Support NeoGAF

[geary]

The next entry in The Witcher series, currently known as "Polaris", is going to see a development ramp-up in 2024 with the expansion of the development team, according to the current CD Projekt Red CEO.

Speaking with Polish publication Parkiet, Adam Kiciński, who will move onto another role at the company from January 1st, commented on what the studio is working on, starting with the next entry in the series based on the works by Andrzej Sapkowski. As of now, over 330 people are working on Polaris, and the team will be expanded to about 400 people in mid-2024. Next year, CD Projekt Red will also start working on Orion, the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, whose conceptual stage ended a while back. As of now, the development team is still being built, whose core will be the new studio in Boston. Work is also continuing on Sirius in collaboration with The Molasses Flood and the remake of the first entry in The Witcher series.

Speaking about The Witcher "Polaris," Adam Kiciński highlighted how rumors saying that work is at an advanced stage and that a release date will be announced soon are not true. Following the multiple delays of Cyberpunk 2077, the Polish studio will start announcing release dates later than before, but they will still talk about upcoming titles early enough to allow for the proper marketing campaign.

Alongside talking about The Witcher "Polaris," Adam Kiciński also commented on potential acquisitions by the studio, saying that they are not interested in purchasing other companies only to consolidate their financial results. At the same time, CD Projekt Red is not interested in being acquired either by a larger entity, as they have worked their entire lives to get to the position they are currently in, a position that will only improve in a few years.

The Witcher “Polaris” Dev Team To Expand to 400 Members in 2024; CDPR Is Not Interested in Getting Acquired

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

everyone has a price

 

[64bitmodels]

thank god. Don't let any of the big 3 get their hands on CDPR. We don't need any more industry acquisition as it stands

 

[R3TRODYCE]

I feel like I’ve heard that before.

 

[SJRB]

I feel like I’ve heard that before.

This is probably the third time in approximately 6 months that CDPR felt the need to explain that they are not for sale.

 

[Exentryk]

Can't wait for the next Witcher. It will be glorious.

And CDPR have always stated they want to stay independent. And that's great as a consumer as their games are not locked on any platform. I always buy their games on GOG to extra support them.

 

[Flabagast]

GOAT devs.

Great news all around, let it cook.

 

[Topher]

I'm glad. Too many good devs out there have gone to shit after being acquired.

 

[Flutta]

I'm glad. Too many good devs out there have gone to shit after being acquired.

agree!

But with the right amount of money anyone can cave. Let’s hope they stay independent as long as possible and Mr Spender stays the hell away from CDPR.

 

[Flabagast]

CDPR has nearly $300m of cash in the bank (basically the cost of a full fledge AAA game even accounting for 0 revenue during the time of dev), they are good.

 

[Fess]

Sounds good, CDPR is one of few devs who seem to ignore western politics that is shoehorned into many games these days, let them do their thing in peace.

 

[Denton]

I am pretty sure plenty of large publishers have extended offers to them already, but CDP has always wanted to remain independent, correctly. They even put some safeguards against hostile takeover in place.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

agree!

But with the right amount of money anyone can cave. Let’s hope they stay independent as long as possible and Mr Spender stays the hell away from CDPR.

Regulators would shut down MS getting CDPR anyway. Remember, the CMA (and I think the EC) are looking into "genre monopolies", and Microsoft owns a shit-ton of Western RPGs as-is after their previous acquisitions.

Hopefully regulators also take into consideration "purchase rot", i.e how these once-solid/thriving 3P companies might've declined or even perished under ownership of a larger entity within an M&A. I think that should 100% be a consideration as to whether that buyer can be trusted with future similar M&As within the same market; results and reputation should matter just as much as money to spend.

It'd effectively curtail rampant consolidation by the few, and let them know you can't just buy stuff up and yet somehow perform even worst. You're actively hurting the entire market at that point.

 

[Xtib81]

I really hope they release a finished product this time, like Sony AAA games level of polish. Their games, although incredible, are riddled with bugs.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Regulators would shut down MS getting CDPR anyway. Remember, the CMA (and I think the EC) are looking into "genre monopolies", and Microsoft owns a shit-ton of Western RPGs as-is after their previous acquisitions.

Hopefully regulators also take into consideration "purchase rot", i.e how these once-solid/thriving 3P companies might've declined or even perished under ownership of a larger entity within an M&A. I think that should 100% be a consideration as to whether that buyer can be trusted with future similar M&As within the same market; results and reputation should matter just as much as money to spend.

It'd effectively curtail rampant consolidation by the few, and let them know you can't just buy stuff up and yet somehow perform even worst. You're actively hurting the entire market at that point.

Regulators have sold out a long time ago, it seems. Especially when a political push is followed.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

Regulators have sold out a long time ago, it seems. Especially when a political push is followed.

Well there's some hope. That MS plant that was supposed to go to the EC, for example, got shut out. Other members of the board kind of caught on to what that was likely going to do (not to mention, they literally bent the rules so she could quality entry), and she ended up withdrawing entering membership.

That put a smile on my face

 

[Pimpollo818]

everyone has a price

true. I will blow for $

 

[RyRy93]

CDPR has nearly $300m of cash in the bank (basically the cost of a full fledge AAA game even accounting for 0 revenue during the time of dev), they are good.

Not a vast amount of money for a AAA open-world game releasing in the next few years

 

[Oberstein]

everyone has a price

 

[Last Hearth]

The next entry in The Witcher series, currently known as "Polaris", is going to see a development ramp-up in 2024 with the expansion of the development team, according to the current CD Projekt Red CEO.

Speaking with Polish publication Parkiet, Adam Kiciński, who will move onto another role at the company from January 1st, commented on what the studio is working on, starting with the next entry in the series based on the works by Andrzej Sapkowski. As of now, over 330 people are working on Polaris, and the team will be expanded to about 400 people in mid-2024. Next year, CD Projekt Red will also start working on Orion, the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, whose conceptual stage ended a while back. As of now, the development team is still being built, whose core will be the new studio in Boston. Work is also continuing on Sirius in collaboration with The Molasses Flood and the remake of the first entry in The Witcher series.

Speaking about The Witcher "Polaris," Adam Kiciński highlighted how rumors saying that work is at an advanced stage and that a release date will be announced soon are not true. Following the multiple delays of Cyberpunk 2077, the Polish studio will start announcing release dates later than before, but they will still talk about upcoming titles early enough to allow for the proper marketing campaign.

Alongside talking about The Witcher "Polaris," Adam Kiciński also commented on potential acquisitions by the studio, saying that they are not interested in purchasing other companies only to consolidate their financial results. At the same time, CD Projekt Red is not interested in being acquired either by a larger entity, as they have worked their entire lives to get to the position they are currently in, a position that will only improve in a few years.

The Witcher “Polaris” Dev Team To Expand to 400 Members in 2024; CDPR Is Not Interested in Getting Acquired

They are a public traded company, which means in a way, they've already been acquired. Also, any entity can acquire them by buying up all their public stock.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

I really hope they release a finished product this time, like Sony AAA games level of polish. Their games, although incredible, are riddled with bugs.

If they want Sony AAA level of polish, they should consider an acquisition by Sony.

If not, they won't ever reach it.

 

[WitchHunter]

Can't wait for the next Witcher. It will be glorious.

And CDPR have always stated they want to stay independent. And that's great as a consumer as their games are not locked on any platform. I always buy their games on GOG to extra support them.

Seeing how CP77 devolved with Phantom Liberty I have doubts, but time will tell.

 

[geary]

Seeing how CP77 devolved with Phantom Liberty I have doubts, but time will tell.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Seeing how CP77 devolved with Phantom Liberty I have doubts, but time will tell.

Why is the consensus the complete opposite of this?

Explain.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Big enough check and almost everything is for sale

 

[Skifi28]

Is Not Interested in Getting Acquired

 

[Flutta]

Sounds good, CDPR is one of few devs who seem to ignore western politics that is shoehorned into many games these days, let them do their thing in peace.

W’ll see. Half their team is now allocated in a new studio in Cali if i’m not misstanken, that alone will def have an impact on their storytelling, character building etc. So yeah not holding my breath for either Wichter 4 or their next Cyberpunk game.

 

[LordCBH]

Good. They need to stay independent. They’d only get ruined if the big corpos came calling with their dump trucks of cash.

 

[LordCBH]

Seeing how CP77 devolved with Phantom Liberty I have doubts, but time will tell.

 

[Del_X]

2024 VGA trailer
Holiday 2027 release

 

[gaming_again]

W’ll see. Half their team is now allocated in a new studio in Cali if i’m not misstanken, that alone will def have an impact on their storytelling, character building etc. So yeah not holding my breath for either Wichter 4 or their next Cyberpunk game.

This was my thought too but Phantom Liberty was sooo good, with such an adult edge to it. I have so much respect for what they achieved with it.

 

[Calverz]

agree!

But with the right amount of money anyone can cave. Let’s hope they stay independent as long as possible and Mr Spender stays the hell away from CDPR.

You mean embracer? Who acquired studios and then shut them down like 1 year later?

 

[Fabieter]

everyone has a price

They are a public company to they literally have one yes

 

[Flutta]

This was my thought too but Phantom Liberty was sooo good, with such an adult edge to it. I have so much respect for what they achieved with it.

Decided to go for another play through before jumping on PL. Not sure if that was the right move so can't say much about PL haven't played it yet. But yeah hopefully the sequel doesn't get tainted by any political agendas.

You mean embracer? Who acquired studios and then shut them down like 1 year later?

 

[Gameplay Gods Bless]

thank god. Don't let any of the big 3 get their hands on CDPR. We don't need any more industry acquisition as it stands

They are a publicly traded company. I.e they run on someone else's money (investors), investors decide whether CDPR will get acquired not this guy. And investors will allow any acquisition to go through for a good enough return on investment.

 

[Gameplay Gods Bless]

Sounds good, CDPR is one of few devs who seem to ignore western politics that is shoehorned into many games these days, let them do their thing in peace.

That's just not true anymore. In the Witcher 1-2 days it was 100% true but as of the cyberpunk era not at all.


Case in point:

 

[Gameplay Gods Bless]

W’ll see. Half their team is now allocated in a new studio in Cali if i’m not misstanken, that alone will def have an impact on their storytelling, character building etc. So yeah not holding my breath for either Wichter 4 or their next Cyberpunk game.

We'll see? it's already long happened:

 

[Flutta]

We'll see? it's already long happened:

lol

 

[Fess]

That's just not true anymore. In the Witcher 1-2 days it was 100% true but as of the cyberpunk era not at all.


Case in point:

Well that’s that then
So who’s left unaltered in the west? Larian maybe?

 

[j0hnnix]

Phil making calls to cdpr shareholders.

 

[mayham2199]

We'll see? it's already long happened:

Well if it's already happened then looks like things are fine. I enjoyed CP2077 a lot.

 

[Rentahamster]

I've seen people rejecting offers before. It's possible, and it takes a lot of courage and integrity to do so. Props to them if they can thrive independently.

 

[DeepEnigma]

I've seen people rejecting offers before. It's possible, and it takes a lot of courage and integrity to do so. Props to them if they can thrive independently.

They can operate like a mini Valve since they do have GoG. But still producing their pedigree.

You think Valve has not received offers from various publishers and corporations over the years? I would wager, more than a handful of times.

Keep that integrity intact, please.

 

[Solarstrike]

Cool maybe they'll do some varied motion capture this time around.

:/

 

[Bojji]

We'll see? it's already long happened:

Writing of both male and female characters in PL was excellent and woke content was kept to minimum or non existent. I still have hope!

 

[Pharaoh 117]

Hopefully they will put more resources in developing the gameplay. TW3 has amazing quests but moving though the world is a chore and combat is mediocre at best. If they can marry their prowess in telling good stories with actually great gameplay it can make the studio reach the next level.

 

[Neilg]

CDPR has nearly $300m of cash in the bank (basically the cost of a full fledge AAA game even accounting for 0 revenue during the time of dev), they are good.

Yeah, the main reason they don't need to be acquired - they can fully fund their next game independently and use short term bridge loans for the marketing budget. Why allow someone else to take all the profits? They're confident their next games will be massive and they'll all end up wealthier and better off this way.

 

[kittoo]

2024 VGA trailer
Holiday 2027 release

Actually I will gladly take 2027 release date. I don't see it coming before 2029.

 

[Del_X]

Actually I will gladly take 2027 release date. I don't see it coming before 2029.

CDPR tends to scale pretty well. Game is done with preproduction, I think. Four years with the tech, tools, reference art etc. in place seems kinda reasonable.

This is assuming it isn’t like 2x the density/detail of something like CP2077 in its current state.

 

[Red Crayon Aristocrat]

It's CRAZY that The Witcher 3 is already almost a decade old, but hopefully 4 will really be something special.