CD Projekt Red (CDPR), once hailed as a powerhouse in the gaming industry for acclaimed titles like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, is undergoing a significant transformation. Recently, a wave of key developers, including the Witcher 3 directors, have chosen to leave CDPR to start their own rival game studios.
CD Projekt Red was once celebrated for its immersive storytelling and high-quality game design. However, recent internal changes have sparked dissatisfaction among its core development team. Many talented individuals have expressed frustration over what they perceive as an increasing emphasis on identity politics and a workplace environment that stifles creative freedom.
A screenshot from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015), CD Projekt Red
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As a result, numerous developers are leaving CDPR to establish their own studios, aiming to cultivate environments that better align with their creative visions and values.
One of the most notable departures was Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, the former director of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. His new venture could ultimately create CDPR’s biggest threat with the formation of Rebel Wolves, led by Tomaszkiewicz, along with other esteemed figures like Bartłomiej Gaweł, the art director of The Witcher 3. They’ve united to create what they describe as a “AAA dark fantasy RPG” saga utilizing Unreal Engine 5.
Witcher 3 director and CEO of Rebel Wolves Konrad Tomaszkiewicz – Rebel Wolves Official Website
Tomaszkiewicz ended his tenure with CDPR after allegations of “bullying” sprang up. He denied those allegations and was eventually proven innocent.
When commenting on the formation of their studio, Rebel Wolves sent a very clear shot across CDPR’s bow.
“We decided to create our own studio and run it on our own terms,” the official Rebel Wolves site says. “Chief among them: the team comes first, always. Happy people make great games – games players want and deserve. Yes, it’s as simple as that.”
Imagine that. A game developer focusing on what players want instead of what the devs themselves what to see according to their own political agenda.
A screenshot from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015), CD Projekt Red
The studio also notes that one of its main goals is to, “create a studio where developers can thrive, united by a common goal and a sense of camaraderie. Our priority is the team, and the team’s priority is to create the best RPG games the world has seen.”
CDPR recently made waves by making Ciri the main protagonist of its upcoming The Witcher 4, making her a Witcher in the process. That’s something impossible for women in the lore of the Witcher novels. The game’s creative team admitted in a recent interview that they didn’t speak with The Witcher author and creator Andrzej Sapkowski.
Ciri as a witcher in The Witcher 4 – YouTube, IGN
This decision was met with anger and pushback from longtime fans who were looking forward to another Geralt of Rivia adventure.
Even the name of the studio could be a shot at CDPR. Geralt of Rivia is known as “The White Wolf” and these devs are rebelling against CDPR. Hence, Rebel Wolves…
Rebel Wolves secured funding through NetEase, a Chinese company, which also casts a shadow of controversy around the entire studio.
“You gotta take a step back with all this and see what’s happening right before our eyes,” YouTube commentator Smash JT said in his official write up on this situation. “Wokeness is destroying companies across the world at breakneck speed, and who always shows up in one way or another to swoop in and invest at the very bottom? China. They aren’t even hiding it anymore…”
He’s not wrong. We’re seeing NetEase step in here to prop up new studios and Tencent, another Chinese company, potentially pulling the struggling Ubisoft out of the financial ruin it dug itself into.
However, this strategic investment from NetEase enables Rebel Wolves to pursue its creative ambitions without the constraints previously experienced at CDPR.
A screenshot from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015), CD Projekt Red
“Funding provided by NetEase was the last missing piece needed to go full throttle,” Rebel Wolves said. “With resources available to build a world-class AAA game, we can now focus on what matters most: development.”
Blank Studio has also emerged under the leadership of another former CDPR director. Mateusz Kanik, the former game director for Cyberpunk 2077 and co-game director for The Witcher 3 started the studio alongside executive producers Jędrzej Mróz and Marcin Jefimow.
Blank Studio expressed a commitment to fostering a collaborative environment that values work-life balance and prioritizes quality over quantity.
A screenshot from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015), CD Projekt Red
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In an interview with VGC, Kanik stated: “After working for years in an increasingly conservative industry, we’re ready to make bold, impactful projects that share our unique creativity and values.”
Kanik left CDPR after working there for fifteen years due to a reported desire to escape the political correctness being forced onto the company’s devs.
Blank Studio has rapidly grown from an initial team of ten to nearly sixty members. It’s currently working on a character-driven story set against an apocalyptic backdrop. With a recent $17 million investment from the South Korean gaming company NEOWIZ, Blank Studio is well-positioned to deliver compelling narratives and refined gameplay experiences.
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Director’s Cut (2008), CD Projekt Red
“We put all our passion and dedication into our craft, and we’re eagerly looking forward to letting you play the compelling narratives we are working on,” Blank Studio said on its website. “Rest assured, we will share more details when the time is right.”
The departure of these key figures from CD Projekt Red highlights more than just career moves. It demonstrates a significant cultural shift within the studio. Reports from former employees indicate that the work environment had become increasingly challenging, with some citing a focus on ideological alignments that overshadowed creative freedoms.
Screenshot from Cyberpunk 2077 (2020), CD Projekt Red
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The emphasis on maintaining a positive workplace atmosphere at all costs (also known as “toxic positivity”) reportedly led to a stifling of open critique and dissent. This contrasts sharply with the creative and gritty essence that once defined CDPR. Such an environment has prompted talented developers to seek new horizons where their voices and creativity can thrive unimpeded.
And those former employees might just come back to unseat CDPR, bringing back the kinds of games that longtime fans desire, free of identity politics. The employees left at CDPR include people like lore designer Cian Maher, a former games journalist who champions identity politics, attacks gamers on social media, and even once expressed a desire to punch gamers.
CDPR Franchise and Lore Designer Cian Maher – YouTube, SmashJT
For CD Projekt Red, the ongoing departure of pivotal team members signals the need for introspection and potential restructuring to reclaim its creative edge. Meanwhile, the rise of Rebel Wolves and Blank Studio offers a promising outlook for the gaming community. These new studios bring with them a wealth of experience, passion, and a commitment to crafting games that resonate deeply with players.
Are you glad to see the Witcher directors leave CDPR to start their own studios? Sound off in the comments below and let us know!
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Good for them, please for the Love of god…. Dont take HR with you
It is interestung to see how important the Unreal Engine 5 seems to be for the possibility of this change. For me, this is a much more interesting topic than NetEase. But I get it. There can’t be a journalistic article where China gets off too easy. lol
How many times have bad bosses driven away employees who then go on to make their own, successful businesses while the old business crumbles? It’s not a sure thing but it happens often enough that CDPR should be terrified.
They are, that is why they are doubling-down on the DEI and woke ideology. They have nothing else anymore. It’s the same thing as Bethesda, Blizzard and other such companies… the people who made the great games that made the companies great left, leaving behind only the incompetent, non-creative slag good only for the grunt work.
Anyone, even a child, can draw a tree. But only the true genius can draw a forest that makes you smell it, hear it, feel like inside.
Happy for them that they were able to get out of the woke gulag also known as CD Projekt Red. Will never buy a product from CDPR again.
Former Ubisoft developers are starting a new company called Webehard.
Walt Disney got mistreated when he was making Oswald and left to start his own thing. We know how that went, and it lasted for quite some time even after his death. Meanwhile, not much happened with Oswald without Walt.
Since Rebel Wolves are funded by the CCP I won’t touch their games, but at least this is a reminder that a lot of the talent has long left CDPR.