Upcoming Witcher to shift to Unreal Engine 5, CDPR execs assure avoidance of crunches and hint possible storyline around Ciri and School of the Lynx

CD Projekt Red (CDPR), makers of popular games such as The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 have announced that a new Witcher game is in the works. The new Witcher game will also mark the transition from REDengine to Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5. 

The developers said that the transition from REDengine to Unreal Engine 5 was part of a multi-year strategic partnership with Epic Games to cover licensing and support technical development of Unreal Engine 5 and possible future versions. However, the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 expansion will continue to be based on the current REDengine implementation.

While the teaser image in the official announcement definitely got everyone excited, CD Projekt Red's global PR director dismissed any early rumors that the game will be called the "The Witcher 4" or any possibility of an exclusivity with a single storefront. The company made it clear that it is not discussing any specifics in terms of the story, characters, mechanics, or plot details at the moment.

However, fans have turned somewhat skeptical given that CDPR had to face severe backlash following the (delayed) release of Cyberpunk 2077. The game is still receiving heavy patches till date across platforms. Things may change now for the better, though.

CDPR's game director for the upcoming Witcher game, Jason Slama, took to Twitter to announce that there are many roles open for the new Witcher game's development along with possibility of remote work. Slama also replied to a tweet that he will not allow crunch to happen to speed up development, which should point towards better working conditions, at least at the moment.

The other teaser is from CDPR's global community director Marcin Momot. The teaser for the new Witcher game seems to be showing a lynx in the snow. Marcin Momot seemed to sarcastically and enthusiastically reply to a fan's tweet sparking off rumors of a possible School of the Lynx in the game.

For those not in the know, the School of the Lynx is part of the Witcher franchise's fanfiction and is not part of the actual Witcher universe. Geralt wears a medallion that belongs to the School of the Wolf, which became extinct after Vesemir's death. The School of the Lynx medallion in "The Witcher 4" may suggest a plotline revolving around Ciri, who becomes a witcher in one of The Witcher 3's endings and already belongs to the School of the Cat. But that's just speculation for now.

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