An investor conference call reveals that The Witcher 4 has entered full production - with over 500 developers.
CD Projekt Red has spent the past several years engineering one of the most remarkable turnarounds in gaming history. After facing intense criticism following the turbulent 2020 launch of Cyberpunk 2077, the Polish developer steadily reclaimed goodwill through systemic game updates and the critically acclaimed Phantom Liberty expansion. A recent financial earnings call confirmed that the studio has now shifted into full production across several upcoming projects, with the next mainline installment in The Witcher franchise serving as its primary focus.
Looking Forward to 2028
The investor presentation provided updated headcounts across the studio's active pipeline. Approximately 184 developers are assigned to Project Orion, the planned sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, while secondary teams continue development on Project Sirius, an experimental multiplayer spin-off, and Project Hadar, the studio's first wholly original intellectual property. With more than 500 developers currently dedicated to the next Witcher title, the production represents the largest single-game workforce in the company's history. Industry analysts expect this massive resource allocation to align with a targeted 2028 release window.
While the fantasy franchise remains CD Projekt Red's flagship property, the development of Project Hadar marks an important strategic pivot for the studio. Both The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 adapted external source material from Andrzej Sapkowski and Mike Pondsmith respectively. In contrast, Project Hadar grants the development team full creative ownership over an entirely proprietary universe.
Whether expanding established franchises or creating new IP from scratch, the studio is operating at an unprecedented scale. By committing over 500 developers to The Witcher 4, CD Projekt Red is aiming not only for a major release late in the decade, but to re-establish industry standards for open-world role-playing games.
