CD Projekt Red just dropped some serious magic during the State of Unreal livestream, and no, it wasn’t a potion or a fireball. It was our first real look at The Witcher 4 running on a standard PlayStation 5, and let’s just say… Geralt would be proud (even if he’s not the main character this time).

The gameplay tech demo centers on Ciri, who’s tracking a monster across the mountainous Kovir region, a location longtime book fans will recognize, but one that’s never appeared in the games. From the moment she steps into the world, the visuals are jaw-dropping. We’re talking 60 fps, ray tracing, and the kind of photorealism that makes you want to pet her horse Kelpie. And speaking of Kelpie, CD Projekt Red took time to show off the horse’s skin and muscle animation in ridiculous detail. Yes, the horse muscles alone deserve their own Oscar.

As Ciri explores the port town of Valdrest, we get a glimpse at how Unreal Engine 5 is helping build dynamic, lively environments packed with realistic crowds, and somehow still giving the devs “breathing room.” Everything looks and feels like a major leap forward from The Witcher 3, a game already considered a modern classic.

Naturally, fans are stunned… and slightly suspicious. After Cyberpunk 2077’s rocky launch, some are cautiously wondering if the footage is too good to be true. So far, there’s no reason to doubt CDPR, but let’s just say expectations are being managed.

One thing’s for sure: The game looks phenomenal, but don’t start clearing your schedule just yet. There’s still no release date in sight, so this Witcher journey is going to require a bit more patience… and maybe a few more replays of Wild Hunt in the meantime!