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Unreal Engine wants to push (again) boundaries in game development

The State of Unreal 2025 event was a showcase of cutting-edge technology, innovation, and the future of game development. Epic Games unveiled major updates to Unreal Engine 5.6, introduced groundbreaking tools for open-world creation, and collaborated with CD Projekt Red to present a stunning technical demo for The Witcher IV. However, CD Projekt Red made it clear—the demo is not part of the actual game in development.

Unreal Engine 5.6: A Leap Forward

One of the biggest announcements was the release of Unreal Engine 5.6, which brings significant improvements to open-world development. Some of the key features include:

  • Fast Geometry Streaming Plugin: A new method for loading open worlds efficiently.
  • Nanite Foliage: A memory-efficient way to create dense, high-fidelity vegetation.
  • MetaHuman 5.6: Now fully integrated into Unreal Engine, allowing developers to create lifelike characters directly within the engine.
  • Engine-First Animation Workflow: Eliminates the need for external animation software, streamlining the creative process.

The Witcher IV Technical Demo: A Glimpse into the Future

CD Projekt Red collaborated with Epic Games to showcase a technical demo of The Witcher IV, running on PlayStation 5 at 60 FPS with ray tracing. The demo follows Ciri, a professional monster slayer, as she explores the never-before-seen region of Kovir. It highlights several Unreal Engine 5.6 features:

  • FastGeo Streaming: Enables seamless loading of large environments.
  • Nanite Foliage: Creates dense forests without performance loss.
  • Mass AI Crowd Scaling: Allows for realistic bustling cities.
  • ML Deformer: Enhances character animations with muscle movement.

CD Projekt Red’s Clarification: Not Part of The Witcher IV

Despite the breathtaking visuals and immersive world-building, CD Projekt Red emphasized that this is not gameplay footage from The Witcher IV. Instead, it serves as a technical showcase of Unreal Engine 5’s capabilities. The studio is still in early development for the next installment in The Witcher saga, and the final game may differ significantly from what was shown.

The State of Unreal 2025 reinforced Epic Games’ commitment to pushing the boundaries of game development. With Unreal Engine 5.6’s powerful new features and CD Projekt Red’s ambitious vision for The Witcher IV, the future of gaming looks more immersive than ever.