Six years after the turbulent arrival of Cyberpunk 2077, the shadow of that release still looms over CD Projekt Red. While the studio has successfully navigated a high-profile redemption arc for the title—turning a disastrous 2020 launch into a widely praised experience—leadership remains cautious about the company's standing with the gaming public.
Speaking to Edge's Knowledge, CDPR co-CEO Michał Nowakowski expressed a candid view on the studio's current reputation. Despite the fact that Cyberpunk 2077 is now regarded as a top-tier open-world RPG with roughly 90% positive reviews on Steam, Nowakowski believes the studio has yet to fully move past the institutional trauma of that initial release. He admitted that the studio has likely "lost the faith of some people indefinitely," noting that such a sentiment is a fair reaction to the events of 2020.
The Stakes for The Witcher 4
With The Witcher 4 currently in development, the stakes for CD Projekt Red are higher than ever. The studio views this upcoming project not just as a new entry in a beloved franchise, but as a critical opportunity to prove they can deliver a polished, high-quality product from day one. Unlike the post-launch lifecycle of Cyberpunk 2077, where major patches and the Phantom Liberty expansion were required to fulfill the game's promise, the studio's current business model for The Witcher 4 does not lean on post-launch depth to save the experience.
"Launching a new title is inherently riskier," Nowakowski noted, pointing out that even closed betas often fail to represent the broader realities of a full, narrative-driven launch. For a single-player game, there is no "stress test" that can simulate a public release without spoiling the story, making the initial launch window the most vital period for the studio's future.
Learning from the Past
The lessons learned from the rocky launch of Cyberpunk 2077 are driving the studio's internal approach to The Witcher 4. CDPR has confirmed that the new game will feature a map size and quest density comparable to The Witcher 3, but the team is operating under a different set of pressures this time around. With 513 employees currently assigned to the project, there is a clear emphasis on reaching a successful launch that avoids the crunch and performance issues of the past.
While the studio has ambitious plans to release multiple new The Witcher titles in quick succession, the primary goal remains restoring complete trust. Whether the upcoming title can fully wash away the memory of 2020 remains the central question for the 513-person team behind the project. The Witcher 4 is currently in development for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with no fixed release date currently on the calendar.