CD Projekt joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski has stated he is "not worried" about the long-term future of video game consoles, even as rising costs present challenges to the sector. He emphasized that consoles remain crucial for broadening the gaming audience, particularly for casual and semi-casual players, by offering an accessible entry point into gaming.
Nowakowski acknowledged the current pressures on consoles, including pricing concerns, but expressed confidence that the platforms will endure. He also addressed rumors about potential delays for the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox, noting that while he has heard them, their veracity is unknown.
CD Projekt's philosophy, according to Nowakowski, prioritizes content over the specific platform. "Content is the king. And if the content is right, people will find a way to play it," he explained. While developers at CD Projekt would ideally prefer maximum hardware power to showcase games at their best, the company is prepared to adapt. Should next-generation consoles face delays, ideas requiring significantly more powerful hardware may be postponed. "We’d have to adjust. We’re not worried on the commercial side. Consoles are here to stay," Nowakowski reiterated.
The company has several titles in development, including The Witcher 4 slated for a 2028 release and Cyberpunk 2 expected to follow. These releases are likely being planned with next-generation hardware in mind.
Global market factors such as tariffs and increased demand for components, partly driven by AI advancements, have led Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo to increase hardware prices. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has commented that while the expanded use cases for GPUs outside of gaming are beneficial, they contribute to higher console prices. Nintendo and Sony have both received significant refunds for tariffs previously deemed illegal, but have not indicated plans to pass these savings onto consumers.