CD Projekt Red’s Hadar: An Emotional Open-World Masterpiece?

In a recent update, CD Projekt Red has shed some light on their enigmatic upcoming IP, codenamed Hadar. This new venture marks the studio’s foray into original intellectual property, departing from the foundation of The Witcher, which was adapted from a series of fantasy novels, and Cyberpunk 2077, which was based on a tabletop game.

Announced in October 2022, Hadar has been shrouded in mystery since then, with no additional details disclosed about the game. This silence has left players eagerly anticipating what this new title will offer.

Although CD Projekt Red seems not yet prepared to fully unveil Hadar, a recent job posting spotted by GamesRadar does confirm that the game will once again immerse players in an open-world environment and place a significant emphasis on narrative.

CD Projekt’s Warsaw studio is on the hunt for an engineering director who will “push the envelope” for its next immersive title in the Hadar universe, a role that promises to shape an emotionally resonant, open‑world experience that will linger in players’ memories. The upcoming game will be built on Unreal Engine 5, underscoring the studio’s commitment to cutting‑edge technology.

In a recent earnings briefing, CD Projekt disclosed that the Hadar team remains modest in size, with only 24 developers on the project as of the end of April 2026. This figure starkly contrasts with the 513‑person crew behind The Witcher 4, the 163‑member squad for Cyberpunk 2, and the 83‑person team working on the Witcher‑themed multiplayer title Sirius, indicating that Hadar is still a long journey ahead before it reaches full production scale.

When CD Projekt first announced Hadar in 2022, co‑founder Michał Nowakowski emphasized that, although it would be the studio’s inaugural intellectual property, the game would retain the hallmark gameplay elements that fans love from its previous titles.

When discussing the direction of their upcoming titles, the developer clarified that they remain committed to the genres that have historically defined their brand. “We focus on specific types of games, and it’s safe to assume that we’ll keep delivering titles within those familiar realms,” he said, hinting at the kind of experience players can anticipate.