CD Projekt Red Swears Off Cyberpunk 2077 Mistakes with “Witcher 4” Early Optimization

Remember the rocky launch of Cyberpunk 2077? CD Projekt Red certainly does. Haunted by the performance issues that plagued its ambitious RPG on consoles and even PC, the studio is taking a radically different approach with its next major title, currently referred to as “The Witcher 4.” This time, it’s all about early optimization and ensuring a smooth experience across all target platforms from day one.

A New Approach to Optimization

In an interview with Game Developer, CD Projekt Red co-CEO Michal Nowakowski revealed that the studio is already running “The Witcher 4” on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. This proactive measure aims to avoid the pitfalls experienced with Cyberpunk 2077, where performance optimization was left until late in development.

“You come to the studio, you launch Witcher 4 right now,” Nowakowski stated. “You can launch it on PC. You can launch it on PS5. You can launch it on Xbox Series X, and it’s going to run.” This commitment to early optimization is a stark contrast to the Cyberpunk 2077 era, where the game was almost unplayable on older consoles due to numerous technical issues.

Lessons Learned From The Past

The decision to prioritize visuals above all else during the development of Cyberpunk 2077 ultimately backfired, leading to compromises on performance across various platforms. Nowakowski explained that the studio held a “false belief” that it would be easy to scale down the experience for consoles. This time, however, CD Projekt Red is determined to avoid similar missteps.

“Since then, we don’t take chances,” he emphasized. “We want to be sure that it actually works.” This refined approach also extends to internal development milestones and platform-specific problem-solving, ensuring a more stable and well-optimized final product.

Release Window and Target Platforms

“The Witcher 4” is currently slated for release in 2028. While this timeline provides ample time for optimization and bug fixes, it also leaves room for potential delays. The game will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.