- An insider states that the team behind The Witcher 3 is not in the best position.
- He points to a lack of legacy talent and a focus on DEI as major concerns.
- The insider states that the team’s shift to Unreal Engine was a result of its lack of veteran talent.
CD Projekt RED has become one of gaming’s biggest studios over the last decade. Following back-to-back hits with The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, the team has garnered a reputation for being among the best in the business when it comes to RPGs.
Despite its missteps with Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt RED has regained fan trust, and millions are anticipating its next releases, including The Witcher 4. As the team continues to work on these ambitious projects, a new report warns of a terrifying future. According to an insider, the studio is in a poor state.
Why it matters: Following Cyberpunk 2077’s failure, the developer learned many important lessons. In theory, these lessons should help it avoid repeating similar mistakes, but the insider suggests otherwise.
As per Endymion, plenty of senior talent has departed CD Projekt RED. This includes the director of The Witcher 3 and other developers who had a firm grasp of the RED engine that powered the studio’s recent RPGs.
The insider also suggests that diversity hires are becoming a problem for the developer. This comes as no surprise amid recent diversity initiatives from the gaming giant. According to the report, this has led to a heavy reliance on outsourcing.
CD Projekt RED is attempting to compensate for the lack of veteran talent by relying on contractors. Endymion says that this is one reason the team switched to Unreal Engine for future projects, suggesting that the new developers are not familiar with the RED engine.
Currently, CD Projekt RED seems to be making all the right decisions. Between the release of Phantom Liberty and Cyberpunk 2077’s redemption, the team looks to be set for even greater success moving forward.
However, the insider’s words paint a grim picture of the future. With diversity and inclusivity becoming an increasingly controversial subject in the industry, the team might find itself becoming the subject of criticism as it continues to push for DEI in future projects.
Still, fans remain quite excited about The Witcher 4 and Project Orion for now. The former is nearly ready to enter production, while the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel is being led by Pawel Sasko, a director who helped redeem the previous game.
Here’s hoping that both projects turn out as great as possible and CD Projekt RED continues to deliver class-leading RPGs for its fans.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.