CD Projekt Red's Mysterious New IP "Project Hadar" Advances to World Vision Stage

CD Projekt Red, a renowned game development studio, is making significant strides with its enigmatic new standalone intellectual property, codenamed "Project Hadar." After maintaining a veil of secrecy around the project for four years, the studio recently confirmed a crucial development milestone: the completion of its "world vision" phase. This achievement signals a clear conceptual foundation has been laid for what promises to be CDPR's first wholly original creation, distinct from its celebrated adaptations of The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077.

CD Projekt Red Forges New Paths with "Project Hadar" and Expansive Witcher Universe Plans

In a recent discussion with the Polish publication Biznes Pap, Michał Nowakowski, the CEO of CD Projekt Red, offered the first substantial update on "Project Hadar" since its initial announcement four years ago. He revealed that the team has successfully finalized the "world vision" stage for this entirely new in-house developed IP. Nowakowski emphasized the extensive effort invested, stating, "This has been our biggest undertaking to date, taking us several years, but at this point we can say we have a coherent vision for this world and its key elements." He further elaborated that while not yet in full pre-production, the team has commenced preliminary work, including the creation of small prototypes and testing of gameplay mechanics. This advancement establishes a concrete setting for "Project Hadar," positioning it as a significant venture beyond their established adaptations of Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher series and Mike Pondsmith’s Cyberpunk tabletop RPG. Concurrent with these developments, CD Projekt Red is also heavily invested in an ambitious roadmap for its existing franchises. The studio is preparing for the highly anticipated release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past DLC in 2027, marking the game's first expansion in over a decade. Furthermore, The Witcher 4 is slated for a 2028 launch, initiating a new trilogy that will follow Ciri, Geralt’s adopted daughter, in her role as a monster hunter. The studio envisions launching The Witcher 5 in 2031 and The Witcher 6 in 2034, outlining a demanding six-year timeline for this trilogy. Alongside these projects, a remake of the original The Witcher, a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, and a multiplayer Witcher game are also in various stages of development, showcasing CDPR's extensive and varied future pipeline.

The progress on "Project Hadar" represents an exciting new chapter for CD Projekt Red, demonstrating their commitment to innovation and expansion beyond their successful franchises. This strategic move into original IP development, coupled with an aggressive release schedule for their existing universes, underscores the studio's ambition and long-term vision. It will be fascinating to observe how "Project Hadar" evolves and what unique experiences it will ultimately offer to the gaming world, all while CDPR continues to enrich the beloved Witcher saga.