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CD Projekt RED had a very busy 2023, but not in relation to The Witcher franchise. Oh no. It was a year almost solely dedicated to Cyberpunk 2077.
It was an effort that clearly paid off. It’s no secret that Cyberpunk 2077 launched in a rather sorry state. While 2022’s new-gen patch was a big step forwards in overhauling the game, it wasn’t until the release of last year’s Update 2.0 - which redesigned cyberware and perks while introducing vehicular combat, a new skill relic tree, and mounted weaponry - that we finally saw the game begin to live up to its full potential. Factor in the surprise Update 2.1, which added a working metro system, and the fantastic Phantom Liberty expansion, and fans declared that Cyberpunk 2077 finally felt like a GOTY contender, albeit three years too late.
It’s time for devs to switch back on over to The Witcher franchise now though, putting Cyberpunk 2077 to bed for a short while. The Witcher 4 production is in full swing.
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Take a look at Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty in action below.
Firstly, I should establish that The Witcher 4 is a colloquial title. CDPR have made it clear that the next instalment will kickstart a brand new trilogy, although it’s expected that this will follow on from Geralt’s saga in some way. At this point in time, we have no idea who the protagonist will be. Many have voiced that it would be great to see Ciri take the reins, but this is mere speculation. We could be introduced to someone brand new.
What we do now know is the rate at which production is ramping up. As reported by Reuters, CDPR joint CEO Adam Badowski revealed that The Witcher 4 team is being massively increased. “We’d like to have around 400 people working on the project by the middle of the year,” he said. That’s about as much of a teaser as we got, but it’s something. Given that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt launched back in 2015, it’s exciting to think that we could begin to get some real teases about what’s next over the coming years.
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CDPR’s slate is pretty stacked. In addition to The Witcher 4, a remake of the original The Witcher is in the works, alongside a multiplayer game set in the franchise’s universe. Then, of course, there’s Project Orion, the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077. The studio should certainly be keeping us entertained for at least the next decade.
Topics: The Witcher, The Witcher 3, CD Projekt Red