The success of Baldur’s Gate 3 has redefined how RPGs are developed and could influence the approach to The Witcher 4. However, this might not be good news for console players, as developers may prioritize PC versions first. CD Projekt RED acknowledges the lessons learned from the “Cyberpunk 2077 case.”
While The Witcher 3 remains a resounding success nearly a decade after its release, CD Projekt faced intense criticism following Cyberpunk 2077’s launch in 2020. The state of the sci-fi RPG was highly controversial, particularly due to the poor performance on PS4 and Xbox One, while current-gen versions took two additional years to arrive. This history, combined with examples from studios like Larian Studios, has led CD Projekt to consider prioritizing a PC release for The Witcher 4 before its console debut.
Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios’ acclaimed RPG, spent three years in early access with continuous updates. However, its console versions faced delays: the PS5 version arrived a month late, and the Xbox Series version won’t launch until December 8. This phased release strategy allowed Larian to optimize performance on consoles using improvements first implemented on PC – a strategy CD Projekt is considering adopting.
Swen Vincke, head of Larian Studios, acknowledged that the delay aimed to avoid a situation akin to Cyberpunk 2077’s troubled launch. Speaking with Eurogamer UK, Charles Tremblay, CD Projekt’s Vice President, stated that the company has discussed following Larian’s lead for The Witcher 4. “It’s something we’ve talked about, but we haven’t made any final decisions,” Tremblay noted, clarifying the Polish developer’s current stance.
Tremblay emphasized that the decision is far from straightforward. He stated, “It’s not a strategy we want to adopt right now.” However, he added: “If, in the future, there are, say, 20 platforms available, will we launch on all 20 simultaneously? Maybe not. It’s possible we might release on PC first and then expand to others.” This leaves the door open for such an approach.
The Witcher 4 enters a new development phase
Simultaneously, CD Projekt RED announced in its latest financial report that The Witcher 4, internally codenamed Project Polaris, has progressed to full-scale production. This major milestone was highlighted in the report, where co-CEO Michał Nowakowski expressed pride in the team’s efforts. Sebastian Kalemba, the game’s director, also celebrated this achievement, emphasizing the new challenges and the confidence in the team’s talent to deliver an extraordinary experience.
Source: 3djuegos
