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- CDPR initially wanted to sell just 6 million units of The Witcher 3.
- The team feared Batman Arkham Knight releasing in the same year would harm The Witcher 3.
- CDPR eventually achieved its sales target in a single quarter and sold over 50 million lifetime units.
The Witcher 3 raised the standard for RPGs worldwide, introducing the genre to an all-new audience. This iconic CDPR release recently turned 10 and has sold more than 50 million units alone.
However, CDPR did not initially see this success coming. In fact, the studio initially set a very modest sales target and feared that The Witcher 3 would be overshadowed by another AAA hit from the same year.
Why it matters: The Witcher 3 completely changed CDPR’s stature in the industry, cementing its legacy as one of the industry’s biggest studios.
As per joint CDPR CEO Michal Nowakowski, the studio’s initial sales target for The Witcher 3 was set at just 6 million units. This target was considered “super ambitious” at the time, but the team ended up smashing through the figure in about a quarter.
Michal Nowakowski told PC Gamer that CDPR was fearful of Rocksteady’s Batman Arkham Knight, another fan-favorite title from the same year. The developers thought Batman Arkham Knight would “roll over” The Witcher 3.
However, a shoddy PC port and potential Batman franchise fatigue at the time meant that The Witcher 3 comfortably pulled ahead. Both studios have also found themselves in a very different position today.
While CDPR’s next title, The Witcher 4, is all but set up for success following Cyberpunk 2077’s comeback, Rocksteady’s fate hangs in the balance after an abysmal attempt at breaking into the live-service genre.
Both teams are moving full steam ahead, and with Batman rumored to be Rocksteady’s next title, perhaps the stars will align yet again, pitting Batman and The Witcher against each other again in the same year.
What are your thoughts on the studio’s initial sales target? Do you think CDPR was right to fear Batman Arkham Knight? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.
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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.
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