The Witcher 4 developer CD Projekt Red finds it "extremely challenging" to run the game at 60fps on Xbox Series S. Read on to learn more about how this limitation may affect future releases on Xbox and an insight into the game’s quests.
The Witcher 4 Development Updates
60fps on Xbox Series S is "Extremely Challenging" But Releasing on It is Mandatory for Studios
The Witcher 4 displayed stunning graphics and performance during its tech demo at the State of Unreal 2025. Developer CD Projekt Red (CDPR) said that their goal was to run the game at 60fps on the PS5 consistently, but has recently admitted that achieving the same with the Xbox Series S will be "extremely challenging."
In a video interview with Digital Foundry on June 14, the developers discussed how the demo was made and their plans for the project. CDPR Vice President of Technology Charles Tremblay was asked about how the team will get The Witcher 4 to run on the Xbox Series S, which has lower specs compared to other current-gen consoles.
He responded, "I wish we did a lot of work already on that, but we did not, so this is something that is next on our radar for sure. Will say that 60 FPS will definitely be extremely challenging on Series S." It seems that Tremblay is not the only one who carries this sentiment, as there have been a lot of complaints from other developers about Microsoft’s mandatory Series S compatibility, limiting studios’ potential in delivering their games.
For example, in 2022, Bossa Studios VFX Artist Ian Maclure stated in a since-deleted tweet that many developers were desperately trying to get the Series S launch requirements to be dropped as the console "turned out to be an albatross around the neck of production."
Meanwhile, Rocksteady Senior Character Technical Artist Lee Devonald also shared the same opinion and claimed that this was the reason why Gotham Knights was capped at 30fps on all consoles. In another deleted tweet in 2022, he specifically mentioned the Series S and noted that an "entire generation of games, hamstrung by that potato."
Moreover, Baldur’s Gate 3’s delayed release in 2023 was due to discussions about feature parity, which prevented developer Larian Studios from launching on schedule as they struggled to include split-screen co-op on the Series S.
However, Xbox is adamant about keeping the Series S the way it is. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer told Eurogamer in 2023 that they will not drop Series S and clarified the whole dilemma. He stated, "I don't see a world where we drop S. In terms of parity, I don't think you've heard from us or Larian, that this was about parity. I think that's more that the community is talking about it."
In a more recent interview with Destin in January 2025, Spencer said that Series S paved the way for handheld consoles to have games tailored for lower-spec devices. He explained, "In a way I think about it in almost exactly the opposite way right now. With the rise of handheld PCs and even the introduction so far of the Switch 2, as developers we’re building on more device specs, from lower powered—because they’re battery powered devices—all the way through things that plug into the wall. I actually think we have a real advantage because we’ve been targeting S for quite a while, that our games have been built and they’re portable across many different specs."
With the rapid advancements in technology, it will be interesting to see if the Xbox Series S will hold up for years to come, or if Microsoft will drop its mandatory requirement for games to run well on its current entry-level system.
Possibility of The Witcher 4 on Switch 2
Along the same topic of consoles, the Nintendo Switch 2’s release and The Witcher 4’s tech demo happened in the same week, which made fans curious whether the UE5-powered game can run on Nintendo’s newest handheld device. This was a major discussion since the console’s reveal in January, as many wondered how powerful the Switch 2 would be.
Experts at Digital Foundry on June 9 claimed that a Switch 2 port is a possibility based on The Witcher 4’s tech demo. They noted that since CDPR revealed that the demo featured 60fps on the PS5, converting this to 30fps for the Switch 2 can be done. "Them showing it off at 60 leaves more room on the table," they said.
CDPR has collaborated with Nintendo in the past, which brought The Witcher 3 to the original Switch in 2019, and more recently, the Switch 2 launched alongside Cyberpunk 2077’s port. CDPR’s Gameplay Technical Design Expert Filip Downar sat with Eurogamer in April and shared the studio’s relationship with Nintendo.
He said, "Our relationship with Nintendo goes back to the original Nintendo Switch, where we released The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. We were happy with how that game was received by players so, when we heard about the more powerful Nintendo Switch 2, we immediately thought it would be the perfect platform for Cyberpunk 2077."
Nothing has been announced regarding The Witcher 4 coming to the Switch 2, but Koei Tecmo Producer Takuto Edagawa gave fans insight into the capabilities of the latest Nintendo device. While working with the Wild Hearts Switch 2 port, Edogawa spoke with Wccftech on June 10 and said that Switch 2’s power is closer to Xbox Series S than PS4.
He noted, "There are a lot of characteristics when it comes to raw computing power, so it's difficult to generalise, but I think it can be thought as closer to the Series S." Based on this, fans can probably have a glimmer of hope that The Witcher 4 could come to Switch 2 since it can be compared to the Series S’ power, which Xbox still makes it mandatory for games to release on.
The Witcher 4 Won’t Have Fetch Quests
CDPR has yet to reveal The Witcher 4’s gameplay and other in-game content, but Narrative Director Philipp Weber assured fans that it will not feature fetch quests. During an interview with GamesRadar+ on June 13, Weber shared the team’s approach to making the studio’s legendary quests.
Weber emphasized that it’s a general rule for the team not to have fetch quests for The Witcher 4, as this was one of the feedback they received for The Witcher 3. He said that every designer made "10 times as many ideas as those that landed in the game," which could indicate the wide variety of quests their upcoming title will have.
Furthermore, the studio’s confidence in making controversial or heavy-themed quests remains intact for the sequel. Weber stated, "We don't just do it to be showy. We do it because there's an interesting question to delve into – not necessarily a question we want to answer, but a question we want to explore and think is worth it."
Regardless, fans need not worry about how CDPR will do with The Witcher 4’s content, given that the studio has created incredible stories and side quests with The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. It’s still too early to pass any judgment on their upcoming Witcher title, given that not much information has been revealed on the game.
The Witcher 4 is set to be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. There have been no announcements regarding a specific release date. To stay up to date with the latest information about the game, check out our article below!
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