Witcher 4 faces tough 60fps goal on Xbox Series S

CD Projekt Red developers reveal significant hurdles in maintaining 60fps for The Witcher 4 on Xbox Series S. Explore how these technical constraints might influence the game's development timeline and discover exclusive insights into its quest design philosophy.

The Witcher 4 Development Perspectives

Xbox Series S 60fps Performance Presents Major Technical Hurdle

While The Witcher 4's technical demo at State of Unreal 2025 showcased impressive PS5 performance, CD Projekt Red acknowledges severe optimization challenges for Xbox Series S. The development team confirms maintaining 60fps on Microsoft's budget console currently appears "extremely challenging" despite mandatory compatibility requirements.

CDPR's Vice President of Technology Charles Tremblay explained to Digital Foundry that Series S optimization remains unfinished. "We haven't completed the necessary work yet - this is next on our priority list. Achieving stable 60 FPS will prove exceptionally difficult on Series S," Tremblay stated during the June 14 interview.

Tremblay's concerns echo widespread developer frustrations within the industry. Multiple studios, including Bossa Studios and Rocksteady, have previously criticized Microsoft's mandatory Series S support, arguing the hardware limits creative potential and graphical benchmarks across console generations.

Microsoft Maintains Firm Support for Series S

Despite developer concerns, Microsoft remains committed to its dual-console strategy. Xbox CEO Phil Spencer has repeatedly dismissed calls to abandon Series S, most recently telling Destin in January 2025 that the console's lower specifications actually position Microsoft advantageously in the growing handheld market.

"With handheld PCs and Switch 2 entering the market, our experience optimizing for Series S gives us a competitive edge in portable gaming," Spencer explained, highlighting Microsoft's belief that Series S prepares developers for battery-powered devices.

Potential Switch 2 Port Considerations

Following the Nintendo Switch 2 announcement, industry analysts speculate about The Witcher 4's potential compatibility with the new handheld. CD Projekt Red's successful history with Switch ports, including The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, fuels anticipation for a potential Switch 2 release.

Digital Foundry analysts suggest that targeting 30fps could make a Switch 2 port feasible, while Koei Tecmo's Takuto Edagawa notes the new Nintendo hardware compares favorably to Xbox Series S in computing power.

Evolving Quest Design Philosophy

CD Projekt Red confirms significant quest design evolution in The Witcher 4, with Narrative Director Philipp Weber promising the complete elimination of repetitive fetch quests. Speaking to GamesRadar+, Weber emphasized the studio's commitment to meaningful storytelling: "We explore complex themes not for shock value, but because they present fascinating questions worth examining."

The Witcher 4 is currently in development for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. While no release date has been announced, the studio's track record with The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 suggests ambitious plans for their next fantasy RPG.