CD Projekt Red's president discussed the company's strategic goals for 2022, confirming that it is on track to begin simultaneous development of two triple-A games. Hopefully, he didn't mean those delayed Cyberpunk 2077 and Witcher 3 current-gen upgrades.
Speaking to ISBtech, CEO Adam Kiciński revealed how CDPR will embrace its different strategies. The ambitious plan to create two big-budget games at the same time will be supported by the company's ongoing transformation and additional hirings, as well as the new team Digital Scapes in Vancouver, acquired last summer.
"The simultaneous implementation of two AAA projects is our strategic goal for this year," Kiciński says in the announcement. "An element that is to significantly support this process is [...] a more efficient way to control the progress of a given product development thanks to working in the agile methodology. In addition, we intend to hire new, talented people to support our development teams."
The company originally mentioned these plans in its financial report back in May 2021. CD Projekt hinted at its "involvement in new, future projects," and later clarified that these will be two unannounced triple-A games. CDPR mentioned its parallel development will begin in 2022 and has since followed this course.
Cyberpunk 2077 troubled launch was undoubtedly a turning point in the company's history, leading the management board to say that it is appreciating the fresh perspective from employees, and is open to their suggestions.
"We are trying to ensure that the team leaders in our group have more autonomy in making decisions and initiatives. Of course, we constantly observe industry trends and events so as not to 'fall out of circulation,'" the CEO said. "Cyberpunk taught us a lot. It was an impulse and motivation for changes [that] will make us perform better in the future."
Adam Kiciński once again highlighted Cyberpunk 2077's scope, involving over 5,000 people "in creating a powerful, living universe of Night City." The president believes the team "tried to reach a whole new level in almost every creative aspect" and approached it as the foundation for a new global brand rather than just another game. From what he said here, there is little doubt left for at least one of the studio's upcoming projects to be of the Cyberpunk universe.
The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 free upgrades for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S are still expected to arrive in Q2 2022, meaning we could finally hear more about them any day now.