CD Projekt Red, the studio behind the upcoming The Witcher 4, is still working to regain the full trust of its player base following the widely criticized launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020. Co-CEO Michał Nowakowski admitted in a recent interview that the company "lost the faith of some people indefinitely" due to the game's initial performance issues.
The disastrous launch of Cyberpunk 2077 led to significant backlash, with investors reportedly considering legal action over allegations of misleading information. Sony Interactive Entertainment even issued refunds to PlayStation 4 players who were unhappy with the game's state, going beyond its typical refund policy and temporarily removing the title from its digital store.
Nowakowski described the period as "heartbreaking" for the studio, as its reputation had previously been its "biggest asset." He expressed hope that CD Projekt Red can rebuild that trust, not necessarily with The Witcher 4, but with future projects. "I do hope we will be able to make it back – if not with The Witcher 4, then with whatever comes next," he stated.
Despite the rocky start, the studio has dedicated significant resources to improving Cyberpunk 2077. The release of its Phantom Liberty expansion saw a surge in positive reception, with associate game director Paweł Sasko noting that 95 percent of over 7,000 reviews posted a month after the DLC's launch were positive. Nowakowski also outlined CD Projekt Red's long-term vision, emphasizing a focus on quality over quantity, with a ten-year rolling plan that prioritizes making "really cool games" rather than flooding the market or expanding its portfolio of intellectual properties.