As anticipation grows for major titles from CD Projekt, the company is quietly increasing its development capacity. New details show that both The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2, two of its most awaited projects, now have substantially larger teams working behind the scenes. This hiring surge follows a period of staff reductions at the studio, signaling a renewed focus on large-scale game production. Despite the excitement among fans, official timelines hint that releases could still be several years away. The latest updates offer a look at the development pace and internal shifts within CD Projekt, inviting closer scrutiny from the industry and players alike.
CD Projekt’s strategy now contrasts with earlier news when the company downsized a significant portion of its workforce in a bid for efficiency. At that time, plans prioritized smaller, more agile teams, reflecting a different development philosophy. The current approach represents a scale-up to handle simultaneous blockbuster projects, a shift echoed in team sizes well above those seen in The Witcher 3 and even the final stages of Cyberpunk 2077’s development cycle. Such changes suggest the company is navigating lessons from previous game launches while responding to market expectations for larger, more ambitious titles.
How are CD Projekt’s Development Teams Growing?
Data from CD Projekt’s recent half-year financial report indicate notable team expansions. As of July, The Witcher 4 involved 444 developers, up from 422 just three months earlier. Cyberpunk 2 experienced a similar trend, growing from 96 to 116 developers within the same timeframe. Teams dedicated to new projects, like the Witcher spinoff Project Sirius and the unrevealed Hadar, have also seen increases in staff numbers.
What Does Company Leadership Say About Staffing?
Joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski described the recent recruitment surge, reporting a 10% growth in total developers, nearing 800 employees across all projects. He stated,
“Our recruitment efforts have significantly sped up over the last three months and as a result the total number of talented developers working across our projects has grown by 10% reaching almost 800 people.”
Most new hires joined the teams for The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2, with expectations for continued, if gradual, staff growth through year’s end, especially in advanced production stages.
“We anticipate further gradual growth in our total developer headcount by the end of the year, particularly for the teams working on projects in the most advanced stages of production.”
When Can Gamers Expect The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 Releases?
Despite the ramp-up in development, projected launch dates remain distant. The Witcher 4 is currently in the most advanced development stage at the studio, but estimates suggest release is unlikely before 2027. Cyberpunk 2, which recently moved into pre-production, could arrive as late as 2030 or even later, based on timelines from CD Projekt’s earlier releases. These timeframes underscore the scale and complexity of the projects underway.
The expansion of teams for The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 suggests that CD Projekt is committed to addressing expectations for high-quality, content-rich games while absorbing lessons from previous development cycles. Increasing developer numbers alone does not guarantee improved project outcomes, but it allows for greater specialization and parallel progress across multiple titles. For fans and industry watchers, tracking team growth and milestones provides clues about the company’s priorities and likely release windows. Anyone interested in the timelines and management strategies of major game studios can watch these trends to better gauge how development decisions shape eventual game launches.
- CD Projekt’s team sizes for The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 have increased significantly.
- Major releases from the studio are expected several years from now.
- Recruitment growth signals heightened focus on concurrent large-scale projects.
