Reflecting on The Witcher 3's successes and flaws: a retrospective with CD Projekt Red

: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt by CD Projekt Red released in 2015, catapulted the studio into fame with its rich medieval world and complex narrative, selling over 60 million copies. Despite the acclaim, the development process wasn't without its challenges, such as the controversial launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020, which initially faced scrutiny but later achieved monetary success. Developers acknowledged several design flaws, including overused game mechanics and underwhelming combat depth, as areas for improvement. The retrospective highlighted lessons learned from past projects, influencing the direction of upcoming titles like The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2, as the studio leverages its experience to navigate future challenges.

Ten years after the release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red reflects on the game’s development, recognizing both its enormous success and the challenges it brought. Joint CEO Michał Nowakowski explained that before the game’s launch, the studio struggled financially, particularly during the 2008 crisis. The team focused on survival—paying salaries and avoiding collapse. The success of The Witcher 3 elevated CDPR to the status of global game development giants.

The game’s open-world depth and branching narrative design set a new benchmark in RPGs. But CDPR admitted that development was disorganized, relying on last-minute patches and unrealistic optimism. This success bred a sense of overconfidence that led to poor planning and overcommitment during the development of Cyberpunk 2077, which launched in a notoriously broken state. CDPR described this mindset as "magical thinking."

One of the game’s most praised arcs was the “Bloody Baron” quest, exploring family trauma, alcoholism, and domestic violence. CDPR emphasized that these topics were included not to provoke controversy but to engage players with serious, emotional storytelling. They aimed to treat sensitive subjects with nuance and consequence.

Despite critical acclaim, the development of The Witcher 3 was marked by extensive crunch. CDPR acknowledges this and has pledged to avoid the same mistakes in future projects. The studio admitted that their lack of structure and overreliance on “passion” led to employee burnout, something they are now committed to resolving.

Looking ahead, CDPR plans a more methodical approach with The Witcher 4. They aim to retain the soul of The Witcher 3 while building a healthier work environment and embracing better development practices. The studio hopes to balance creativity with sustainability as they craft the next chapter in the saga.

Sources: Eurogamer, PC Gamer, GamesRadar, Screen Rant