CD Projekt RED’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, with the developer confirming one final update this year to add cross-platform mod support. In the latest AnsweRED, the studio reflected on its learnings over the years and how it needs to be “razor-sharp and focused” on its “niche,” per studio co-founder Marcin Iwiński (transcription via GamesRadar).
“In all that we’re doing, we’ve learned that we have to be razor-sharp, focused. We cannot do so many things we would love to do, that we are tempted to do. We tried, and it didn’t work out.” As a result, it needs “to focus on what we are good at and really put 100% into it.”
As a result, Joint CEO Adam Badowski noted, the studio opted to develop multiple projects. “That’s why we switched from a single project company to a multiple project company. But everything is in our strategy.”
“We’re gonna develop AAA RPG, open-world narrative-driven games, and this is our – let’s say – niche. So the focus is there.”
While it sounds simple in practice, Iwiński highlighted how challenging it can be, especially when other developers are working on cool things.
“When you’re growing, it’s hard because there are all these temptations, and these people are doing this stuff online, and it’s so cool, and we love to play it, and – you think, ‘Okay, no, let’s take a deep breath and come back to what we’re doing,’ because if we spread ourselves too thin, we’ll not deliver.”
CD Projekt RED recently announced that Project Orion has entered the pre-production phase, and based on the developer’s past projects, it may take four to five years to finish. Of course, the Cyberpunk 2 name stood out, but PR manager Ola Sondej clarified that it means “another game” in the universe rather than the official title.
The Witcher 4 is also in development, and though it received a cinematic trailer at The Game Awards 2024, a release date, platforms, and gameplay have yet to be announced.