CD Projekt Boss Says Reputation Not Fully Healed After Cyberpunk 2077 Catastrophe
CD Projekt joint CEO Michał Nowakowski has acknowledged that the company's reputation has not fully recovered from the Cyberpunk 2077 launch disaster. He admitted that some fans have lost trust in the Polish developer "indefinitely," though he remains hopeful about the studio's future, particularly with The Witcher 4.
Speaking to Edge via GamesRadar, Nowakowski described the troubled debut of Cyberpunk 2077 in December 2020 as "heartbreaking" for the studio. For those unfamiliar, the game launched with severe technical issues, prompting Sony to remove it from the PlayStation Store and allowing players to claim refunds.
A scene from Cyberpunk 2077.
Despite the initial problems, Cyberpunk 2077 went on to have one of the most commercially successful launches in video game history. CD Projekt's management team was also rewarded with substantial bonuses due to the game's performance. Over time, the game was reinstated on the PlayStation Store and received numerous patches to address its flaws. It has now sold over 35 million copies, surpassing the sales of The Witcher 3 in record time. The game's recovery, marked by the release of its 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty expansion, was seen as one of the most impressive comebacks in the industry.
However, the damage to CD Projekt Red's reputation remains, according to Nowakowski.
"I'm not 100% convinced we went through the full redemption arc," he said. "I'm convinced that we lost the faith of some people indefinitely, and that's a fair thing. But I do hope we will be able to make it back—if not with The Witcher 4, then with whatever comes next."
The Witcher 4 and CD Projekt's Future Projects
The Witcher 4 is still without a confirmed release date, but it remains one of CD Projekt Red's most anticipated projects. Alongside The Witcher 4, the studio is working on several other games, including a remake of the original The Witcher trilogy, a new intellectual property, and a game set in Saudi Arabia.
Nowakowski's comments reflect the ongoing challenges faced by the studio as it seeks to rebuild its reputation in the gaming community. While the success of Cyberpunk 2077 proved that the company could still deliver a hit, the initial disaster continues to cast a long shadow over its public image. The path to full redemption, according to the CEO, may still be long and uncertain.
