CD Projekt has announced that Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty has sold over 10 million copies since its September 2023 release. This impressive figure comes alongside news that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has now surpassed 60 million lifetime sales, firmly placing it among the best-selling video games of all time.
The Polish developer also revealed that the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, codenamed Project Orion, has officially entered pre-production. Approximately 96 developers are currently working on the project at CD Projekt’s new North American studios in Boston and Vancouver.
These announcements showcase CD Projekt’s recovery following the troubled 2020 launch of Cyberpunk 2077, which was plagued by technical issues and performance problems, particularly on last-generation consoles. The company spent years releasing patches and updates, culminating in the well-received 2.0 update and Phantom Liberty expansion that many players and critics viewed as a successful redemption story.
The Witcher 3‘s continued success is equally remarkable. First released in 2015, the game has maintained strong sales thanks to continued support, next-gen updates, and increased franchise recognition, which has been boosted by the Netflix adaptation. The platform breakdown shows 40% of sales on PC, 32.7% on PlayStation, 14.8% on Xbox, and an impressive 12.2% on Nintendo Switch.
CD Projekt’s current development lineup is ambitious. Their largest team of 422 developers is focused on The Witcher 4 (Project Polaris), which will mark the beginning of a new trilogy. Meanwhile, 48 developers are working on Project Sirius, a Witcher spinoff with both multiplayer and single-player components. Another 19 developers are creating a completely new IP codenamed Project Hadar, while 14 more work on unspecified projects.
A remake of the original Witcher game is also in development by third-party studio Fool’s Theory, though it won’t arrive until after The Witcher 4. The remake will likely use assets and tech from the newer game.
Engine upgrade powers future games
CD Projekt is making a major change by moving away from their in-house REDengine to Unreal Engine 5 for all future projects. This switch is supposed to make development smoother, cut down on technical headaches, and make hiring easier, since more game developers are familiar with Unreal than with custom engines.
Exact release dates are still up in the air, but don’t expect The Witcher 4 or Cyberpunk 2 anytime soon. Industry insiders say The Witcher 4 won’t show up before 2026 or 2027, with Cyberpunk 2 likely dropping even later. For now, fans can take comfort knowing both franchises are in the works as CD Projekt charges ahead with some big plans.
