CD Projekt joint CEO Michał Nowakowski has shared a heartfelt tribute to BioWare, highlighting the studio's significant impact on the early history of CD Projekt Red, particularly in the creation of the first The Witcher game. This acknowledgment comes amid widespread tributes following the reported closure of the influential RPG developer.
BioWare's legacy in the computer RPG genre is well-established, with foundational titles like Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect. However, Nowakowski revealed a lesser-known but pivotal connection: BioWare's direct involvement in CD Projekt's origins.
The relationship began when CD Projekt sought to localize BioWare and Interplay's Baldur's Gate for the Polish market. The successful localization paved the way for a deeper collaboration. "Bioware has been a massive part of CDPR history," Nowakowski stated on X. "We befriended them when localizing and selling Baldur’s Gate games in Poland, Czech, and Slovakia."
Following a failed attempt to localize Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance due to Interplay's difficulties, CD Projekt's bond with BioWare remained strong. BioWare generously provided CD Projekt with its Aurora Engine, the successor to the Infinity Engine used in titles like Neverwinter Nights and Knights of the Old Republic. This engine powered the original The Witcher, which served as CD Projekt's introduction to the global gaming stage. "And later they were great help when lending us their engine for Witcher 1, sharing their wisdom and even giving us a spot at their booth at E3."
CD Projekt co-founder Marcin Iwiński echoed this sentiment in a 2014 interview, noting that "It all started, in a way, with Baldur's Gate." The collaboration extended to BioWare offering CD Projekt space at their E3 booth in 2004, enabling the studio to showcase its nascent RPG, The Witcher, to the world. Ryszard Chojnowski, a translator who worked on both The Witcher and Baldur's Gate 2, shared images of CD Projekt's section at BioWare's E3 booth that year.
Nowakowski concluded his reflections by expressing his sadness over the situation. "I had a pleasure to visit them a few times in Edmonton and also host them in our Warsaw office. Very sad for the people affected, but also sad to see a legendary brand go down. Not a great day in the games industry."