Summary
CD Projekt Red has become one of the most well-known and liked modern developers. After cutting its teeth on the lauded adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski’s dark fantasyThe Witchernovels in its 2007 debut title, the studio followed up with an even more polished and expanded sequel in 2011,The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. The third entry in 2015,The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt,put it firmly on the map, establishing CDPR as a go-to developer for deeply engaging RPGs. After the high-profile success ofThe Witcher 3, it was practically a given that the franchise would continue forward.
AfterThe Wild Hunt, CDPR pivoted to dystopian sci-fi withCyberpunk 2077, an adaption of Mike Pondsmith’s seminal tabletop RPG. Though it was plagued by initial troubles, the studio set about correcting its shortcomings, achieving a turnaround via substantial patches and DLC. Both IPs are since confirmed to be receiving further entries, andThe Witcher 4, codenamed Polaris, will see fans embark on a completely new path, leaving the previous games' central character, Geralt of Rivia, behind to focus on a fresh protagonist and their adventures. With all the elements in place and the information currently known, it’s looking like the fourthWitchergame may surpass all that CDPR has done before in terms of scope and vision.
AWitchermultiplayer experience, known as Project Sirius, is also in early development, with some details recently leaking about its design and direction.
The Witcher 4 Will Probably Be CD Projekt Red’s Most Advanced and Ambitious Title To Date
The Witcher 3’s Legacy and Project Orion
Upon release,The Witcher 3: The Wild Huntwas almost universally acclaimed by audiences and critics, being hailed as one of the best RPGs of the time and into the present day.CD Projekt Red’s approach to quest designis often pointed to as one of the major reasons for its quality, featuring incredibly interesting and compelling tales, with superb writing, meaningful choices, and repercussions that increase an already high level of immersion contained in its design and world.
Meanwhile,Cyberpunk 2077’s The Phantom Liberty DLCalso built upon the excellent existing foundations while exploring fantastic new characters and locations, fitting in well with the themes and ideas seen in the main game. After its positive reception, it was revealed that a followup, known as Project Orion, is being worked on in addition to the nextWitchertitle, and both are much-anticipated. However, asThe Witcherhas a longer history and arguably better reputation, it’s probable that it will thus be more rounded and involved comparatively.
Why The Witcher 4 is Likely to be CD Projekt’s Red’s Magnum Opus
With the goodwill that CD Projekt Red has garnered withThe Witcher, along with the popularity of the franchise being boosted in part by various related Netflix works, the next entry has a lot of attention and hype attached, and CDPR has lofty expectations to live up to in it. One notable detail uncovered is that it will be switching toUnreal Engine 5 forThe Witcher 4. Previously, the studio utilized its internal RED engine, which has served the series well. But the upgrade to the powerful Unreal 5 opens even more possibilities for outdoing the inspired direction and design that wowed fans inThe Wild Hunt.
The Witcher 4will mark the start of a new epic trilogy for the series, and will likely be running on next-gen hardware. CDPR has recently noted thatThe Witcher 4’s development team sizehas already exceeded its marks, and the forthcoming title is being heavily focused on as it ramps up production. Even though Project Orion is technically in line to be released after it, given its high-profile status and place in the studio’s oeuvre,The Witcher 4may very well end up outstripping it in terms of noticeable advancements and leaps forward in evolution.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
WHERE TO PLAY
You are Geralt of Rivia, mercenary monster slayer. Before you stands a war-torn, monster-infested continent you can explore at will. Your current contract? Tracking down Ciri — the Child of Prophecy, a living weapon that can alter the shape of the world.PLAY AS A HIGHLY TRAINED MONSTER SLAYER FOR HIRETrained from early childhood and mutated to gain superhuman skills, strength, and reflexes, witchers are a counterbalance to the monster-infested world in which they live.Gruesomely destroy foes as a professional monster hunter armed with a range of upgradeable weapons, mutating potions, and combat magic. Hunt down a wide variety of exotic monsters, from savage beasts prowling mountain passes to cunning supernatural predators lurking in the shadowy back alleys of densely populated cities. Invest your rewards to upgrade your weaponry and buy custom armor, or spend them on horse races, card games, fist fighting, and other pleasures life brings.EXPLORE A MORALLY AMBIGUOUS FANTASY OPEN WORLDBuilt for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth, and complexity. Traverse a fantastical open world: explore forgotten ruins, caves, and shipwrecks, trade with merchants and dwarven smiths in cities, and hunt across the open plains, mountains, and seas. Deal with treasonous generals, devious witches, and corrupt royalty to provide dark and dangerous services. Make choices that go beyond good & evil, and face their far-reaching consequences.
