Original Witcher Game Will Be Remade With Unreal Engine 5

If you missed out on the first Witcher game from 2007, it’s coming back through a remake that’ll feature up-to-date graphics using Unreal Engine 5. 

Developer CD Projekt Red announced(Opens in a new window) the project today; it was previously code-named “Canis Majoris,” and briefly mentioned in the company’s investor presentation earlier this month. 

“The Witcher is where it all started for us, for CD Projekt Red,” said studio head Adam Badowski. “It was the first game we made, ever, and it was a big moment for us then. Going back to this place and remaking the game for the next generation of gamers to experience it feels just as big, if not bigger.”

Using Unreal Engine 5 promises to upgrade the fantasy RPG with photorealistic graphics and effects when the original game looks fairly dated by today’s standards. 

However, CD Projekt Red already has its hands full developing a whole slate of sequel games for The Witcher franchise and Cyberpunk 2077. So the company is tapping an outside studio to help it develop the remake. 

“The game is currently in the early stages of development at the Polish studio Fool’s Theory, where veteran Witcher series staff are involved. We, as CD Projekt Red, are providing full creative supervision,” the company said. 

According(Opens in a new window) to its website, Fool’s Theory has already been helping Larian Studios create the upcoming Baldur’s Gate III with gameplay and tools programming support. 

It doesn’t look like the Witcher remake will arrive anytime soon though. “We want to do this right, so please be patient—it’s gonna be a while until we can share more details,” CD Projekt Red’s official account for The Witcher franchise said(Opens in a new window) on Twitter.  

For fans hoping for something new, the company is also planning another trilogy of Witcher games, which CD Projekt Red is aiming to deliver over an ambitious six-year period. These games will also be built with Unreal Engine 5.