While Cyberpunk 2077 currently enjoys a far more favorable reputation than it did during its disastrous 2020 debut, CD Projekt Red CEO Michał Nowakowski remains cautious, noting that the studio has yet to complete its “full redemption arc.”
In a recent interview for Edge’s Knowledge newsletter (via GamesRadar), Nowakowski expressed hope that upcoming projects, such as The Witcher 4, might eventually reconcile the studio with its skeptical fanbase. “I’m not 100 percent convinced we went through the full redemption arc,” he stated. “I accept that we permanently lost the trust of some people, and that’s a fair stance. However, I am optimistic that we can win them back—if not with the next Witcher title, then perhaps with the project that follows.”
The 2020 release of Cyberpunk 2077 was a staggering disappointment, plagued by deep-seated technical failures and a lack of polish that left the experience feeling hollow. Despite a compelling narrative foundation, many of the features promised leading up to the game’s debut were either missing or fundamentally broken. Given that CD Projekt Red was riding high on the success of The Witcher 3, the subsequent backlash from players was swift and severe.
Over the following years, CD Projekt Red committed to an extensive rehabilitation of the game. Through a rigorous series of patches, they stabilized the performance across all platforms and overhauled core gameplay mechanics. These efforts culminated in the 2023 release of Phantom Liberty, an expansion that garnered widespread critical acclaim.
Image: CD Projekt RedCurrently, the studio is juggling multiple high-profile projects, including the next entry in The Witcher series and a new installment in the Cyberpunk universe. While the anticipation surrounding these future titles suggests that many players have moved past the initial controversy, Nowakowski’s comments serve as a reminder that the team believes there is still work to be done to restore their reputation entirely.
Regarding the company’s long-term goals, he emphasized a measured approach: “Our dream is to create more games, though we have no intention of becoming a studio that feels pressured to churn out a massive title every single year.”
The Witcher 4 has yet to receive an official release window.
Source: Polygon
