'The Witcher 4' Plagued by Unreal Engine Woes

Daniel Vavra, creator of the Kingdom Come trilogy and Warhorse Studio co-founder, criticizes Unreal Engine's limitations for complex open-world games, suggesting it's the source of The Witcher 4's development troubles. He claims Unreal struggles with intricate environments, particularly vegetation, stating, "Unreal works well for deserts and rocks, but the engine couldn't handle trees for a long time." Vavra points to Unreal's Nanite technology as insufficient for realistic vegetation rendering.

A CD Projekt employee reportedly confirmed to Vavra that scenes previously running smoothly on RED Engine now cause significant problems in The Witcher 4's Unreal Engine development. Vavra questions CD Projekt's decision to switch from their own, reportedly capable, RED Engine, noting that most open-world developers utilize proprietary engines.

Vavra also highlights the high system requirements of Unreal Engine, requiring expensive hardware inaccessible to many players, despite its ability to generate impressive 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 post will provide updates on system requirements and estimated playtime, along with download instructions upon release, ensuring you're among the first to experience this enhanced medieval world.