Witcher 4's Development Hindered by Unreal Engine Challenges

Daniel Vavra, creator of the Kingdom Come trilogy and Warhorse Studio co-founder, criticizes Unreal Engine's limitations for complex open-world games, citing its struggles with vegetation rendering as a key factor contributing to The Witcher 4's reported development difficulties. He claims Unreal Engine excels in simpler environments but historically struggled with detailed vegetation, suggesting its Nanite technology isn't yet up to the task.

Vavra, referencing conversations with a CD Projekt employee, alleges that scenes easily rendered in CD Projekt Red's RED Engine caused significant problems when ported to Unreal Engine, resulting in substantial production challenges for The Witcher 4. He questions CD Projekt's decision to switch from their established RED Engine to Unreal Engine, noting that most open-world developers utilize proprietary engines.

Vavra also points out the high system requirements of Unreal Engine, requiring expensive hardware inaccessible to many players, despite its ability to generate stunning visuals.

Meanwhile, anticipation builds for the February 4th release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, continuing Indřich's story with improved graphics, refined combat, and a historically-grounded narrative. This article will provide updates on system requirements and estimated playtime, and will offer download instructions upon the game's release.