„We tried, and it didn't work out.” CD Projekt RED has come to terms with its fate, confirming that it won't stop making games like The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk
CD Projekt RED wants to create top-quality titles, so it will focus only on story-driven RPGs. Although they are tempted to experiment, they know what they are best at.
CD Projekt RED studio has always been associated with RPG games focused on the plot. The best examples are, of course, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077, which are characterized by a very engaging narrative. After so many years, the team has reached such a high level in this field that they are currently unable to make a game of a different genre (via 3DJugeos).
CDPR is doomed to narrative RPGs
In the latest episode of the AnsweRED podcast, the special guests were Marcin Iwinski, co-founder of CD Projekt RED, and Adam Badowski, co-CEO of the studio. The conversation touched on, among other things, the philosophy that the company intends to follow in the near future.
It's no surprise that CDPR wants to focus on what they do best - making open-world RPG games. Although the studio is tempted to experiment with new genres, that's the only way they can deliver top-quality products, as Badowski stated.
In all that we're doing, we've learned that we have to be razor-sharp, focused. We cannot do so many things we would love to do, we are tempted to do. We tried, and it didn't work out. We need to focus on what we are good at and really put 100% into it. But everything is in our strategy. We're gonna develop AAA RPG, open-world narrative-driven games, and this is our – let's say – niche. So the focus is there.
The Polish devs also tried their hand at other genres. An example is the card game Gwent, which admittedly originated from The Witcher 3, but in its final form became a completely separate entry. Fans may also remember The Witcher Battle Arena, a mobile game of the MOBA genre. It was created in collaboration with Fuero Games studio, but it disappeared from stores very quickly.
It sounds so simple. When you're growing, it's hard, because there are all these temptations. The ideas are great. Games are getting better and better, especially in terms of gameplay. But they need to be adapted to our concept. It takes time. Initial enthusiasm is high, but in the long run it doesn't work.
Thanks to this approach, we can expect that the next games from the studio, The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2, will be better than their predecessors. CD Projekt RED is also working on a mysterious Project Hadar, and we don't know yet what genre it will be. However, considering Badowski's words, it will most likely also be a narrative RPG.
- The Witcher 3 ending was supposed to be much more dramatic because of Mass Effect 2's inspiration. Geralt's choices would decide the death of many major characters
- The Witcher 3 may get one more story DLC. First details already online, we have CD Projekt Red's comment
- The Witcher 4 is being developed with the same „scrappy energy” as The Witcher 3. CD Projekt Red devs hear the words: „Get it done. Do it dirty”
