Latest news with #Geralt
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ciri Is the new Witcher: Everything you should know
CD Projekt Red has confirmed that Ciri will be the main protagonist in The Witcher 4, marking a new chapter in the franchise. This shift follows the conclusion of Geralt's story and introduces players to a fresh perspective within the Witcher universe.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Epic Games and CD Projekt Red showcases Witcher 4 tech demo running at 60fps on PS5
Epic Games and CD Projekt Red unveiled an technical demonstration of The Witcher 4 running on Unreal Engine 5 .6 during Epic's State of Unreal 2025 event, showcasing the upcoming game's capabilities on base PlayStation 5 hardware at 60 frames per second with ray tracing enabled. The tech demo follows protagonist Ciri and her horse Kelpie through the previously unseen region of Kovir, including the bustling port city of Valdrest. Epic emphasized this was strictly a technical showcase, not actual gameplay footage, though it provides the clearest glimpse yet of what players can expect from the highly anticipated sequel. The demonstration highlighted several cutting-edge features including Fast Geometry Streaming for seamless world loading, ML Deformer technology for realistic character animations, and advanced crowd simulation supporting up to 300 individually animated NPCs in market scenes. The showcase also featured Nanite Foliage technology , set for release in Unreal Engine 5.7, which renders dense, high-fidelity vegetation without performance penalties. The Witcher 4 — Unreal Engine 5 Tech Demo Cross-generation release strategy confirmed The tech demo's performance on current-generation hardware suggests The Witcher 4 will be a cross-generational release, similar to Cyberpunk 2077's 2020 launch strategy. This approach allows the game to reach existing console owners while taking advantage of enhanced capabilities on newer systems. CD Projekt Red has indicated The Witcher 4 won't launch until 2027 at the earliest, ruling out releases in 2025 and 2026. The extended development timeline reflects the studio's commitment to avoiding the technical issues that plagued Cyberpunk 2077's initial release. Ciri takes center stage in new trilogy The demo confirms Ciri as the new protagonist, replacing Geralt in what CD Projekt describes as the first entry in a new Witcher trilogy. Executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga called Ciri "the very organic, logical choice" for continuing the saga beyond Geralt's story. The collaboration between Epic Games and CD Projekt Red extends beyond The Witcher 4, with both companies working to enhance Unreal Engine 5's open-world capabilities for the broader gaming industry. The demonstrated technologies will be available to all developers using the engine. 7 Things You May Have Missed in the GTA 6 Second Trailer AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
The Witcher 4: Ciri confirmed as lead, platforms and engine upgrades revealed
Fans hoping to play The Witcher 4 soon will have to wait. CD Projekt Red confirmed during the State of Unreal 2025 event that the next Witcher game is not coming before 2026. While the new tech demo was polished and impressive, the developers made it clear this was only a glimpse of what's to come. The project is still deep in development and will need more time before it's ready. This reveal follows the game's original teaser in late 2024. The developers called this a 'vertical slice' rather than a finished product. The wait may be long, but the results so far show big promise. Ciri takes over the franchise Thanks for tuning in to The Witcher 4 — Unreal Engine 5 tech demo and joining us during the State of Unreal 2025! #UnrealFestThe full presentation will be uploaded and shared with everyone later today, but in the meantime, here's four screenshots straight from the demo to tide… In a major change, Ciri is now the main character. This is the first game where Geralt won't be playable, with CD Projekt Red officially saying, 'This is Ciri's story now.' It's not just a new face for the series. It's a new direction. Ciri brings a mix of power, emotion, and mystery that can take the story into unexpected places. The game is also set to kick off a brand-new trilogy, focused on a post-Geralt world. Next-gen visuals with Unreal Engine 5.6 Details like mud sticking to the horse's hooves or trees moving with the wind made the world feel realistic. NPCs reacted to Ciri walking past. It looked more real than anything seen in a Witcher game before. Other Witcher projects also in the works First look at 'THE WITCHER 4' tech on standard PS5 at 60FPS. CDPR didn't stop at one project. The studio confirmed that alongside Witcher 4, there's also a remake of the first Witcher game from 2007. That remake is being rebuilt with modern tech. Another title, a multiplayer spin-off codenamed 'Sirius,' is being developed by The Molasses Flood. Both of these will be worked on at the same time, and the studio promised that the main game's story and quality won't be affected by side projects. Will Witcher 4 be cross-gen? No matter what, CDPR says they want Witcher 4 to be their next flagship title. They're aiming high. This could be the most ambitious fantasy RPG of the decade. FAQs When is The Witcher 4 release date? Who is the main character in Witcher 4? Will Geralt be in Witcher 4? What platforms will Witcher 4 be on?
The Verge
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Epic showed off Unreal Engine 5 with an impressive Witcher 4 tech demo
An ongoing tradition at Epic's big keynotes is a gorgeous tech demo that shows off what its game engine is capable of. For this year's State of Unreal, the company turned to The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red. This new demo a beautiful glimpse at its fantasy world, filled with blood, fire, and monsters — and more importantly, a new horse. The demo was built using Unreal Engine 5.6, and shows new protagonist Ciri exploring some forested lands and a marketplace known as Valdrest. Epic says the demo is designed in part to show off how the latest iteration can handle both bustling scenes and foliage in an open-world setting. It also shows how much horse technology has improved since The Witcher 3. Epic says that the demo is running on a base model PS5 at 60 frames per second, with raytracing enabled, and the presentation included a live demonstration, with the developers playing the game on stage. And a handful of images from the demo: We've known that CDPR had switched to UE5 for its next Witcher game as far back as 2022, when it announced a partnership with Epic, likely as a result of the technical issues that plagued Cyberpunk 2077 's launch. Last year the developer officially revealed The Witcher 4 — with Ciri replacing Geralt in the lead — with a cinematic trailer. There's no word yet on when the game will be launching.
Tom's Guide
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
5 best shows like 'The Wheel of Time' to stream right now
It's official: "The Wheel of Time" has stopped turning. Prime Video recently announced it's cancelling its hit fantasy drama series, making "The Wheel of Time's" critically acclaimed third season now it's de facto series finale. While that means we won't get a satisfying conclusion to the fate of Rosamund Pike's Moiraine and co. or the prophecy of the Dragon Reborn, for viewers who can't get enough of high fantasy, there are other genre entries worth checking out. In making this round-up, it was harder than I expected to find high fantasy shows that didn't meet "The Wheel of Time's" same fate. I didn't want to add insult to injury by suggesting fans dive into another show that ends on an unsatisfying cliffhanger, so I'm sticking with series that are either still ongoing or have wrapped up their run. Speaking of unsatisfying endings, I'm not including "Game of Thrones" on this list for obvious reasons. Whether you're looking for starcrossed heroes, intricate world-building, or fantastical spectacles, these are the best fantasy shows for fans of "The Wheel of Time" to watch now that Prime Video's given it the boot. Netflix's sleek adaptation of "The Witcher plunges viewers into a gritty, monster-filled fantasy world where magic is real and danger lurks around every corner. Based on the beloved fantasy novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski and CD Projekt Red's video game series, it follows Geralt of Rivia (formerly portrayed by Henry Cavill, now played by Liam Hemsworth), a no-nonsense, mutated monster-hunter-for-hire. Geralt makes a point to steer clear of the realm's tangled politics, but fate has other plans. His path soon crosses with that of a young princess (Freya Allan) whose mysterious powers have put a price on her head. Reluctantly, Geralt takes on the role of her protector, using his formidable skills to shield her from those who would exploit her for their own gains. While the plot can be dense and occasionally confusing, the show's sheer spectacle and relentless pace make it a thrilling watch that's bound to hook fans of "The Wheel of Time." Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Watch now on Netflix Philip Pullman's beloved trilogy comes alive in this three-season television adaptation, which takes place in a parallel world ruled by a powerful religious authority known as the Magisterium. Enter our young heroine, Lyra Silvertongue (Dafne Keen), a curious and courageous tween who embarks on a quest to find her missing friend only to find herself in the crosshairs of destiny. After learning the secrets of her family's heritage, her search for the truth propels her across multiple worlds, including a hauntingly distorted version of our own, filled with magic, mysterious powers, and daemons, i.e. animal companions that are physical embodiments of a person's soul. What sets "His Dark Materials" apart is its ability to blend the familiar with the fantastical, creating a rich narrative that's both an epic adventure and a layered exploration of science, religion, and the meaning of family. Watch now on Max Based on Deborah Harkness' "All Souls" trilogy, "A Discovery of Witches" is a criminally underrated entry in the high fantasy genre. "The Choice" and "Warm Bodies" star Teresa Palmer plays Diana Bishop, a historian and reluctant witch who has long suppressed her magical heritage. While researching alchemy and science at Oxford, Diana uncovers an enchanted manuscript that paints a target on her back for all the witches, vampires, and daemons all vying for control of its secrets. To uncover the manuscript's origins and keep it from falling into the wrong hands, Diana forms an uneasy alliance with the vamprie biochemist Matthew Clairmont (Matthew Goode). Despite ancient rivalries between their species, the two are drawn together by a bond that defies tradition and deepens as Diana's magical abilities awaken. While not as sprawling as "The Wheel of Time," "A Discovery of Witches" is a spellbinding journey worth every moment, packed with unforgettable characters, epic battles, and a simmering love story that'll keep you invested. Watch now on Netflix Sure, it's a polarizing choice, but love it or hate it, "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" is easily the closest analogue to "The Wheel of Time" in Prime Video's library. Despite its critics, the series delivers a visually stunning return to Tolkien's world, immersing viewers in the grandeur and mythology of the Second Age. Amazon invested heavily in bringing this era of Middle-earth to life, and the scale and detail are undeniable. Set thousands of years before the movies and novels, "The Rings of Power" explores the rise of the evil Dark Lord Sauron to power, threatening the fragile peace of Middle-earth and setting the stage for the forging of the iconic rings. This is high-scale fantasy at its peak, full of unexpected twists, elaborate world-building, and sprawling battle scenes. The show also serves as both a strong standalone story and an accessible intro to the rich lore of 'The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit," so newcomers will find it just as compelling as long-time fans. Maybe even more so considering that, as with "The Wheel of Time," its deviation from the source material remains a point of contention. Watch now on Prime Video While Prime Video opted not to renew "The Wheel of Time" for a fourth season, it's forging ahead with its animated fantasy series "The Legend of Vox Machina." All three seasons so far have achieved an impressive 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, and while animated shows often struggle to break through in the crowded streaming landscape, this one's continued success speaks volumes. Based on the popular Critical Role web series, the show follows a ragtag group of adventurers known as Vox Machina as they embark on epic quests to battle dark forces, powerful villains and ancient magic. With each member bringing their own quirks and flaws, the series blends high-stakes action with sharp humor and genuine heart, making it as emotionally resonant as it is entertaining and visually stunning. This is a must-watch for fans of Dungeons & Dragons-style adventures. Watch now on Prime Video
