One thing that CD Projekt Red is known for over the years is their propensity to take risks and not to play it safe. Shortly after the dramatic unveiling of The Witcher 4, the signal was loud and clear: their ambitions are through the roof. Their self-assurance is not just a verbal flourish; rather, it stems from a team that has had both a tremendous success and a very public failure and, as a result, is now eager to convert every difficult lesson into something better.
Director Sebastian Kalemba mentioned the different strengths that acted as a foundation for the studio’s transformation from The Witcher 3 to Cyberpunk 2077. One game set a standard for a story-driven open world, while the other tried to achieve unprecedented density and first-person immersion—even though its release was not successful.
These two experiences, in contrast, are now directly influencing the upcoming Witcher title. Instead of just making something bigger, the emphasis is on building a world that is more interactive, more believable, and more refined from scratch.
Another big difference is the shift from REDengine to Unreal Engine 5. Gabe Amatangelo says that the move is not about a fresh start. The studio goes on with much of its technical philosophy and development expertise, while UE5 upgrades the studio in areas like visuals and workflow efficiency.
For gamers, that probably translates into more detailed environments and improved performance—but not without compromises. Modding, which was thriving under the old engine, may have some new restrictions. However, the studio’s long-term partnership with Epic Games indicates that they believe the technology will eventually align with their creative identity.
The community conversations about Project Orion—the next Cyberpunk game—reflect very clearly what the fans expect. The deep conflict between factions, the environments that react in a significant way to the player’s actions, and the systems that are actually interconnected rather than just decorative are the most important points people mention.
Many fans want Night City to be unpredictable and vibrant: changing weather, more developed vertical areas, smarter enemy behavior, and side quests that change depending on how you play. Some players even go as far as to wish they could run their own crew, where relationships develop, mistakes count, and permanent loss heightens the emotional aspect.
The question of burnout becomes more and more prominent as expansive RPGs keep growing in size. Not everyone is longing for a hundred-hour checklist of tasks. Variety and progression are argued by most players to be more important than just the sheer size of the game. New concepts, features, and surprises have to be there throughout the experience—or otherwise, even the most impressive world might give off a sense of repetitiveness.
The topics of modding and player freedom are still very much alive. The policies of the studio precisely define what is permitted, and, though the company has always been on the side of community creativity, UE5 brings about new issues concerning file access and customization. Nevertheless, the adoption of player support and transparency has not been affected by the changes in technology.
The bar couldn’t be set any higher for the studio as they work on their upcoming generation of RPGs. By integrating the technical enhancements, design, and storytelling lessons from the past, and the ever-present community feedback, there is only one outcome: not only visually stunning worlds but also worlds that are real and vivacious. It doesn’t matter if you are a fan of monster hunting or going through neon-lit streets; the future looks ambitious and, to a large extent, exciting.