CDPR Ramps Up Cyberpunk 2 Dev Team to 300+ by 2027
CD Projekt Red is making an unprecedented move to significantly scale up its development efforts for Cyberpunk 2, internally known as Project Orion. Recent financial disclosures reveal ambitious plans to expand the core team to over 300 developers by the close of 2027, signaling a robust and deliberate pre-production phase for the highly anticipated sequel. This strategic growth underscores CDPR's commitment to building a solid foundation, learning crucial lessons from past launches, and ensuring the next venture into Night City redefines the genre.
CD Projekt Red Accelerates Project Orion Development
According to the company's latest financial report, covering the period from July 1st to September 30th this year, CD Projekt Red is investing heavily in the future of the Cyberpunk franchise. As of October 31st this year, a dedicated team of 135 developers was already engaged in laying the groundwork for Cyberpunk 2. This foundational work, projected to span across 2026 and 2027, is a clear indicator of the studio's methodical approach to game development.
The expansion is primarily driven by growth in CDPR's strategically established Boston studio, alongside contributions from teams in Warsaw and Vancouver. Michał Nowakowski, CD Projekt joint-CEO, highlighted that the Boston team currently comprises approximately 80 senior-level staff. Nowakowski stated, "Having accomplished our goal of building a strong leadership team at its core, we are now shifting to hiring more mid-entry level roles to carry on with pre-production works." He further confirmed plans to "expand the Boston-based Cyberpunk team as the project progresses, and double it in the next two years," which would bring that specific studio's headcount to around 160 individuals by 2027.
Crucially, this localized growth is part of a larger, global initiative. By the end of 2027, the collective Cyberpunk 2 development force across all studios is slated to exceed 300 personnel, marking a substantial increase designed to facilitate a more robust and streamlined production cycle.
Strategic Expansion Built on Lessons Learned
This significant investment in human resources is not merely about increasing numbers; it's a direct response to critical insights gained from the original Cyberpunk 2077's challenging launch. CD Projekt Red explicitly aims to mitigate issues such as understaffing, which contributed to intense crunch periods and "game-centric foibles" like the initial difficulty in authentically portraying an American dystopian city with a European-centric development team.
Michał Nowakowski emphasized the company's strong belief that the investment in the new Boston studio will "pay off in the future, bringing the next Cyberpunk experience to a new level." This strategic geographical expansion and focus on senior leadership from the outset are intended to foster a stable and efficient development environment from pre-production onwards.
Pre-Production Progress and Future Vision for Night City
While the focus remains firmly on foundational work and team expansion, the joint-CEO offered a glimpse into the current state of Project Orion. Nowakowski expressed satisfaction, noting he is "happy with the progress the CP2 team has made so far." However, he cautiously added that "it's for sure too early to talk about entering any next stage or phase of this project," underscoring that the game is still in its very early stages.
CD Projekt Red's long-term vision involves the simultaneous development of major titles like Cyberpunk 2 and The Witcher 4, a departure from previous project cycles. This dual-track strategy aims to maximize efficiency and output across their flagship franchises, ensuring a continuous pipeline of high-quality experiences for players worldwide.
For context, the current team working on The Witcher 4 stands at 447 developers. Although Cyberpunk 2's projected 2027 headcount of just over 300 will fall short of The Witcher 4's current numbers by approximately 100 developers, it still represents a formidable commitment. The original Cyberpunk 2077 had a peak of 530 developers, indicating that the current strategy for Cyberpunk 2 prioritizes a more deliberate and structured ramp-up rather than sheer numbers, aiming for a smoother development process and a triumphant return to Night City.