Polish developer CD Projekt Red, known for its immersive open-world RPGs like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077, has revealed exciting plans for the future in an interview with Reuters.
The company is gearing up to start production on The Witcher 4, codenamed Polaris, as early as this year. This marks the beginning of a new trilogy for the beloved monster-hunting franchise, and it comes with a major engine switch: Polaris will be powered by Unreal Engine 5 instead of CD Projekt Red’s proprietary REDengine.
Meanwhile, Cyberpunk 2077, the studio’s neon-drenched cyberpunk RPG, is also getting a sequel, codenamed Project Orion. While still in the early planning stages, Project Orion could potentially see CD Projekt Red experiment with multiplayer elements for the first time in its core RPG series.
These ambitious projects highlight CD Projekt Red’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of the RPG genre.
The Witcher 4’s shift to Unreal Engine 5 opens up exciting possibilities for even more stunning visuals and immersive world-building. And the potential for multiplayer in Cyberpunk 2077’s sequel could add a whole new dimension to the game’s gritty urban world.
Of course, these are just the early rumblings of what’s to come.
With both The Witcher 4 and Project Orion still in their early stages, it will be some time before we see them hit store shelves. But one thing’s for sure: CD Projekt Red is not resting on its laurels. The studio is taking bold steps to ensure that its next generation of RPGs will be even more epic and groundbreaking than its previous titles.
In addition to these upcoming games, CD Projekt Red is also actively exploring the use of artificial intelligence in game development. However, the company emphasizes that AI is seen as a tool to augment human creativity, not replace it. “We think that AI is something that can help improve certain processes in game production, but not replace people,” joint CEO Michal Nowakowsk said. AI can help the studio with things like world-building, animation, and even writing, but it will never replace the human touch that makes CD Projekt games special.
With its ambitious plans for the future and its commitment to using technology to enhance the creative process, CD Projekt Red is poised to remain a leader in the video game industry for years to come.
The Witcher 4 and Project Orion may still be a long way off, but they’re already generating plenty of excitement among gamers around the world. And with CD Projekt Red’s track record of delivering unforgettable RPG experiences, there’s no doubt that these upcoming titles will be well worth the wait.
