Andrzej Sapkowski has confirmed he isn’t involved in The Witcher 4’s development, while Mike Pondsmith is taking a different approach to his own universe.
The American designer, who has spent decades shaping the setting through tabletop RPGs and novels, is actively working with CD Projekt RED on Cyberpunk 2 (Project Orion).
In the latest REDstream, Pondsmith revealed that he frequently visits the Polish studio, where developers present him with early concepts for the sequel. As he pointed out, the team “listens” to his input and regularly consults him on the worldbuilding, technology, and overall tone.
Pondsmith acts as an advisor on story and visual direction — much like his role during Cyberpunk 2077 — helping to make weapons and locations feel grittier and plausibly exaggerated rather than sleekly futuristic. He has already seen portions of the “new iteration” of the game, including in-world media such as radio shows and television segments that strengthen the dystopian atmosphere.
Cyberpunk 2 is being developed in close collaboration with the original universe’s creator. Mike Pondsmith wants to avoid the kind of disconnect that happened with Sapkowski and, together with the studio, strives to be part of a new title that could become a cult classic.
Source: iXBT.games