Nowakowski: cd projekt still chasing redemption after cyberpunk's fallout
The scars of Cyberpunk 2077’s disastrous launch remain stubbornly fresh at CD Projekt Red, according to co-CEO Michał Nowakowski. He admits the studio hasn’t fully achieved a ‘redemption arc,’ a sentiment that acknowledges the deep-seated distrust cultivated by a game plagued by technical failings and unmet expectations.
A long road back
Nowakowski, speaking with Edge, acknowledged the team’s ‘heartbreaking’ experience during the game’s premature release. “I’m not 100 per cent convinced we went through the full redemption arc,” he confessed. “I’m convinced that we lost the faith of some people indefinitely, and that’s a fair thing.”
It’s been almost six years since the botched rollout of Cyberpunk effectively erased the goodwill built on the phenomenal success of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in 2015. What was once a wave of fervent anticipation was swiftly drowned in a deluge of game-breaking bugs, visual inconsistencies, and a frustratingly persistent rate of crashes, particularly on older consoles. Sales initially recovered, but the damage to the studio’s reputation was profound and immediate – a catastrophic breach of trust.
Yet, Nowakowski expresses cautious optimism. “But I do hope we will be able to make it back – if not with The Witcher 4, then with whatever comes next,” he stated. He highlighted a shift within the company in the aftermath, noting the emergence of ‘seasoned, battle-hardened veterans’ and leaders capable of navigating the complexities of a crisis. The goal, he clarified, isn’t to become a ‘big game factory’, but to prioritize quality and eschew an over-reliance on intellectual property. “We just want to make really cool games, and we don’t want to have a ton of IPs either.”
Beyond the witcher
While development on Cyberpunk 2 has largely concluded, and the eagerly anticipated The Witcher 4 remains conspicuously absent from any concrete release schedule, CD Projekt isn’t resting on its laurels. A surprise expansion, Songs of the Past, is slated for 2027, offering a substantial addition to the existing Witcher 3 experience. Furthermore, a full remake of Cyberpunk 2077, dubbed Cyberpunk 2, is already in pre-production, alongside a reimagining of the original Witcher. It’s a strategic move, a calculated attempt to demonstrate continued investment and, perhaps more importantly, an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional gaming experiences.
A measured approach
Nowakowski emphasized a more deliberate development process, outlining a 10-year rolling plan focused on sustainable growth rather than a relentless pursuit of quantity. “It may happen, but this is not the goal,” he explained. “We’re not planning to grow in that way.” The future, it seems, hinges not on a single blockbuster title, but on a series of meticulously crafted games—a slow, deliberate climb back to respect and, ultimately, redemption.