Polish developer CD Projekt RED has announced that their next game, Polaris, already referred to as The Witcher 4 by journalists and gamers, has become the studio’s largest project. Currently, over 400 individuals are contributing to the game’s development, as stated by CFO Piotr Nelyubovči, with plans to transition into the production phase in the latter half of this year.
In February, it was revealed that a mere 17 people were tasked with supporting Cyberpunk 2077.
The development timeline provided by the developers indicates that Polaris is advancing rapidly, receiving the bulk of the studio’s resources. This aligns with Adam Badowski’s January announcement that approximately 400 staff members would be dedicated to the new Witcher title by mid-year.
407 people are already working on the continuation of the Witcher series. Another 56 developers are creating a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 codenamed Project Orion. The remaining 20 people are engaged in Project Hadar, a role-playing game based on the new franchise.
However, we should not anticipate the unveiling of the next major game soon, as the team is still reeling from the disappointing launch of Cyberpunk 2077. Consequently, CD Projekt declared in 2021 that it would refrain from selling pre-orders until the game’s release is imminent. It’s likely that just before the marketing campaign kicks off, the team might release small trailers, but extensive advertising will wait until the initial sales are underway.
This cautious approach stems from the discrepancy between the Cyberpunk 2077 marketing and the actual experience delivered to players. Although the game was well-crafted, the decade-long wait since the cyberpunk game’s announcement allowed fans to cultivate numerous hopes and dreams, which ultimately led to disillusionment. Thus, the hesitation to prematurely disclose details about The Witcher is justifiable.
In a May report, CDPR also highlighted that Cyberpunk 2077’s ratings on Steam were “extremely positive,” with a 95% approval rate.
“It means a lot to us, especially considering how much time and effort we put into the game,” said Piotr Nelubowicz, CFO of CD Projekt.
![[PL/EN] Grupa CD PROJEKT - wyniki finansowe za I kwartał 2024 r. | KOMENTARZ](https://www.aeondogma.com/wp-content/cache/flying-press/4f3f4eb9f3ebc98acf4e05f02f89835b.jpg)
CD Projekt Red reported a profit of approximately $25.5 million, marking a 40% increase from the previous year. The group’s consolidated revenue amounted to $58 million.
In February 2024, CD Projekt RED, in collaboration with the “Great Christmas Charity Orchestra” (WOSP), organized an auction granting the winner a chance to contribute to the development of a new game in the Witcher series. An anonymous fan secured this opportunity with a bid of 30,100 zlotys.
