CD Projekt Red plans to release Witcher 4 on PS5 at 60 FPS, a move that could potentially redefine cross-platform AAA game design due to fan debates on visual fidelity and custom options.
CD Projekt Red has abandoned its traditional PC-first development strategy for The Witcher 4, instead prioritizing console optimization to prevent technical disasters that plagued previous launches. The Polish studio revealed this week that it is building the highly anticipated sequel with a "console-first" philosophy, targeting 60 frames per second performance on PlayStation 5. This shift represents a fundamental departure from the company's historical approach and comes as CD Projekt Red seeks to restore confidence following the troubled releases of Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
The strategic reversal to console-first development stems directly from high-profile technical failures that damaged the studio's reputation. Cyberpunk 2077's disastrous PlayStation 4 and Xbox One performance at launch, combined with fan criticism over The Witcher 3's graphical downgrades for console versions, prompted the fundamental rethinking of development priorities. CD Projekt Red's commitment to maintaining performance standards across platforms is evident in the shift to a console-first development strategy for The Witcher 4.
For PC gamers, this could have mixed implications. The game will be built starting from console hardware constraints and then scaled up for PC, rather than the traditional approach of building for powerful PCs first and scaling down for consoles. CD Projekt Red assures that PC players will still receive a high-quality experience that takes full advantage of their hardware, as the company originated as a PC-focused developer and aims to deliver the best possible visuals and customization on PC. However, some PC gamers are concerned that the console-first approach might initially limit the graphical fidelity or introduce delays in driver support and exclusive PC features, potentially leading to a less optimized or simplified experience at launch compared to previous Witcher titles.
The Xbox Series S, being the least powerful current-gen console, presents significant technical challenges for achieving the target 60fps performance. CD Projekt Red has explicitly acknowledged that hitting 60 60fps on Xbox Series S will be "extremely challenging" and that the team has not yet found a definitive solution to maintain this frame rate on the hardware. The Series S's lower specifications compared to the Series X and PS5 mean the game must be heavily optimized or potentially run with reduced graphical settings to sustain smooth performance.
The strategic reversal to console-first development is a direct response to past technical and reputational issues. Historically, CD Projekt Red developed games with a PC-first approach, pushing PC hardware capabilities and then scaling down to consoles. This approach contributed to significant problems, notably with Cyberpunk 2077, which suffered from poor performance and bugs on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One at launch.
CD Projekt Red's VP of Technology, Charles Tremblay, explained that the company wants to avoid repeating these mistakes by prioritizing console development first, as it is "easier to scale up than down" in terms of graphics and performance. The console-first approach aims to establish solid visual and technical foundations on fixed hardware before expanding to more powerful PCs, thereby improving stability and performance consistency across all platforms. In summary, while the console-first approach aims to prevent past launch problems and ensure smooth performance on consoles, PC gamers may initially face a different experience than before, and Xbox Series S players should anticipate potential performance compromises due to hardware limitations.
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Jenny, the tech wiz behind Jenny's Online Blog, loves diving deep into the latest technology trends, uncovering hidden gems in the gaming world, and analyzing the newest movies. When she's not glued to her screen, you might find her tinkering with gadgets or obsessing over the latest sci-fi release.What do you think of this blog? Write down at the COMMENT section below.
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