Witcher 4 to Struggle at 60 FPS on Xbox Series S

CD Projekt Red confirms maintaining 60fps for The Witcher 4 on Xbox Series S presents significant technical hurdles. Discover how this hardware limitation impacts next-gen development and get exclusive insights into the game's revolutionary quest design.

The Witcher 4 Development Updates

Xbox Series S 60fps Target Proves Demanding Yet Mandatory

The Witcher 4's impressive tech demo during State of Unreal 2025 highlighted its stunning visual capabilities while revealing performance constraints on Xbox Series S. CD Projekt Red successfully achieved stable 60fps on PlayStation 5 but faces considerable optimization challenges with Microsoft's entry-level console.

During a Digital Foundry interview on June 14, CDPR's VP of Technology Charles Tremblay acknowledged: "60 FPS will definitely be extremely challenging on Series S." This echoes widespread developer frustrations regarding Microsoft's parity requirements between Series X|S versions.

Despite industry concerns, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer maintains unwavering support for Series S, telling Eurogamer: "I don't see a world where we drop S." Microsoft frames Series S compatibility as forward-thinking preparation for the expanding landscape of gaming hardware.

Potential Switch 2 Port Under Consideration

With Nintendo Switch 2's recent reveal, speculation mounts about CDPR's potential to bring their Unreal Engine 5 title to the handheld platform. Digital Foundry analysts suggest halving the framerate target to 30fps could make porting feasible.

CDPR's successful Switch ports of The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 demonstrate their expertise in adapting demanding RPGs for portable hardware. Koei Tecmo producer Takuto Edagawa's technical assessment that Switch 2 performs closer to Series S than PS4 offers promising indicators.

No Traditional Fetch Quests Planned

Narrative Director Philipp Weber confirms The Witcher 4 will eliminate mundane fetch quests in favor of more substantive storytelling. "We don't just do it to be showy," Weber told GamesRadar+, emphasizing thoughtful exploration of mature themes over simplistic objectives.

Building on The Witcher 3's acclaimed side content and Cyberpunk 2077's narrative depth, CDPR approaches The Witcher 4's quest design with elevated ambitions and broader creative boundaries.

The Witcher 4 launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, though no specific release date has been announced. Stay tuned for further updates on CD Projekt Red's ambitious next-generation RPG.