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CD Projekt Red - Version 10 vs Version 11
Jun 1, 2026, 05:54 AM
Removed unconfirmed Unreal Fest 2026 showcase claim (the developer clarified the podcast remark referred to the 2025 demo, not a new 2026 showing)
Jun 7, 2026, 06:31 PM
Added April 2026 dev-team headcount of 513 developers (latest figure), kept the February 2026 figure of 499
11Studio Overview22CD Projekt Red is a game development studio based in Warsaw, Poland. It is a subsidiary of CD Projekt and is best known for The Witcher video game series and Cyberpunk 2077. The studio was founded in 2002. Across all Witcher games, the franchise has sold over 85 million copies, with The Witcher 3 alone exceeding 60 million.44The Witcher IV team66As of late 2025, more than 447 developers are assigned to The Witcher IV, exceeding original targets. CD Projekt's total headcount is nearly 800 employees, with the remainder working on Cyberpunk 2 (codenamed Project Orion). About 100 Witcher 3 veterans remain at the studio.88The game has also received assistance from Fool's Theory, the studio developing The Witcher remake, which temporarily assigned a small team to help with shared assets and technology.1111Key Personnel1313ActionKey/ButtonSebastian KalembaGame director, formerly CDPR's head of animationGosia MitregaExecutive producer, joined CDPR in 2019Marcin BlachaStory director and VP of narration, with the series since The Witcher (2007)Borys Pugacz-MuraszkiewiczMain vision holder and lead writerKajetan KapuscinskiCinematic director, played the tech demo live at State of UnrealDoug CockleVoice of Geralt, confirmed to reprise his roleCiara BerkeleyVoice of Ciri, replacing Jo Wyatt from TW31515Lessons From Cyberpunk 20771616Cyberpunk 2077 launched in December 2020 with severe technical issues, particularly on last-generation consoles. CDPR has been open about applying lessons learned to The Witcher IV.1818Game director Sebastian Kalemba stated: "It's a continuation of the evolution, improvement, and transformation." Engineering director Colin Walder explained the studio's new approach to console development: "Take consoles, for example; we need to make sure they're functioning from the get-go. For our next project, Polaris, we're already running our demos and internal reviews on the console from the very beginning. This is a step we only took later in Cyberpunk's development."2020On production methodology, Kalemba described "mindful definition of production stages and scoping," ensuring "whatever we create right now is super coherent across the board." When deadlines approach, the team now adjusts schedules rather than reverting to crunch.2222AI Policy2424CDPR has committed to not using generative AI for content creation. Joint CEO Michal Nowakowski stated: "Gen AI, to be honest, is quite tricky when it comes to legal IP ownership and so on, and many other aspects." On whether AI has reduced staffing: "I didn't recall a single time when it would be directly attributable to AI."2626The studio does use AI for internal productivity tools but has drawn a clear line: "It's not a situation where AI could sit down and make games. It doesn't mean it's not gonna be useful, but AI is not going to be making The Witcher 5 or 6."2828Development Timeline3030ItemDescriptionMarch 2022New Witcher game announced with lynx medallion imageOctober 2022"Project Polaris" codename and trilogy plan revealedMay 2022 to Nov 2024Pre-production phase, team growing from 330 to 400+November 2024Full production beginsDecember 12, 2024Cinematic trailer revealed at The Game AwardsJune 3, 2025UE5 tech demo at State of UnrealLate 2025447 developers on the project2027 at earliestExpected release window32322026 Updates3333As of February 2026, the team working on The Witcher IV has grown to 499 developers, more than half of CD Projekt Red's total workforce of 933. This represents over 220 new hires since February 2025. A small team from Fool's Theory (the studio developing The Witcher 1 remake) was temporarily assigned to assist with shared assets and Unreal Engine 5 technology.34+As of February 2026, the team working on The Witcher IV has grown to 499 developers, more than half of CD Projekt Red's total workforce of 933. This represents over 220 new hires since February 2025. A small team from Fool's Theory (the studio developing The Witcher 1 remake) was temporarily assigned to assist with shared assets and Unreal Engine 5 technology. By April 30, 2026, the team had grown to 513 developers.3535In March 2026, NVIDIA and CDPR presented a new tech demo at GDC showing RTX Mega Geometry foliage technology.3737Trilogy Plan3939The Witcher IV is the first in a planned trilogy. CD Projekt has outlined a six-year plan for all three games, with each sequel taking roughly three years. CFO Piotr Nielubowicz confirmed the game "will not be released before 2027."4141Previous Witcher Games4343ItemDescriptionThe Witcher (2007)PC exclusive. Used a modified BioWare Aurora Engine. Approximately 10 million lifetime salesThe Witcher 2Assassins of Kings (2011): PC and Xbox 360. First game on REDengine. About 15 million lifetime salesThe Witcher 3Wild Hunt (2015): PC, PS4, Xbox One (later PS5, Xbox Series X|S). Over 60 million copies sold. Won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 20154545Production Process (May 2026 Update)4646In May 2026 the studio publicly described a new internal production process for The Witcher IV in which every development stage ends with a gate that requires documentation to advance. Documents are shared across teams and across time zones rather than locked behind team permissions, so solutions developed for one project are visible to the other teams at the studio. CDPR has framed this as a process change introduced for The Witcher IV and the studio's other current major project.
