summary
- CD Projekt Red continues to work on creating single-player games rather than live service games to maintain a successful formula.
- Sony has also cancelled live service projects in favour of AAA single-player games, highlighting the industry’s trends towards single-player.
- The Witcher 4 is expected in 2027 and continues the studio’s potential lag history while still remaining true to the single-player experience.
While more studios are trying to take advantage of multiplayer games with live service elements of larger slices of video game money pie, The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red have no interest in that at all.
Even if the company is developing multiple games, the studio wants to stick to its roots, so don’t expect any of them to become live service games.
CD Projekt Red is committed to “the most advanced single player game”
Known for creating vast single-player games, the studio is not trying to deviate from the victory formula that made the Witcher franchise famous.
In its latest revenue report (via the boundary to comics), CDPR Co-CEO-CEO Nowakowski acknowledges that “the video game market continues to evolve” with new trends such as live service games. Still, CDPR will continue with its most well-known “state-of-the-art single-player” game.
“Our experience is that we can help us develop further, build a strong position in the market and draw a positive outlook along with brands like Witcher and Cyberpunk,” Nowakowski said.
I think this is the studio’s right decision. Instead of chasing trends, they are defeating those that have made them successful. We’ve all seen what happens when live service games are so badly wrong, but in many cases, when you crash, you need a studio along with the studio due to the cost of sinking.
It appears to focus more on single-player games than tracking trends, not just CD Projekt Red. Sony recently canceled two live service projects, but focuses on AAA single-player games like Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and Ghost of Yotei.
It is also worth noting that so many studios and publishers are aiming for the next big live service hit, so there are only people who can play these types of games. A good case: US PlayStation and Xbox gamers spent 40% of their gaming time last month on just 10 live service games. Unless there’s something unique to offer, gamers won’t test new games by dropping games they’re playing with friends.
As for The Witcher 4, it is due to be released early in 2027, and based on the studio’s past titles, don’t be surprised to see it delayed multiple times.
