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In December 2024, CD Projekt Red unveiled The Witcher 4: Polaris at The Game Awards, signaling the beginning of a new trilogy in the acclaimed Witcher series. This installment marks a significant departure from its predecessors, introducing fresh narratives, characters, and a technological leap forward.

A New Protagonist: Ciri Takes Center Stage

Departing from the familiar face of Geralt of Rivia, Polaris introduces Ciri as the main protagonist. This choice aligns with CD Projekt Red's vision to explore new facets of the Witcher universe. Ciri's character evolution is central to the game's narrative, offering players a fresh perspective and gameplay experience.

A Vast and Dynamic World

Set in the expansive region of Kovir, Polaris promises a richly detailed open world. The game's environments are brought to life using Unreal Engine 5.6, featuring advanced technologies like Nanite for detailed geometry and Lumen for dynamic lighting. These innovations ensure a visually stunning and immersive experience.

The world is designed to be reactive, with player choices influencing the development of regions, villages, and cities. This dynamic world-building enhances replayability and narrative depth, allowing players to shape the game's world through their decisions.

Narrative Depth and Tone

Polaris aims to delve into darker and more mature themes, drawing inspiration from psychological horror films. This shift in tone introduces unsettling characters and supernatural elements, enriching the game's narrative complexity. The story explores Ciri's journey as she confronts ancient threats, including a monster demanding ritual sacrifices in a remote village.

Technological Advancements

The transition to Unreal Engine 5 represents a significant technological leap for CD Projekt Red. This engine provides enhanced capabilities for creating expansive open worlds and complex AI systems. Features like Fast Geometry Streaming enable rapid world loading, while advanced NPC animations contribute to a more lifelike environment.

The game's technical demo, showcased at the State of Unreal 2025 event, demonstrated these advancements by running at 60 frames per second on a standard PlayStation 5, highlighting the team's optimization efforts.

Expanded Lore and New Characters

Polaris introduces new characters to enrich the Witcher universe. Branco, portrayed by Jake Lampert, is a world-weary warrior who becomes an ally to Ciri. His character adds depth to the narrative, providing guidance and support on Ciri's journey.

The game also expands the Witcher universe by introducing new regions such as Kovir and Poviss, as well as previously unexplored southern territories of Nilfgaard. These areas offer fresh environments and challenges, enhancing the game's world-building and exploration elements.

Development and Release Timeline

As of early 2025, Polaris is in full production, with over 400 developers working on the project. The game's development has been streamlined through CD Projekt Red's partnership with Epic Games, tailoring Unreal Engine 5 to the specific needs of the Witcher series. 

The official release window for Polaris is set for 2027, with the possibility of a 2026 launch. This timeline reflects the studio's commitment to delivering a polished and expansive game.

The Witcher 4: Polaris Gameplay Demo Looks Insane — A New Era of Monster Hunting Begins

I just watched the gameplay demo for The Witcher 4: Polaris, and honestly, I’m still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor. As someone who’s poured countless hours into The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, I didn’t think CD Projekt Red could push things even further — but here we are, and it’s absolutely insane.

From the very first few frames of the demo, you can tell that Polaris is built on a whole new level of ambition. The visuals alone are breathtaking. The landscapes are dense and alive — thick forests swaying with dynamic weather, ruins covered in moss and mystery, and towns bustling with NPCs that actually feel like they live there, not just fill space. The game runs on Unreal Engine 5, and man, does it show. Ray-traced lighting, ultra-detailed textures, fluid animations — everything feels next-gen through and through.

But it’s not just about the graphics. The gameplay itself has evolved in a big way. Combat looks faster, tighter, and more brutal, while still keeping that tactical, methodical Witcher feel. The way the new protagonist (yes, it seems like Geralt is passing the torch) flows between sword strikes, magic signs, and dodges feels like something out of an action movie — but not overdone. There’s still that sense of danger and preparation. You still need to oil your blades, brew your potions, and know your enemy.

One part of the demo that really stuck with me was a fight against a massive swamp beast — something between a leshen and a wendigo. It wasn’t just a hack-and-slash boss battle. It was a story moment. The monster reacted to fire, adapted to the player’s signs, and even tried to lure them into the deeper, more dangerous parts of the swamp. You could tell the devs put a ton of love into designing smarter AI and more reactive enemy encounters.

And then there’s the dialogue and choice system — another signature of the franchise. Based on what was shown, it looks like decisions will carry even more weight this time. The character interactions feel natural, the voice acting is top-notch as always, and the world reacts to your choices in subtle, meaningful ways. There’s a scene in the demo where the player chooses to help a cursed noblewoman rather than kill her — and you can see how that one decision shifts the course of the story, changes future quests, and even affects how NPCs talk to you later on. It’s Witcher storytelling at its best.

What also blew me away was how alive the world feels. It’s not just a sandbox full of quests — it’s a real ecosystem. Monsters hunt each other, NPCs go about their daily routines, and even the weather changes how you play. Heavy rain can mask your scent from predators, but it might also make your crossbow useless. These small touches make it feel like Polaris isn’t just a game — it’s a living, breathing world.

As someone who’s been following the Witcher series for over a decade, this feels like a true evolution. Polaris isn’t trying to copy Witcher 3 — it’s trying to build upon it, improve it, and take it into a new era. It respects the legacy while also daring to be something bigger and bolder.

If this demo is even 50% of what we’ll get in the final game, then we’re in for something special. CD Projekt Red seems determined to make The Witcher 4 not just a worthy successor — but a generational leap forward in RPG design.

Conclusion

The Witcher 4: Polaris represents a bold new direction for the franchise, combining innovative gameplay, a compelling narrative, and cutting-edge technology. With Ciri at the helm, players can expect a richly detailed world filled with complex characters and moral choices. As CD Projekt Red continues to develop this ambitious project, Polaris stands poised to redefine the Witcher experience for both new players and longtime fans.