The Witcher 4 is in production hell because of the Unreal Engine

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 was the source of The Witcher 4's development difficulties. He claims Unreal struggles with detailed environments, particularly vegetation, stating, "Unreal works well for deserts and rocks, but the engine couldn't handle trees for a long time." Vavra points out that Nanite technology falls short in rendering realistic vegetation.

A CD Projekt employee reportedly confirmed to Vavra that scenes easily managed by the RED Engine presented significant challenges in Unreal, leading to considerable production hurdles. Vavra questions CD Projekt's decision to switch engines, noting that most open-world developers utilize proprietary engines due to their suitability for such projects.

Vavra also highlights the high system requirements of Unreal Engine, requiring expensive hardware inaccessible to many players, despite its capacity for 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, along with download instructions upon the game's launch. The enduring popularity of the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance demonstrates continued interest in its medieval Bohemian setting.