CD Projekt Red has described its upcoming original game, codenamed Hadar, as its "biggest project to date," though development is still in its nascent stages and years away from release. The studio's joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski stated that while the game has been in development for "several good years," it has not yet entered pre-production.
Nowakowski explained that the team has a "coherent vision" for Hadar's world and core elements, and has begun working on the game, focusing on developing small prototypes and testing gameplay mechanics. He indicated that prototypes are being built using Unreal Engine. While CD Projekt Red has provided few details since Hadar's announcement four years ago, it is confirmed to be an entirely new intellectual property, distinct from The Witcher and Cyberpunk franchises.
Previously, Nowakowski shared that work on Hadar was progressing dynamically, with the team establishing the foundations for the new IP and defining its distinguishing features and key pillars. These elements are intended to serve not only as the basis for the game but potentially for future products as well. As of July 31, a team of 33 individuals was working on Hadar, a smaller group compared to other major projects at the studio, such as The Witcher 4, which had 519 employees assigned, and Cyberpunk 2.
In related news, Nowakowski reiterated that The Witcher 4, also described as CDPR's most ambitious project, has a release target of 2028. The studio aims to innovate with each new title, introducing new narrative and gameplay solutions, as well as advancements in quests, to push the boundaries of the RPG genre. The recent remaster of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has seen continued success, with sales remaining higher than before the update and breaking concurrent player records on Steam.
Nowakowski also addressed the potential impact of Sony's decision to phase out PlayStation disc production starting in 2028, which could affect the physical release of future titles like The Witcher 4. He noted that CD Projekt Red has limited control over physical media distribution, as console manufacturers determine disc production capabilities. If manufacturers cease producing physical media, games will no longer be available in that format.