:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65142950/witcher_3_dlc.0.0.jpg)
As it eases into the final push to complete Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red is officially moving to a “dual-franchise model.” That confirms, for both investors and fans, that more games in The Witcher franchise are on the way. The new direction was proudly announced in a financial report issued by the CD Projekt Capital Group covering the first half of 2019.
“Managing two separate major franchises (The Witcher and Cyberpunk), along with several independent development teams, enables the Company to conduct parallel work on several projects and smoothens its long-term release schedule,” the company says. “This migration towards a dual-franchise model supported by several independent product lines also permits optimization of manufacturing and financial activities, mitigates important risk factors and makes it easier for Company employees to seek professional fulfillment.”
In layman’s terms, by working on two AAA franchises concurrently CD Projekt will be able to limit the peaks and valleys in its balance sheets, and successfully maintain a larger and more capable workforce of game developers. It sounds like great news all around.
Other interesting bits of information from the report include the fact that sales of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are steady compared to last year. That means the legacy series “carries on as CD Projekt Red’s main source of revenue.” CD Projekt attributes those steady sales to new consumers made aware of the company’s back catalog thanks to the promotion of Cyberpunk 2077. That income has been fueling development projects across the company. One of it’s largest expenses, aside from the ongoing development of Cyberpunk 2077, is porting Gwent: The Witcher Card Game to mobile devices.
Cyberpunk 2077 is due out out on April 16, 2020 for PlayStation 4, Windows PC via GoG and Steam, and for the Xbox One. The game will also be released for Google Stadia. The prequel, a tabletop RPG system called Cyberpunk Red, is out now.
While we know that more games in The Witcher and Cyberpunk universes are on the drawing board, we still don’t know what exactly the Polish-owned company is working on next. While CD Projekt will enumerate how many studios are actively working on projects, it is reticent to say what those projects are.
