CD Projekt Red Prepares for Major Witcher and Cyberpunk Developments as Production Approaches

Anticipation steadily mounts as CD Projekt Red provides glimpses into the creation process of the upcoming Witcher sequel and the successor to Cyberpunk 2077. In a recent announcement accompanying the studio's financial report for the early part of the year, joint CEO Michał Nowakowski indicated that full production on the anticipated Witcher title, known as Project Polaris, is set to commence soon. Additionally, Project Orion, the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, is advancing through its planning stages.

Nowakowski noted that the progress on Polaris is well underway as the development team approaches a significant milestone that will signify the conclusion of the preproduction phase. He emphasized that the first part of the year has been particularly productive for their Boston studio, which is laying the foundation for Project Orion, a fresh entry in the Cyberpunk franchise.

In a separate earnings call summarized by VGC, Nowakowski confirmed the stability of the studio's ongoing projects, highlighting that progress has been steady across the board. He remarked that the Polaris team is on course to enter the production phase imminently and that consistent advancement is evident in both announced and unannounced projects.

Project Polaris was unveiled for the first time in March 2022, signaling the onset of a fresh era for the beloved role-playing game series. As of July 31, 2024, it has grown to a team of 410 developers, a figure anticipated by CDPR CEO Adam Kiciński last year. Meanwhile, Project Orion, crafted by the developers who enhanced Cyberpunk 2077 and contributed to the Phantom Liberty expansion, is currently in the conceptual design stage as of October 2023.

Paweł Sasko, the quest director for Cyberpunk 2077 and now the associate game director for the sequel, shared that the quest development team consists of several former modders. Currently, half of this 24-member team comes from backgrounds in modding for games like The Witcher and Cyberpunk.