While the gaming industry continues to face widespread layoffs, CD Projekt Red is doing something different. The Polish studio just added 52 new developers to its workforce, bringing the total headcount to 851 employees as of their Q3 2025 earnings report. This growth signals serious momentum for their upcoming projects, particularly The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2.
The Witcher 4 Gets Massive Development Team
The majority of CD Projekt Red’s workforce is now dedicated to The Witcher 4. Currently, 447 developers are working on the highly anticipated sequel, which marks a significant increase from the 444 developers reported back in July 2025. For context, The Witcher 3 had around 240 people on its internal development team, making this new project nearly double that size.
The game entered full-scale production at the end of 2024 and is being built on Unreal Engine 5, a departure from the studio’s proprietary REDengine. CD Projekt Red unveiled a tech demo at State of Unreal 2025, showcasing their ambitions to create “the most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game to date.” The sequel will focus on Ciri, Geralt’s adopted daughter, as the main protagonist.
However, fans will need to be patient. The game won’t appear at The Game Awards 2025, and CD Projekt Red’s CFO Piotr Nielubowicz confirmed that The Witcher 4 won’t launch before 2027. Some industry observers speculate a release window closer to late 2027 or even 2028, considering the typical 3-4 year development cycle plus additional time for testing and polish.
Cyberpunk 2 Development Accelerates
CD Projekt Red is also scaling up work on the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, codenamed Project Orion. The team grew from 116 developers in July to 135 as of October 2025, with plans to expand to over 300 developers. The studio is particularly focused on growing its Boston office, which is contributing heavily to this project alongside teams in Vancouver and Warsaw.
The sequel will feature two cities: Night City and a new location inspired by a dystopian version of Chicago. Series creator Mike Pondsmith described it as “Chicago gone wrong.” In the Cyberpunk universe, Chicago has been devastated by a bioplague, quarantined from the outside world, and transformed into a lawless zone after a catastrophic biological weapon test. This ambitious dual-city approach suggests a significantly expanded game world compared to the original.
The timing makes sense when you consider Cyberpunk 2077’s commercial success. The game has sold 35 million copies worldwide across its normal and ultimate edition bundles, proving there’s massive demand for more content in this universe. However, with the game currently in pre-production and the team still ramping up, a release before 2030 seems unlikely.
Breaking Down CD Projekt Red’s Projects
Here’s how CD Projekt Red’s 851 employees are currently distributed across their various projects:
| Project | Number of Developers | Status |
|---|---|---|
| The Witcher 4 | 447 | Full production, 2027+ release |
| Cyberpunk 2 | 135 | Pre-production, scaling to 300+ |
| Project Sirius | 56 | In development |
| Shared Services | 162 | Localization, QA, motion capture |
| Other Projects | 51 | Various stages |
Project Sirius is a spinoff game set in The Witcher universe, while the mysterious Project Hadar represents an entirely new intellectual property. The “Shared Services” category includes essential functions like localization, quality assurance, and motion capture that support all projects.
Why This Hiring Spree Matters
CD Projekt Red’s decision to expand during industry-wide contraction is noteworthy. Throughout 2024 and 2025, major studios like Microsoft, Sony, Electronic Arts, and others have laid off thousands of developers. In contrast, CD Projekt Red’s recruitment efforts have accelerated significantly over the last few months, with joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski noting a 10% growth in their developer workforce.
This expansion strategy suggests confidence in their project pipeline and financial stability. The studio learned hard lessons from Cyberpunk 2077’s troubled launch, which faced multiple delays and performance issues on older consoles. By building larger teams earlier in the development process and switching to the more stable Unreal Engine 5, CD Projekt Red appears to be taking a more measured approach to avoid past mistakes.
The focus on Boston for Cyberpunk 2 development is particularly strategic. Having a dedicated North American team can help with cultural authenticity for a game featuring an American city, while also tapping into the region’s deep talent pool of experienced developers. The studio’s willingness to offer competitive salaries, reportedly ranging from $118,800 to $198,000 for senior positions, shows they’re serious about attracting top talent.
What to Expect Next
Don’t expect major announcements at The Game Awards 2025. Michał Nowakowski confirmed that CD Projekt Red won’t be bringing new content to the show, despite The Witcher 4 being nominated in the Most Anticipated Game category. The studio seems focused on development rather than marketing at this stage.
The Witcher 4 will likely dominate gaming conversations when it does arrive. With nearly 450 developers working on it, the scale should exceed anything CD Projekt Red has created before. The move to Unreal Engine 5 should also help with development efficiency and visual fidelity, potentially avoiding the technical issues that plagued Cyberpunk 2077’s launch.
As for Cyberpunk 2, the Chicago setting opens up fascinating storytelling possibilities. A quarantined city dealing with a bioplague and corporate warfare fits perfectly with the franchise’s dystopian themes. If CD Projekt Red can deliver on the promise of two fully realized cities, it could set a new benchmark for open-world RPGs.
FAQs
How many developers are working on The Witcher 4?
CD Projekt Red currently has 447 developers working on The Witcher 4 as of their Q3 2025 earnings report. This represents a significant increase from earlier in the year and is nearly double the team size that worked on The Witcher 3.
When will The Witcher 4 be released?
The Witcher 4 will not launch before 2027 according to CD Projekt Red’s CFO. The game entered full-scale production at the end of 2024, and many industry analysts expect a release window in late 2027 or 2028, depending on development progress and polish time.
What engine is The Witcher 4 being built on?
The Witcher 4 is being developed using Unreal Engine 5, marking a shift away from CD Projekt Red’s proprietary REDengine. This change should provide more stability and access to cutting-edge technology while reducing development complications.
How many people are working on Cyberpunk 2?
Currently, 135 developers are working on Cyberpunk 2 as of October 2025. However, CD Projekt Red plans to scale this team up to over 300 developers, with a particular focus on expanding their Boston studio.
Where will Cyberpunk 2 take place?
Cyberpunk 2 will feature two cities: the familiar Night City from the first game and a new location inspired by a dystopian version of Chicago. Series creator Mike Pondsmith described the Chicago setting as “Chicago gone wrong,” referencing the city’s struggles with a bioplague and corporate warfare in the game’s universe.
Will The Witcher 4 appear at The Game Awards 2025?
No, CD Projekt Red has confirmed that The Witcher 4 will not be shown at The Game Awards 2025. Joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski stated the studio won’t be bringing new content to the event, though they’re excited to watch and celebrate with the gaming community.
Who is the main character in The Witcher 4?
The Witcher 4 will focus on Ciri, Geralt’s adopted daughter, as the main protagonist. This was revealed in the game’s cinematic announcement trailer that premiered at The Game Awards 2024.
Why is CD Projekt Red hiring when other studios are laying off?
CD Projekt Red added 52 new developers in Q3 2025, bucking the industry trend of layoffs. This expansion reflects confidence in their project pipeline, financial stability from Cyberpunk 2077’s 35 million copies sold, and a strategic decision to invest heavily in development early to avoid past mistakes.
Looking Ahead
CD Projekt Red’s aggressive hiring and project expansion paint a picture of a studio that’s learned from its past and is investing in its future. With 447 developers dedicated to The Witcher 4 and plans to triple the Cyberpunk 2 team size, the studio is positioning itself to deliver two massive RPG experiences over the next several years. While the wait will be long, especially with no appearance at The Game Awards 2025, the scope and ambition behind these projects suggest they could be worth the patience. The gaming community will be watching closely to see if CD Projekt Red can deliver on these ambitious promises without repeating the troubled launch that plagued Cyberpunk 2077.