The Witcher 4: Consoles Take Priority, But PC Still Matters
Console-Focused Development Strategy of CD Projekt RED for The Witcher 4 Leaves PC Gaming Enthusiasts Concerned
CD Projekt RED's tech chief, Charles Tremblay, spilled the beans to Digital Foundry's Alex Battaglia that the next installment in The Witcher series, The Witcher 4, is gunning for a sleek 60fps on PlayStation 5 consoles.
Tremblay shared that the studio is focusing on console optimization this time around, hoping to avoid the disastrous launch of Cyberpunk 2077, riddled with technical issues, particularly on last-gen consoles. The PlayStation 5 is the foundation for The Witcher 4's development, marking a shift from their PC-centric approach.
A Change of Tactics for Witcher 4
The turbulent launch of Cyberpunk 2077 left CD Projekt RED with a mountain of work in patching and improving the game. This experience influenced the team to prioritize console stability for The Witcher 4. Tremblay said, "We had so many problems in the past that we tried to see, okay, this time around we really want to be more console-first [in] development."
PC Gamer's Concerns
PC enthusiasts may feel a twinge of worry with The Witcher 4's console-first approach. CD Projekt RED's games are known for pushing the limits of PC graphics. Titles like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt were optimized for high-end hardware before being scaled down for consoles.
Scaling up graphics for powerful PC hardware from a console base may be easier than the other way around. Building for consoles first and then scaling up for PC can be more challenging but becomes manageable with the help of Unreal Engine 5, which presents the issue of balancing high-quality visuals with stable frame rates on consoles.
The Jury's Still Out on Witcher 4's PC Performance
Tremblay admitted, "We worked with Unreal, and then we saw the challenge to realize the ambition to make what we want at 60 fps on consoles; there would be work." This shift in strategy implies that The Witcher 4's ambitious graphics require console optimization as a foundation. The team intends to maximize ray-tracing features to offer an immersive visual experience.
PC gamers should keep their fingers crossed, hoping that the focus on console stability won't compromise The Witcher 4's typical graphical splendor on PC. While the console-first approach might delay PC-specific features or lead to a less optimized PC experience initially, CD Projekt RED's commitment to pushing PC hardware to its limits suggests that PC users can still expect a visually stunning game. Stay tuned for more updates on The Witcher 4's development and potential PC performance.
Enrichment Insights:
- Despite starting with console optimization, CD Projekt RED aims to scale up graphics capabilities for PC versions.
- The use of Unreal Engine 5, particularly its Lumen ray tracing technology, allows for a consistent representation of visuals across different hardware scales, aiding in high-quality visuals on PCs.
- Initially, the console-first approach might influence the baseline for graphical performance but won't necessarily compromise the graphical excellence on PC.
- CD Projekt RED's intentions to optimize and enhance the game for PC users suggest that PC versions will still be graphically impressive. However, the exact extent of PC-specific enhancements will be determined during further development.
PC gamers might be apprehensive about The Witcher 4's console-first development approach, as CD Projekt RED's titles are renowned for pushing the boundaries of PC graphics. However, the team's commitment to utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and its advanced ray-tracing technology indicates that they aim to deliver visually stunning experiences on PC, despite the initial focus on consoles.
