The Witcher Creator on CDPR: Less Chat, More Cash (And a Whiff of Retconning Those Schools!)
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
The Witcher author Andrzej Sapkowski reveals he rarely consults with CD Projekt Red on new games like *The Witcher 4*, but assures fans his current contract is 'excellent' after his infamous 'stupid' deal. He also hilariously admits the iconic 'witcher schools' from the games spawned from a single, forgotten sentence in his early novels.
Right, so apparently, Andrzej Sapkowski – the very chap who gave us Geralt, Ciri, and all that glorious monster-slaying goodness – isn't exactly on speed dial with CD Projekt Red these days. He's out there promoting his new prequel, *Crossroads of Ravens*, and he's dropped a few intriguing crumbs about his relationship with the game devs. Turns out, it's pretty "rare" for them to ping him for details about the upcoming *The Witcher 4*.
You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit too well, but you're not entirely sure if the magic still belongs to you? That's kinda the vibe I'm getting here. Sapkowski, bless his cotton socks, says his current contracts with CDPR are "excellent right now." And he swiftly followed that up with, "Let's hope it stays that way." A subtle nod, perhaps, to the tempestuous waters they've navigated together.
Now, for those who've been around the block a few times, you'll remember the whole kerfuffle back in 2017. Fair dinkum, it was quite the yarn. Sapkowski, openly admitting he was "stupid enough" to sell the rights to CDPR for a lump sum without asking for royalties, found himself missing out on a mountain of coin when *The Witcher 3* absolutely exploded. Who could've seen that coming, eh? Well, apparently, he couldn't. "I said, 'No, there will be no profit at all – give me all my money right now! The whole amount.' It was stupid," he told Eurogamer at the time. Honestly, mate, you can't blame him for not foreseeing the global phenomenon that *Witcher 3* became. It was like predicting a tiny spark would set the entire world alight.
This rather public display of a creator feeling a bit miffed about a deal gone south eventually led to a new agreement in 2019. And that, my friends, is why we're hearing about these "excellent" contracts today. It’s a classic tale of a creator’s initial underestimation of a game’s potential, followed by a savvy developer making good on their success. It’s a good reminder that the human story behind the corporate announcements often boils down to someone's vision, someone's gamble, and someone's wallet.
So, what does it mean for *The Witcher 4* if the original wordsmith isn't being consulted? Well, Sapkowski explicitly stated he hasn't been approached to contribute. For some, that might sound like a bit of a worry. Will the new game stay true to the spirit of the books? Will the lore take a detour down a path the author never intended? History tells us that game adaptations often diverge, sometimes to great effect, sometimes... not so much. CDPR has proven they can craft compelling narratives within Sapkowski's world, but the creator's voice is unique. It's like asking a wizard to craft a new spell without consulting the ancient grimoires – it *might* work, but you're definitely taking a risk.
And speaking of ancient grimoires and creative liberties, Sapkowski recently dropped a delightful little bombshell about one of the most fundamental bits of *Witcher* game lore: the witcher schools. You know, Wolf, Cat, Gryphon, Viper, Bear... the whole shebang? Turns out, according to the man himself, it was all based on a single, throwaway sentence in *The Last Wish*. Just one. He later deemed it "unworthy of development and narratively incorrect, even detrimental to the plot." He then stated, quite emphatically, "Therefore, later I never included or referenced any Witcher Gryffindors or Slytherins again. Never."
Bloody hell! Can you imagine? A cornerstone of the entire game universe, all those cool school insignias, the distinct fighting styles, the whole idea of different witcher lineages... all born from a single, forgotten line the author himself basically retconned out of his own headcanon! "Adaptors, particularly video game people, have clung to the idea with remarkable tenacity and have wonderfully multiplied these 'witcher schools'. Completely unnecessary," he quipped. It's like finding out the secret ingredient to your favourite potion was actually just a typo in the original recipe book. That's a properly chaotic bit of lore history, isn't it?
This whole revelation is a cracking example of how adaptations take on a life of their own. It's a testament to the creative power of game developers, who can pluck a tiny seed from the source material and grow an entire forest around it. It also highlights the fascinating tension between creator intent and the vast, often divergent, interpretations that come with adapting beloved intellectual property. For gamers, those schools are as real as Geralt's silver sword. For the author, they were a fleeting thought.
So, where does this leave us? Sapkowski is getting his due, which is always good news for creators. CDPR is marching forward with *The Witcher 4*, presumably with their own excellent internal team guiding the narrative without much direct input from the source. And we're left with the amusing, slightly bewildering knowledge that much of the lore we adore was built upon a literary one-off. It’s a peculiar, but ultimately fascinating, dynamic between creator and creation, isn't it? A bit like finding out the magic isn't in the wand, but in the wielder's imagination – even if the original wand-maker has moved on.
*Original source for this story: Eurogamer.net*
Tags: The Witcher, CD Projekt Red, Andrzej Sapkowski, Gaming Lore, Game Development
Original article: Eurogamer