Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 are Bulking Up, But CD Projekt's Real Mystery Is 'Project Hadar' – And Investors Want Answers!
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
CD Projekt's gearing up with growing teams for Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2, but the real mystery, 'Project Hadar,' is now their main research focus, leaving investors (and us!) scratching our heads about this enigmatic new IP. It's a classic CDPR move: a dash of transparency, a whole lot of questions, and the promise of something potentially wizardly on the horizon.
Right, so imagine you've been fiddling with a spell for ages, trying to get it just right, and suddenly two massive, familiar conjurations (let's call 'em 'Witcher 4' and 'Cyberpunk 2') start glowing brighter than V's neon-drenched jacket. But then, tucked away in the shadows, a third, smaller, utterly mysterious rune starts pulsing with an odd, insistent energy. That, my mates, is the vibe I'm getting from the latest CD Projekt Red financial report.
Turns out, the Polish wizards at CD Projekt are seriously beefing up their development teams for both of those aforementioned behemoths. We're talking about a significant chunk of talent now dedicated to bringing us the next adventures in Geralt's world and the grimier future of Night City. As of July, 'The Witcher 4' (codenamed Project Polaris, mind you, but 'Witcher 4' is just easier on the tongue, isn't it?) had a whopping 444 souls slaving away on it, up from 422 a few months prior. Meanwhile, 'Cyberpunk 2' (or Project Orion, for the pedants out there) has hopped over the three-digit threshold, jumping from 96 'chooms' to 116. Yep, apologies for the C-bomb, my ongoing playthrough is clearly seeping into my brain. All told, CD Projekt has nearly 800 people across their projects, a neat 10% increase in just three months. Oh, and apparently, there was some Nintendo Switch stuff mentioned too, but I've got my mouse and keyboard-focused fingers in my ears on that front.
Now, before we pop the champagne, it's worth a quick flick through the dusty archives. This recent surge in recruitment follows a rather less-than-magical period back in 2023 when the studio had to lay off staff. Some remaining workers even decided to unionise, which, fair play to them, is a whole other kettle of fish when you're dealing with the demands of AAA game development. So, while the numbers look good on paper, it's important to remember the human story behind those digits, eh? Are they building a stable foundation, or just throwing more bodies at the problem? A healthy dose of cautious optimism is probably warranted here.
But here's where it gets truly interesting, like discovering a hidden alcove in a dungeon you thought you'd fully explored. While 'Cyberpunk 2' has officially shifted from the 'research' phase into full-blown 'development' (it's been in pre-production for a bit, so not a huge shocker), the real star of the mystery show is 'Project Hadar.' This enigmatic original IP, first hinted at back in 2022, is now the most expensive and central research project CD Projekt has on the books.
We know bugger all about Hadar, honestly. We're told it's an original story, and some job listings have whispered about it being an action RPG with melee combat. CEO Michał Nowakowski was also oddly specific in ruling out that it's a 'cosmic horror in feudal Japan.' Which, to be fair, is a rather specific denial. Perhaps they had a whiteboard session that went off the rails? 'Right, no Cthulhu samurais, got it.' Beyond that, it's been more shrug emoji than concrete details.
What's fascinating is that the 22-person team dedicated to Hadar is now the main focus of CD Projekt's research department. And you know who else is curious? The investors, mate. During the financial call, one of them quite bluntly asked if any 'decisions' about the game's future would be made by the end of this year or 2026. Nowakowski, bless his cotton socks, sounded a bit blindsided by the forwardness.
He explained that Hadar is 'still basically an IP concept, so not a game development project yet.' They're working on the story, the background – 'some prototyping going on in terms of gameplay,' naturally, because it's hard to make a game without, you know, *gameplay*. But he seemed perplexed by the idea of 'decisions' – as in, committing to development or scrapping it? 'We want to make this IP happen, so that decision is sort of made,' he clarified, adding they'll announce when it progresses. Talk about playing your cards close to your chest!
You might be thinking, 'Bloody hell, why announce an IP three years ago if it's still just a concept?' And that's a fair point. It feels a bit like showing off a magnificent wizard's tower blueprint when you've only just laid the first brick. But then again, this kind of transparency, even if it's a bit vague, does serve a purpose. For us journos, it keeps us guessing (and writing!). For CD Projekt, it's likely a shrewd recruitment tool. Imagine applying for a job knowing you could be shaping an entirely new universe, rather than just iterating on an existing one. That's a powerful draw for creative talent.
My gentle skepticism, however, kicks in when I hear about 'prototyping' and 'IP concepts' for an original game that's already the 'most expensive research project.' It feels a bit like they're trying to square a circle – generating hype for something that's still very much in the ethereal realm of 'what if.' But then, that's how truly innovative ideas often start, isn't it? A spark, a few talented folks, and a mountain of cash for experimentation. It could be nothing, or it could be the next big thing that genuinely pushes boundaries, not just a 'revolutionary' minor update. That's the optimistic chaos I thrive on.
So, while 'Witcher 4' and 'Cyberpunk 2' are steadily chugging along, building their magnificent digital worlds brick by virtual brick, it's 'Project Hadar' that's currently casting the longest, most intriguing shadow. What will it be? My money's still on an open-world farming sim where you play as a sentient turnip, but hey, a wizard can dream, right? We'll just have to keep our ears to the ground and our spellbooks open for the next big reveal from the digital conjurers at CD Projekt.
*** *This analysis draws insights from the original reporting by Mark Warren for Rock Paper Shotgun, published on August 29, 2025. You can find the full article at
Tags: CD Projekt Red, Witcher 4, Cyberpunk 2, Game Development, Project Hadar
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun