Witcher 4 Dev Aims To Prevent Another Cyberpunk 2077 Launch Failure

CD Projekt Red is making strides to prevent a repeat of the launch troubles faced by Cyberpunk 2077. A company executive confirmed that the studio is refining its development processes to improve game quality moving forward.

Currently, CDPR is busy with several projects, including multiple titles set in The Witcher universe. They recently disclosed that Project Polaris, which many are calling The Witcher 4 until an official title is announced, has entered “full-scale production.” While details remain scarce, this new installment will employ Unreal Engine 5 instead of their in-house REDengine. Future titles will also utilize this advanced engine developed by Epic Games.

An in-depth interview with Charles Tremblay, the VP of technology at CD Projekt Red, was published by Eurogamer. During the discussion, Tremblay highlighted that the switch to Unreal Engine will not only enable them to develop multiple games concurrently but also significantly mitigate issues encountered during the Cyberpunk 2077 development. He expressed confidence that Project Polaris aims to surpass the success of its predecessor, The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt, regarded as one of the greatest games ever made.

“The next game we produce will be bigger and better than what has come before it—no compromises,” Tremblay stated. “With improvements in our processes, we refuse to replicate our past mistakes. Launching a product in a less-than-ideal state is simply unacceptable.”

To bolster their development, the studio is refining its pre-production phases and has made strategic staffing reductions to avoid project bloat. The goal is to ensure that upcoming games are compatible across multiple platforms from the outset rather than focusing on a single system initially. While this may extend development timelines, the hope is that the finished products will be of higher quality.

“At the end of the day, the responsibility lies with us. We acknowledge that failures can happen, but we strive to ensure they don’t,” Tremblay emphasized. “Maintaining that awareness keeps our team focused, and though there is concern, it’s the kind that fosters a constructive environment.”

Despite facing significant backlash at launch, Cyberpunk 2077 has reportedly sold over 30 million copies. The game’s initial state was marred by numerous bugs and poor performance, particularly on older consoles, causing many players to abandon it. However, CD Projekt Red has worked diligently to regain player trust through successful updates, including the acclaimed Phantom Liberty DLC and a well-received Netflix anime adaptation.