CD Projekt Red boss believes some fans were forever burned by Cyberpunk 2077's disastrous launch: 'I'm convinced that we lost the faith of some people indefinitely'

CD Projekt Red Boss Acknowledges Permanent Loss of Fan Trust After Cyberpunk 2077's Launch

The infamous launch of Cyberpunk 2077 remains a defining moment in CD Projekt Red's history. With expectations at an all-time high, the RPG debuted in a state that was buggy, unoptimised, and arguably unfinished. The situation was so dire that the PS4 version was pulled from the PlayStation Store. The fallout was severe: the company's share price plummeted, investors filed a class action lawsuit, and CDPR’s reputation suffered significant damage.

Despite this rocky start, Cyberpunk 2077 was a commercial success, and CD Projekt Red used some of those profits to address the game’s many flaws. The 2.0 patch, paired with the excellent Phantom Liberty expansion, helped turn the game’s reputation around and solidified its status as a roleplaying gem. For many, the damage was repaired — but not for all.

CDPR Co-CEO Believes Some Fans Lost Trust Forever

At a live interview during DevGAMM Gdańsk, which was later republished in Edge magazine’s Knowledge newsletter (via GamesRadar), CDPR co-CEO Michał Nowakowski expressed his belief that some fans were permanently alienated by the launch of Cyberpunk 2077.

"I'm not 100 per cent convinced we went through the full redemption arc," Nowakowski told interviewer Jörg Tittel. "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."

While CDPR's reputation may still have some cracks, the process of fixing Cyberpunk 2077 left the studio in a stronger position — both financially and in terms of team resilience. "We were left with seasoned, battle-hardened veterans; leaders who were able to carry a different kind of challenge on their shoulders," Nowakowski explained.

This newfound strength has allowed CDPR to become a multi-project studio. Currently, The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 are both in development, alongside the enigmatic Project Hadar. The studio’s goal is to become more prolific, but not excessively so.

"Our dream is to be making more games, although we never want to turn into the studio that's going to be launching a big game every year," Nowakowski said. "It may happen. But this is not the goal. We have a rough ten-year rolling plan, but the goal is not to flood the games market with CDPR games."

What's Next for CD Projekt Red?

The results of this more prolific structure won’t be immediate. The Witcher 4 isn’t expected until 2027 at the earliest, with some speculation it may not arrive until 2028. Cyberpunk 2, on the other hand, may not see release until 2030.

In the meantime, CDPR has greenlit a third expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Songs of the Past, developed by Fool's Theory, is set to release next year. The expansion is expected to be of similar scope to Blood & Wine, offering a substantial addition to the game's story and content.

With multiple projects in the pipeline and a focus on long-term growth, CD Projekt Red is clearly aiming to rebuild trust and establish itself as a more consistent and prolific force in the gaming industry. Whether or not this will fully restore the faith of all fans remains to be seen.