New Era
The adoption of Unreal Engine marks a turning point for CD Projekt Red. The change is significant, as The Witcher 4 will be the studio’s first major release built entirely on this platform. Tremblay hinted at the exciting potential of the new engine: “We have some cool stuff going, and hopefully that will showcase the technology in amazing ways.”
The studio has been clear that this shift will allow for greater stability and scalability in development. Tremblay assured fans that the use of Unreal Engine won’t compromise the ambitious design philosophy that has defined CDPR’s games. “Changing the tech for us does not change the fact that we always will be ambitious,” he stated.
Learning from Cyberpunk 2077’s Rocky Launch
CDPR is keenly aware of the lessons from Cyberpunk 2077’s controversial release. While the game eventually received critical acclaim following significant updates, its launch was marred by bugs, performance issues, and incomplete features—leading Tremblay to label that experience as “unacceptable.”
Maria Mazur, a quest designer for Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, shed light on how the team is applying those lessons to The Witcher 4. She revealed that improved communication and cross-department collaboration during Phantom Liberty’s development provided a blueprint for future projects. “The process was how we would have wanted to do Cyberpunk from the start,” Mazur said. “This approach will carry over into our upcoming titles.”
What’s Next for The Witcher 4?
While CDPR has not announced a release date for The Witcher 4, the game’s entry into full production signals significant progress. As the studio gears up for what is expected to be one of its most ambitious projects yet, fans can rest assured that CDPR is prioritizing quality, scale, and a polished experience.
Whether The Witcher 4 will deliver on its lofty promises remains to be seen, but for now, the studio’s renewed focus on ambition and technical precision offers plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
