CDPR boss says Witcher author Sapkowski's grumpiness is a 'persona,' he's actually lovely and the studio's 'updating everything' to respect his lore

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman

There are two things I know about Andrzej Sapkowski: he wrote (and continues to write) the original Witcher novels, and he's a legendary grump. In fact, if I search our own website for the author's name, I find stories about him advising young writers to instead learn something "That makes money" like PC repair, saying he "never played" and does "not intend to play" The Witcher games, and other such things that seem like the hallmark of a—honestly, quite charming—grouchy author.

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, all this week we're looking back on The Witcher 3—and looking ahead to its upcoming sequel, too. Keep checking back for more features and retrospectives, as well as in-depth interviews with the developers who brought the game to life.

But when I sat down for a chat with CDPR co-CEO Adam Badowski, I was told something alarming: Sapkowski might not be quite as curmudgeonly as he puts on.

"He's a very intelligent guy," said Badowski, "and as a writer, he created kind of a persona. In person, he's a great guy. Very knowledgeable." In fact, Badowski says he hangs out with Sapkowski regularly: "We are friends. I visit Andrzej regularly. We go for dinner, have great conversations."

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But don't get it twisted—grouch or no, Sapkowski isn't secretly a huge player of the games. "He was very clear about what is his area, [and] what is just licensed," said Badowski. "He's all about the books. That's it. He doesn't play games.

"He's a very smart person, so he knew everything about our game and about its success, but he tried not to comment on it… Those two worlds, in his opinion, should be disconnected."

Which means we're probably not due a Sapkowski-penned novelisation of Blood and Wine anytime soon, but on CDPR's side the devs still hold the books in reverence. "As true fans of the books, we truly take care with the whole lore," says Badowski. Referencing Sapkowski's latest Witcher novel—the first in over a decade—he points out that CDPR is going out of its way to make sure whatever it makes coheres with any new lore the author has set down: "We're updating everything, we are not making different, alternative paths… Everything is coherent. If it comes to responsibility, we feel responsibility for the whole heritage of Andrzej Sapkowski."
 
"He's a very smart person, so he knew everything about our game and about its success, but he tried not to comment on it… Those two worlds, in his opinion, should be disconnected."
That's because Sapkowski knows what's coming and doesn't want his life's work being overshadowed by gae sex. Something, that will be plenty in TW4. A smart guy indeed.
 
Isn't the distain for the games based on the fact that he sees no money from them? Having sold the license for a fixed sum rather than take royalties (which to be fair, made sense at the time).
 
It's a bit more complicated than just that, but it certainly wasn't a healthy relationship.
It's not that complicated. She was raped, there is no relationship. Ciri was traumatized at beast, while trying to survive. Never has she expressed any kind of love/sexual interest towards a woman in the books. She did for men though.
But yeah, the game will tell a different story, the one that will be appealing to the modern audience. Quite sure Sapkowski doesn't want to do anything with that, therefore his demands for books and games being "disconnected".
 
It's not that complicated. She was raped, there is no relationship. Ciri was traumatized at beast, while trying to survive. Never has she expressed any kind of love/sexual interest towards a woman in the books. She did for men though.
But yeah, the game will tell a different story, the one that will be appealing to the modern audience. Quite sure Sapkowski doesn't want to do anything with that, therefore his demands for books and games being "disconnected".
She was raped, but the relationship at the end was certainly more complicated than just Ciri regarding Mistel as her rapist, although not anything near what anybody would consider a healthy relationship. It also doesn't make her Bi in the books either. The games already made her Bi back in the Witcher 3 anyways, so it is what it is. I highly doubt Sapkowski has that as a reason for his stance that the books and games are separate, he has had that stance since the first game came out. It's hardly exclusive to the games either, he doesn't regard any of the Tabletop or Polish TV stuff to be the same thing as the books as well.
 
It's not that complicated. She was raped, there is no relationship. Ciri was traumatized at beast, while trying to survive. Never has she expressed any kind of love/sexual interest towards a woman in the books. She did for men though.
But yeah, the game will tell a different story, the one that will be appealing to the modern audience. Quite sure Sapkowski doesn't want to do anything with that, therefore his demands for books and games being "disconnected".

He wanted stories to be disconnected back in 2007 when the first game was released. It has nothing to do with woke stuff that is very modern.
Sapkowski despite living in very conservative country is more left wing.
 
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As a pole who is witcher series fanatic, he is far more awful than just "grumpy" irl, one time i remember he got invited for lecture at university, he was so drunk he couldnt get that done, so it was cancelled coz of him, and he still had to be paid fully for it, i tell u guys, never meet ur heroes is as real saying as it gets.
Amazingly talented person, top writer, just nasty human being, cant have it all, cant be helped.
Again- i live in poland and could experience/hear all this stuff first/2ndhand from witcher series/sapkowski's fan's, i love all witcher games, watched all seasons of netflix series and i even watched(and rewatched) polish witcher seires multiple times, not a hater here, yet i cant say positive stuff about sapkowski's character/personality coz there is simply nothing good to be said...
And thats how bad that polish witcher series was:
 
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As a pole who is witcher series fanatic, he is far more awful than just "grumpy" irl, one time i remember he got invited for lecture at university, he was so drunk he couldnt get that done, so it was cancelled coz of him, and he still had to be paid fully for it, i tell u guys, never meet ur heroes is as real saying as it gets.
Amazingly talented person, top writer, just nasty human being, cant have it all, cant be helped.
Again- i live in poland and could experience/hear all this stuff first/2ndhand from witcher series/sapkowski's fan's, i love all witcher games, watched all seasons of netflix series and i even watched(and rewatched) polish witcher seires multiple times, not a hater here, yet i cant say positive stuff about sapkowsky's character/personality coz there is simply nothing good to be said...
And thats how bad that polish witcher series was:


Outside of awful CGI Polish Witcher is still better than Netflix adaptation.
 
i'm sure he turned very lovely when they gave him additional money.
which apparently he was due according to polish law
Yeah he lucked out so much. The article says he's smart and not a grumpy but the dude was pretty fucking financially illiterate when he signed that contract and every interview he comes off as a prick. Not nearly as bad as grrm but he's got a chip on his shoulder for some reason.
 
Incredulous Come On GIF by Almost Christmas Movie


 
Yeah he lucked out so much. The article says he's smart and not a grumpy but the dude was pretty fucking financially illiterate when he signed that contract and every interview he comes off as a prick. Not nearly as bad as grrm but he's got a chip on his shoulder for some reason.
Well as pointed out, said contract made sense at the time.

You got:
* A Novel Series that while popular in Poland is pretty much unheard of anywhere else
* A Developer known mostly for translating games into Polish and not developing anything on their own
* A publisher (AtariGrames) Well known for their cheap shovelware

As far as he knew this game was destined for going straight to the bargain bin. And never forget that the first game was a pure piece of Eurojank.
 
books don't hint at ciri becoming the witcher .cdred made her a witcher , lore wise it goes against it.i anything create your own witcher for witcher 4 makes moire sense.so yes cdred you went woke. ciri was popular but her being soived in doesnt mnake lot of msense
 
If they want to respect his lore then they must know Ciri is incapable of surviving the Witcher Trials.

"He's a very smart person, so he knew everything about our game and about its success, but he tried not to comment on it… Those two worlds, in his opinion, should be disconnected."

My takeaway from this is Witcher 4 is non-canon.
 
If they want to respect his lore then they must know Ciri is incapable of surviving the Witcher Trials.

"He's a very smart person, so he knew everything about our game and about its success, but he tried not to comment on it… Those two worlds, in his opinion, should be disconnected."

My takeaway from this is Witcher 4 is non-canon.

All games are non canon to Sapkowski.
 
Dear CDPR,

Please shut the fuck up about your game until you are ready to show something of actual substance. The more you set up, the more people will expect and the more you will have to tear down at the end when you ultimately can't deliver.

Thanks.
 
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He wanted stories to be disconnected back in 2007 when the first game was released. It has nothing to do with woke stuff that is very modern.
Sapkowski despite living in very conservative country is more left wing.
No you see he traveled back in time to 2007 because he knew wokeness was going to eventually happen, so he had to stop it.

It caused a slight mandela effect but for him it was worth it.
 
I have to say it, the books are extremely overrated. Especially if you've read any significant amount of fantasy fiction books in a similar vain.

The games for me surpassed the books in just about every possible way... Which is strange because usually with the case of adaptions, it's the other way around.

Don't get me wrong, they are not bad, but they are extremely run of the mill.
 
No you see he traveled back in time to 2007 because he knew wokeness was going to eventually happen, so he had to stop it.

It caused a slight mandela effect but for him it was worth it.

What is funny is that I took political spectrum test some time ago:

KZaJSfh.jpeg


And even with result like that I hate woke bullshit, DEI, what happened to females in games etc.

The problem is, some people take that to the next level and see wokness when there is none. Both right and left extremist are terrible...

exhausted-tiresome.gif
 
What is funny is that I took political spectrum test some time ago:

KZaJSfh.jpeg


And even with result like that I hate woke bullshit, DEI, what happened to females in games etc.

The problem is, some people take that to the next level and see wokness when there is none. Both right and left extremist are terrible...

exhausted-tiresome.gif
And you can always tell when people bring up the topic in every single conversation that didn't even involve the concept at all.

They are boxing shadows to their own detriment.
 
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