Project Hadar: CD Projekt Red Ditching Guns for Good Old Melee? (Maybe)
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
A new job listing hints at CD Projekt Red's Project Hadar potentially featuring melee-focused combat, leaving us pondering what kind of world and combat system they're crafting beyond their established franchises. It could be a return to Witcher-esque combat or something new entirely!
Right, so CD Projekt Red, bless their hearts, seem to be teasing us with the tiniest crumb of info about their mysterious new IP, codenamed Project Hadar. According to a job listing – spotted, as usual, by the eagle-eyed folks at Game Rant – they're after a Senior Gameplay Designer with a hankering for "RPG/Action titles with melee-oriented combat."
Now, before you start picturing Geralt of Rivia wielding a laser sword (which, let's be honest, sounds kinda awesome), let's unpack this a bit. We all remember the, shall we say, 'turbulent' launch of Cyberpunk 2077. But they’ve pulled a phoenix from the ashes with patches and the Phantom Liberty DLC. Since then, they've been juggling The Witcher 4, a Cyberpunk sequel, and this enigma that is Project Hadar.
It's not like CDPR are complete strangers to a bit of swordplay. The Witcher series is basically built on it. But Cyberpunk went all-in on the first-person shooter vibe, largely leaving melee combat in the digital dust. So, does this mean Hadar will be a return to third-person, hack-and-slash glory? Or, and this is where my brain starts doing loop-de-loops, could they be cooking up a *first-person* melee system that actually works? (Think something along the lines of Dying Light, but with a CDPR story?)
Frankly, the possibilities are more exciting than a freshly brewed cup of coffee.
It’s hard to get too hyped, though. Remember that six-minute cinematic trailer for The Witcher 4 *ages* ago? It's all a very long game, this. They’ve got a track record of showing their hand early, so don’t expect to hear any serious news about Project Hadar any time soon. But, the fact they’re building a new IP, not relying on established series, does peak my interest, I must admit.
One thing is for sure: the setting is a complete mystery. Will it be another grim, future-punk dystopia? A high-fantasy epic? Or something completely bonkers we haven’t even considered? Your guess is as good as mine, mate. But after Cyberpunk's focus on FPS mechanics, melee combat might signal that Hadar is aiming for something different than another future-sci-fi world.
So, what does this all mean? Well, for now, it means absolutely bugger all beyond CDPR are working on something new and, more or less, combat focused. It's a tiny puzzle piece in a colossal jigsaw, but hey, at least it's *a* puzzle piece. And who knows, maybe this is the beginning of something truly special. Or maybe it'll just be another game with swords. Only time will tell. I'll be watching, though.
Tags: CD Projekt Red, Project Hadar, Melee Combat, RPG, Gaming News
Original article: Game Rant