CD Projekt Red stands today as a titan in the gaming industry, renowned for its award-winning games that shape industry trends for years. This wasn’t always the case; the company began modestly as a vendor of pirated discs in Warsaw’s markets. Yet, it was their fervent passion for gaming and relentless dedication that propelled them from these humble beginnings to become one of the world’s leading video game developers. The ascent of CD Projekt Red is both extraordinary and inspiring, marking a remarkable transition from market stalls to industry dominance.
First steps
The origins of CDPR trace back to Poland in the 1990s, a time marked by instability following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, prompting Poland’s shift from a planned to a market economy. Amidst these challenging times, two enterprising high school friends, Marcin Iwiński and Michał Kiciński, started selling pirated discs at Warsaw’s radio market, sourcing CDs from Greece with the assistance of a friend of Marcin’s for delivery.
Their venture thrived until Poland enacted copyright laws in 1994. This led the duo to cease selling pirated discs and focus on retailing licensed game versions. However, these licensed discs did not sell as well as the pirated ones. To address this, they devised an ingenious strategy: localizing and publishing games within Poland. This initiative led to the establishment of CD Projekt in 1994.
CD Projekt’s initial endeavor involved localizing and releasing the first installment of Diablo in Poland. However, this venture did not meet with success, as the majority of Polish consumers continued to purchase pirated copies. Subsequently, CDP was approached by Interplay, who proposed that they localize and release Baldur’s Gate in Poland. The Polish team accepted with enthusiasm, and the game quickly became a hit, with approximately 20,000 copies sold in Poland on its first day, marking a significant triumph for the company.
Years later, Interplay tasked CDP with creating a PC version of Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance, even providing a PlayStation 2 development kit for the project. Unfortunately, due to Interplay’s internal issues, the development was halted. The cancellation spurred CD Projekt to contemplate establishing their own gaming studio, leading to the formation of CD Projekt Red in 2002.
First project
In the early 2000s, Andrzej Sapkowski’s works, particularly the “Witcher” series, gained immense popularity in Poland, selling millions of copies and achieving success internationally. Notably, these books were the favorites of CD Projekt founders Marcin Iwiński and Michał Kiciński, inspiring them to pursue the creation of a Witcher game. However, the rights to develop a game within the Witcher universe were held by the Polish studio Metropolis Software, which had attempted to create a game based on Geralt of Rivia’s adventures back in 1997.
Despite numerous challenges, the Polish developers managed to acquire the development rights from fellow countrymen. Concurrently, Andrzej Sapkowski, the author, demanded his share from the sale. CD Projekt Red settled with him and commenced development.
The initial hurdle was selecting an appropriate engine, which was swiftly addressed by procuring the Aurora Engine from BioWare. With this issue resolved, two years later, the team showcased The Witcher at E3 2004.
Despite being tucked away in a small corner at the end of the exhibition, the game was played by over a thousand people in a single day, marking a significant success and garnering considerable interest in the project. As development progressed, the team expanded from 10 to 100 members, and the budget increased manifold. In the final six months, the studio’s staff worked 12-hour days and even slept in the office to refine the game.
The Witcher was released on October 24, 2007, and quickly became the center of attention. CD Projekt Red became known worldwide. Within the first three months, they sold 600,000 copies, an impressive feat for the time. The game was especially well-received in Poland, Russia, and other Slavic nations, where there was a keen interest in exploring Slavic mythology through gaming.
Crisis, launcher and sequel
The financial crisis of 2008 severely impacted CDPR, leaving the studio with significant debts to publishers and contractors that it struggled to settle. In response, CDPR launched a platform called GOG (Good Old Games) that year, aimed at preserving games from the 80s and 90s previously available only on physical media. Additionally, CDPR acquired Metropolis Software, the team behind a canceled Witcher universe game, assigning them to develop the sci-fi shooter ‘They,’ which was subsequently canceled after a year. In 2009, the studio also secured a license for the HAVOK engine.
Concurrently with these processes, the development of The Witcher’s second installment was in full swing, marked by high intensity. The studio adapted to the new engine, crafting the game “blindly,” and ultimately, a third of the game was discarded towards the end of its development. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings launched on May 16, 2011. Despite its poor technical state at launch, it garnered outstanding reviews and achieved substantial financial success.
The game gained such fame and popularity that in 2011, during Barack Obama’s visit to Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk presented the president with a collector’s edition of the second installment.
Game of the Decade
Following the success of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, the development team expanded to 300 members and embarked on creating a sequel to conclude Geralt’s saga. The development spanned 3.5 years and cost over $300 million. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was launched on May 19, 2015, and achieved phenomenal success. Critics lauded the game for its expansive world, engaging activities, and compelling storyline. With over 50 million copies sold, The Witcher 3 stands as one of the best-selling games in history.
The game’s success led to the release of two expansions: Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, further cementing the original’s triumph and boosting sales. Following the launch of The Witcher’s third installment, CD Projekt Red’s shares soared, establishing the studio as Europe’s most valuable company. From barely scraping by a decade ago to achieving global success, CD Projekt Red has risen to royalty status in the gaming world.
Big… failure?… success?…
Rewinding to the past, in 2012, CD Projekt Red announced the development of a game set in the Cyberpunk 2020 universe, guided by its creator, Mike Pondsmith. By 2013, a trailer was released, astonishing many gamers and unveiling the game’s title: Cyberpunk 2077.
The game resurfaced in 2018 with a new trailer at E3 2018. During the same event, developers divulged project details and, a month later, revealed the gameplay. At E3 2019, they reconnected with the audience, presented another trailer, and disclosed Keanu Reeves’ involvement as Johnny Silverhand. Additionally, they set the release date for April 16, 2020.
In early 2020, CD Projekt Red (CDPR) announced that the release date for Cyberpunk 2077 was delayed to September 19, 2020. Subsequently, due to the pandemic, the studio further postponed the release to November 19, and eventually to December 10. Upon its release on December 10, gamers expressed outrage. The game suffered from poor optimization, and the developers were accused of misleading players about various aspects of the game, casting it as one of the most disastrous projects in the gaming industry.
CDPR’s stock value plummeted by 50%, severely damaging the studio’s reputation. Amidst the widespread criticism, many players overlooked the story and gameplay. Eventually, the developers issued an apology and committed to resolving the issues to restore the game’s standard. Despite the controversy, the game achieved financial success during the pre-order phase, with 8 million copies sold.
Between 2021 and 2022, developers rolled out numerous patches and hotfixes to address bugs and flaws in the game. In 2022, the studio unveiled a DLC for the game, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, which launched in September 2023. By then, the studio had rectified CP2077 and restored audience trust. Following the DLC’s release, the game experienced a resurgence, propelling it to the top of the sales charts.
“What’s next?”
In 2022, CD Projekt Red informed investors of five new projects in development. The foremost is “Polaris,” a new Witcher trilogy focusing on a character other than Geralt. The only glimpse provided was an illustration featuring a witcher medallion amidst snow.
The second endeavor in the Witcher universe, “Canis Majoris,” is a reimagining of the original The Witcher game. It is being developed by Fool’s Theory, also known as The Thaumaturge.
The third installment in the Witcher universe, codenamed Sirius, is a story-driven cooperative PvE venture, featuring innovative technologies.
The upcoming project, Cyberpunk: Project Orion, is the sequel to CP2077. It’s under development by a newly established studio in Boston, headed by Pavel Sasko.
The final project is “Hadar,” a new intellectual property. CD Projekt Red is crafting an entirely new universe for this endeavor. Currently, around 20 individuals are dedicated to developing the game.
In summary, the journey of CD Projekt Red stands as a testament to how dedication to quality and player respect can culminate in remarkable success. Beginning as sellers of pirated discs, the company’s founders aimed high, aspiring to craft top-tier games and engage with their audience ethically. Now, CD Projekt Red reigns as a preeminent force in the gaming world, a status achieved through a blend of skill, fervor, and resolve.
Their impressive transformation from clandestine operations to worldwide acclaim is a validation of their steadfast work and relentless ambition. A promising and illustrious future lies ahead for CDPR, the titans of the gaming realm.
