CD Projekt Red is taking a more cautious approach to the development of The Witcher 4, ensuring the game runs properly on all target platforms from the initial stages of development. This commitment stems directly from the significant technical issues that plagued the launch of Cyberpunk 2077.
In an interview with Game Developer, CD Projekt Red co-CEO Michał Nowakowski detailed the lessons learned from Cyberpunk 2077's launch. He explained that the studio's ambition to push graphical and cinematic boundaries for Cyberpunk 2077 led them to prioritize PC development, with an optimistic but ultimately flawed belief that the game could be easily scaled down for current-generation consoles. "There was this, as it turned out, false belief that toning it down to whatever was the current gen is not going to be that much of a challenge," Nowakowski stated.
The studio also acknowledged a degree of overconfidence, partly influenced by the success and eventual polish of The Witcher 3, leading them to believe Cyberpunk 2077 would ultimately meet similar standards. However, the reality of Cyberpunk 2077's performance, particularly its catastrophic state on the PlayStation 4, resulted in its removal from the PlayStation Store and a cautionary notice upon its return.
To prevent a repeat of this situation with The Witcher 4, CD Projekt Red has implemented a new development strategy. The studio is now focused on achieving technical parity across all platforms from the beginning. "If development hits a snag on any single platform, for instance, the studio stops to fix it rather than simply pressing ahead and coming back to clean it up later," Nowakowski explained. This contrasts with their previous approach where minor issues might be deferred, accumulating into larger problems down the line.
Nowakowski emphasized this new dedication to platform performance, stating, "You come to the studio, you launch Witcher 4 right now. You can launch it on PC. You can launch it on PS5. You can launch it on Xbox Series X, and it's going to run." While acknowledging that "we're doing our best to ensure our game runs" might seem like a basic promise, it carries significant weight given the studio's recent history.
The Witcher 4 is currently targeting a 2028 release, though a definitive release date has not yet been announced. The game is confirmed to be in development for PC and current-generation consoles.