Technical ambition, optimism, and timeframes: what we learned about The Witcher 4 from speaking to CD Projekt Red

CD Projekt Red shares insights on The Witcher 4's development, tech switch, and lessons from Cyberpunk 2077.

: CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 4 has entered full-scale production with ambitions for it to surpass previous successes. Key insights reveal their switch from the REDengine to Unreal for multiple projects and emphasize a learned cautiousness from Cyberpunk 2077. Strategies include a more disciplined marketing campaign, optimizing tech resources, and aiming for a synchronized launch across platforms. The studio emphasizes collaboration with Epic and maintaining a large, ambitious development team.

CD Projekt Red has been hard at work on The Witcher 4, which has now entered full-scale production. Technical ambitions are heightened with the switch from their REDengine to Unreal, allowing for multiple projects like Cyberpunk's sequel and a new IP. This decision is rooted in the desire to share resources across projects and collaborate closely with Epic Games.

The studio has internalized lessons from Cyberpunk 2077, including managing scope and platform development better. The production process now involves longer pre-production phases and comprehensive reviews to ensure tech readiness before scaling up. This approach aims to avoid previous release issues and strives for a synchronized multi-platform launch.

Looking towards launch strategies, CD Projekt Red is adopting a measured marketing approach. There will likely be a slightly longer, but more focused promotional campaign than in the past, with an emphasis on platform readiness. The team is optimistic yet grounded, aware that sustained success requires hard work and cautious optimism.