A big part of the current team behind "Cyberpunk 2077" is about to shift to the next "The Witcher" installment, CD Projekt Red has confirmed.
Once the "Phantom Liberty Expansion" happens next month, it's time for huge adjustments that will benefit the upcoming "Witcher" game.
Development Boost For 'The Witcher 4'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: Marcin Iwiński and Geoff Keighley speak onstage at the CD Projekt Red: The Past Present and Future panel during E3 2019 at the Novo Theatre on June 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
When CD Projekt Red announced that a new "The Witcher" game would be launched sometime, fans anticipated the best storyline to align with the "Wild Hunt."
According to IGN, Adam Kiciński, the CEO of the Polish developer, says that the company will shift more resources and put a "big" development boost for the new "Witcher" game.
The group of Cyberpunk 2077 developers known as Polaris has over 250 members. Some of them are currently helping with the expansion of the futuristic RPG.
"After releasing Phantom Liberty we'll transfer a big part of the team to Polaris. Some remaining members will then focus on supporting other ongoing projects like Orion or Hadar but bear in mind we'll also be supporting Phantom Liberty for some time," Kiciński said.
Adam added that some team members are expected to relocate to other divisions, possibly in Q1 2024.
However, this does not mean that every developer behind "Phantom Liberty" will have the opportunity to contribute to the "Witcher 4" game. The official numbers of the members might be determined until November 28.
What is 'Phantom Liberty?'
For those "Cyberpunk 2077" fans who love the aesthetics and mechanics of the game, the new "Phantom Liberty" expansion could be the final piece of the puzzle you've been looking for.
The expansion will arrive on September 26, and you should expect tons of exciting content on the update, including new storylines, gameplay tweaks, and more.
Meanwhile, CD Projekt Red says that the game's full sequel will be "Orio." In 2022, the game studio announced that it is working on a new IP called "Hadar."
Related Article: 'Cyberpunk 2077' Maker CD Projekt Red Trimming 9% of Workforce: 'We Are Overstaffed'
CD Projekt Red Revenue Profit Down by 20% in First Half of 2023
In another story published by Game Industry, CD Projekt saw a 20% decrease in its year-on-year profit, which accounts for $22.1 million. The 2022 recorded was $27.6 million.
Meanwhile, its sales revenue only reached $79.5 million. It's lower compared to the revenue it achieved during the first half of 2022, which was $88.2 million.
According to the company's CFO Piot Nielubowicz, their current sales revenue performance is "naturally lower" than last year.
In July, the company started to lay off around 100 employees, which aligns with the organization's mission towards "several deep transformations."
Adam confirmed that the July layoff was part of the ongoing restructuring process of the firm. The development teams changed from December 31, 2021 to July 31, 2023.
