“There is no magic, just hard work.” CD Projekt has learned from the Cyberpunk 2077 disaster and is determined not to repeat the same mistakes with The Witcher 4. The studio now emphasizes thorough analysis and frequent testing at every stage of development.

In 2020, CD Projekt RED’s reputation was severely damaged by the disastrous launch of Cyberpunk 2077. The game, plagued with bugs and performance issues, left thousands of players disappointed. While significant improvements in content and sales have since helped the studio recover, it hasn’t forgotten the lessons learned. With The Witcher 4, the team is approaching development with a new, carefully planned strategy.

Charles Trembley, VP of Technology at CD Projekt, spoke with Eurogamer UK about the studio’s shift to Unreal Engine 5, the future of The Witcher, and the mistakes made during Cyberpunk 2077‘s development. Trembley explained that the company has completely restructured its approach to game creation, focusing on extended pre-production phases and regular testing to ensure the technology meets expectations.

“At different stages of the project, there are different requirements for the technology,” Trembley said. “We define these in advance and work closely with the technology directors to ensure everything is ready when needed.”

A New Approach, A Brighter Future

The studio is now in full production on The Witcher 4, and Michał Nowakowski, CD Projekt’s co-CEO, expressed optimism about the project’s future. “I’m optimistic because I’m naturally an optimistic person,” he told Eurogamer UK. “But more importantly, as an organization, we’ve learned not to take anything for granted. Behind every success is hard work.”

Nowakowski emphasized that success cannot rely on luck or past achievements. “Everything can fail, but it’s our responsibility to ensure that it doesn’t,” he said. “When everyone at the company is constantly worried—in a good way—it gives us a better chance to succeed than thinking we’re too big to fail.”

Source: 3djuegos