CD Projekt Red co-CEO Michał Nowakowski believes the studio has yet to achieve a full "redemption arc" following the troubled 2020 launch of Cyberpunk 2077. While the company has seen the title reach 35 million copies sold, Nowakowski stated that the loss of consumer trust remains a lingering reality for the Polish developer. The studio is now focusing its long-term strategy on upcoming projects like The Witcher 4 to rebuild its reputation with its player base.
The state of the "redemption arc"
In a recent interview with Edge Magazine, Nowakowski addressed the studio’s standing nearly six years after the initial release of Cyberpunk 2077. He acknowledged that while the game is now in a vastly improved state—largely following the successful 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty expansion—the initial damage to the brand was significant.
"I’m not 100 per cent convinced we went through the full redemption arc," Nowakowski said. "I’m convinced that we lost the faith of some people indefinitely, and that’s a fair thing."
The launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in December 2020 was marked by severe technical performance issues, particularly on last-generation consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. These failures led to the game being temporarily removed from the PlayStation Store, a rare occurrence for a major AAA release.
Future development strategy
CD Projekt Red is currently transitioning toward a new production cycle. Nowakowski emphasized that the studio does not intend to become a developer that releases a massive title every year. Instead, the company is operating under a "10-year rolling plan" that prioritizes quality over aggressive market saturation.
The studio’s current pipeline includes several high-profile projects:
- The Witcher 4: Currently in development, this title is viewed as a primary vehicle for regaining player trust.
- Cyberpunk 2: The sequel, codenamed "Project Orion," officially entered pre-production in 2023.
- The Witcher Remake: A ground-up reimagining of the original 2007 game.
CD Projekt Red’s market position
The studio’s financial recovery has been steady since the low point of 2020. According to the company’s official financial reports, the sustained success of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and the eventual stabilization of Cyberpunk 2077 allowed the developer to recoup its development costs.
Despite this financial rebound, Nowakowski maintains that the studio’s internal culture has been permanently altered by the 2020 experience. He described the current team as "seasoned, battle-hardened veterans" who are better equipped to handle the challenges of complex game development.
Key Takeaways
- Trust remains the priority: Leadership acknowledges that regaining the full confidence of the gaming community is a long-term process that cannot be solved by a single patch.
- Controlled growth: The studio is explicitly avoiding a strategy of "flooding the market" with games, focusing instead on limited, high-quality intellectual properties.
- Active pipelines: While The Witcher 4 is the most anticipated upcoming release, the studio is simultaneously managing a remake and a sequel to its futuristic RPG franchise.