CD Projekt Red Aims to Avoid Cyberpunk 2077 Launch Issues with The Witcher 4

CD Projekt Red is taking a hard look at its past as it gears up for the release of The Witcher 4. In a candid discussion regarding the studio's trajectory, joint CEO Michał Nowakowski has made it clear that the company is determined to avoid repeating the turbulent launch of Cyberpunk 2077.

While Cyberpunk 2077 eventually became a commercial success following years of updates, including the 2.00 overhaul and the Phantom Liberty expansion, the initial release in 2020 left a lasting mark on the studio's reputation. Nowakowski, speaking during an on-stage interview for Knowledge, did not shy away from the fallout, noting that the team was “heartbroken” to see the game’s reception at the time.

Rebuilding Trust with Players

For CD Projekt Red, reputation is viewed as its “biggest asset,” a sentiment built over years of delivering titles like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Nowakowski acknowledged that the company's redemption arc might not be complete for everyone.

“I'm not 100 per cent convinced we went through the full redemption arc. I'm convinced that we lost the faith of some people indefinitely, and that's a fair thing,” Nowakowski stated.

The CEO expressed hope that the studio could eventually earn that trust back, whether through The Witcher 4 or subsequent projects. However, the message for the upcoming The Witcher title is clear: the game needs to hit the ground running. The studio is under significant pressure to ensure its next major launch does not suffer from the same technical shortcomings that plagued its previous open-world RPG.

The Road Ahead

While the studio spent years fixing Cyberpunk 2077, that process was reactive. With The Witcher 4, the focus is on avoiding those initial pitfalls entirely. The industry, and players, will be watching closely to see if the developer can return to the high standards it set for itself prior to 2020.

As of June 2026, CD Projekt Red continues to manage its portfolio, including ongoing work on The Witcher 3 expansions and rumors of a new co-op action RPG set within The Witcher universe. For now, all eyes are on whether The Witcher 4 can restore the unconditional faith of its player base at launch.