CD Projekt shifts focus to niche AAA open-world RPGs

The co-founder of CD Projekt Red, Marcin Iwiński, stated that the studio has embraced its specialization in "AAA RPG, open-world narrative-driven games." As one of the creators behind The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Iwiński emphasized the importance of focus during an appearance on the studio's AnsweRed podcast alongside joint-CEO Adam Badowski.

During their conversation, Iwiński acknowledged that while the team has experimented with diversifying their game portfolio, they've ultimately recognized their strengths lie in deep narrative open-world RPGs. "We've learned we must maintain razor-sharp focus," Iwiński explained. "We can't pursue every creative temptation, even when we're excited by others' innovative projects in different genres."

"This realization led us to transition from single-project development to handling multiple projects simultaneously," Badowski added. "But every initiative remains aligned with our core strategy of creating expansive, story-rich open-world RPGs."

"The discipline sounds simpler than it is," Iwiński noted. "Growth creates distractions - when you see competitors succeeding with different approaches, it's tempting to pivot. But we remind ourselves to stay true to our vision, because spreading resources too thin compromises quality."

Badowski expanded on their creative philosophy: "New ideas and evolving gameplay mechanics constantly inspire us, but we carefully adapt innovations to fit our signature style. This thoughtful integration process is what ensures long-term success."

The studio's approach continues yielding impressive results - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has now sold over 60 million copies across all editions, with expansions tracked separately.

Current Projects at CD Projekt Red

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Recent announcements reveal The Witcher 3 will receive a major 2025 update introducing revolutionary cross-platform mod support for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles. This enhancement, celebrating the game's 10th anniversary, will mark the first time console players can access mods.

Looking ahead, The Witcher 4 (codenamed Polaris) has entered full production though won't launch before 2027. The studio's portfolio also includes Cyberpunk 2077's sequel Orion, Project Sirius (a Witcher multiplayer experience), the original IP Project Hadar, and a ground-up remake of the original Witcher game.