CD Projekt Engineer Reflects on Development and Looks to the Future

CD Projekt RED’s Colin Walder, engineering director for management and audio, recently spoke at the Inven Game Conference in Pangyo, South Korea, where he reflected on the development of Cyberpunk 2077 and shared insights into the future of CD Projekt’s projects.

Walder started by acknowledging the rocky development of Cyberpunk 2077, describing it as a series of intense races to meet milestones. However, he noted that such unevenness is not exclusive to CD Projekt and is a common occurrence in game development. “No one can predict everything that’s going to happen until it actually happens,” Walder said. He emphasized the importance of hindsight in identifying issues and making necessary changes.

With the company’s next Witcher RPG, codenamed Polaris, CD Projekt is taking steps to address some of the challenges faced during Cyberpunk’s development. Walder explained that they are ensuring they are on top of certain elements right from the start, like console functionality. Unlike with Cyberpunk, where console optimization was addressed later in the development process, they are already running demos and internal reviews on consoles early on for Polaris.

In addition, CD Projekt aims to avoid relying on periods of overwork, or “crunch,” for future projects. Walder emphasized the need for commitment and adjusting schedules instead of pushing the team to crunch mode. By demonstrating a genuine effort to prevent crunch and prioritizing the well-being of the development team, trust and morale can begin to rebuild.

While the positive reception to the recent Phantom Liberty expansion brought relief and a sense of redemption for some CD Projekt developers, the company still faces challenges related to its strained relationship with certain staff members. Some team members formed a new union to fight against unfair dismissal and exploitative working conditions. Walder and other higher-ups acknowledge that there is still work to be done to address these concerns.

Moving forward, CD Projekt has several Witcher projects in the works. Polaris is the first of a trilogy of new games, and it focuses on ensuring a smoother development process. Project Sirius is a standalone unnumbered spin-off, appealing to existing fans and newcomers alike. Finally, Project Canis Majoris, a story-driven single-player open-world RPG similar to The Witcher 3, is being developed by a third-party studio.

During the conference, Walder also highlighted the importance of audio in enhancing players’ experiences. He expressed that audio is often overlooked but plays a crucial role in shaping emotions and perceptions. He mentioned that when players mention how a gun “feels” powerful, they are subconsciously referring to the sound. CD Projekt has put great focus on sound design in games like Cyberpunk and The Witcher 3, even incorporating audio cues into boss fights.

Overall, CD Projekt’s focus is on learning from the past and improving the development process for their upcoming projects. By addressing issues early on and prioritizing the well-being of their development team, they hope to create a better experience for players while maintaining trust and morale within the company.