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The Witcher 4 Prioritizes Console Development; 60 FPS on Xbox Series S ‘Extremely Challenging,’ CDPR Confirms

The Witcher 4 Is Made with Console-First Approach; 60 FPS on Xbox Series S Will Be ‘Extremely Challenging’ to Achieve, Says CDPR

After showcasing an impressive technical preview for The Witcher 4 at the recent State of Unreal event, CD Projekt RED invited Digital Foundry’s Alex Battaglia to their Poland studio for an in-depth discussion with developers and Epic Games engineers about the demo’s creation and the studio’s roadmap for the upcoming title.

In a detailed conversation, Charles Tremblay, CD Projekt RED’s VP of Technology, explained the team’s strategic pivot to prioritize console optimization early in development. This approach aims to deliver a seamless open-world experience with hardware-accelerated ray tracing at 60 FPS on PlayStation 5, avoiding the performance compromises seen in prior titles.

Our partnership with Epic began with bold objectives. Historically, we prioritized PC builds before scaling back for consoles, which introduced complications. This time, we’re reorienting our workflow to focus on console performance from the start. Collaborating on Unreal Engine 5, we recognized the technical hurdles in achieving 60 FPS on PS5. Significant engineering efforts will be required, but we’re committed to maintaining that target rather than reverting to 30 FPS.

While the demo showcases foundational elements, it’s important to note that core systems like combat remain undeveloped. We’re at an exploratory stage, and substantial work still lies ahead. Hitting 60 FPS consistently is our priority, though it’s too early to confirm final performance. Rest assured, we’ll push boundaries to meet this vision.

Addressing Xbox Series S, Tremblay acknowledged the platform’s hardware constraints, stating that achieving 60 FPS will prove “particularly difficult.” Optimizations for Microsoft’s less powerful console remain pending, with challenges anticipated during future development phases.

We’ve yet to dedicate resources to Series S optimizations, but it’s next on our agenda. Delivering 60 FPS there will demand creative solutions—it’s a puzzle we’re prepared to tackle.

Notably, Epic has phased out software-based Lumen ray tracing due to inherent limitations, prompting CD Projekt RED to adopt hardware-accelerated Lumen in the demo. The studio also plans to leverage high-end PC capabilities, though specific graphical enhancements remain undefined.

The Witcher 4 is tentatively slated for a 2027 launch across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Keep following Wccftech for future updates and announcements.