CD Projekt Red appears to be taking a very different approach to the development of The Witcher 4 following the difficult launch of Cyberpunk 2077. According to comments from CD Projekt Red co-CEO Michał Nowakowski, the upcoming RPG is already running on all of its target platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
The confirmation came during an interview with Game Developer, where Nowakowski discussed how the studio has changed its internal development process after learning from the problems surrounding Cyberpunk 2077’s launch. He explained that developers can currently launch The Witcher 4 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, and the game is already capable of running across those platforms.
This marks a significant shift from the development strategy used for Cyberpunk 2077. According to Nowakowski, the studio primarily developed that game with PC hardware in mind, targeting the highest possible visual quality before attempting to reduce the technical requirements for console hardware. CD Projekt Red believed that scaling the game down to the hardware of the then-current console generation would be manageable, but the final launch showed that the process was far more complicated.
Cyberpunk 2077 released in December 2020 with major technical and performance problems, particularly on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The launch resulted in widespread criticism, refunds, and the temporary removal of the game from the PlayStation Store. While CD Projekt Red eventually spent years improving the game through updates and the Phantom Liberty expansion, the release clearly changed how the studio approaches large-scale game development.
Nowakowski said the company is no longer willing to take the same risks. CD Projekt Red wants to ensure that its next major RPG works properly across all intended systems during development rather than focusing heavily on one platform and dealing with optimization later.
The fact that The Witcher 4 is already running on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC is particularly interesting because the game is still expected to be several years away from release. Previous reporting from Gamescom suggested that CD Projekt Red is targeting 2028 for the launch window, giving the development team plenty of time for further testing, optimization, and polishing.
The studio has also previously discussed broader changes to its internal structure following Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt Red introduced stricter procedures for sharing institutional knowledge and ensuring that different teams working on the same project have access to the same information. The goal is to improve communication between departments and reduce the risk of development problems being discovered too late.
- The Witcher 4 already runs on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
- CD Projekt Red has changed its development strategy after Cyberpunk 2077.
- The studio is testing target platforms earlier during development.
- Cyberpunk 2077 was initially developed primarily with high-end PC hardware in mind.
- CD Projekt Red has introduced stricter internal procedures and knowledge-sharing systems.
- The Witcher 4 is reportedly not expected to launch until 2028.
For The Witcher 4, these changes could be just as important as the technical improvements. The project will launch a new saga for the long-running RPG franchise, making it one of CD Projekt Red’s most important games currently in development. While the studio has shared only limited details about the game so far, its decision to have the project running across all target systems well before release suggests that platform optimization is being considered much earlier this time.
