CD Projekt Red

Sub-brand

CD Projekt Red is the video-game development and publishing studio of Poland’s CD Projekt group, known internationally for The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077.

Last updated October 29, 2026

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Overview

CD Projekt Red is the principal video-game development and publishing studio within the Polish CD Projekt group. It is recognized for story-led, large-scale role-playing games built around expansive worlds, consequential choices, mature themes, and substantial post-launch support. Its best-known properties are The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077, franchises that have made the studio one of the most visible Polish companies in global entertainment software. The studio’s roots lie in CD Projekt’s transition from game distribution into original development. CD Projekt was founded in Warsaw in 1994 by Marcin Iwiński and Michał Kiciński, initially importing and legally distributing computer games in Poland. After securing rights to Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher literary universe, the group established its development operation in 2002 and began work on The Witcher in 2003. The first game, released in 2007, established the studio as a creator of ambitious Western-style role-playing games. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings expanded that reputation, while The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in 2015 transformed the studio into a global AAA publisher and became a major reference point for open-world role-playing design. CD Projekt Red followed The Witcher series with Cyberpunk 2077, a futuristic open-world role-playing game based on the Cyberpunk tabletop universe. Its marketing campaign became unusually prominent, combining long-running video presentations, celebrity involvement, product partnerships, social-media activity, and extensive gameplay promotion. The game launched in December 2020 with severe technical problems, particularly on older consoles. The resulting criticism, refunds, platform delisting, investor litigation, and reputational damage became a defining episode in the company’s history. Subsequent patches, a next-generation update, and the Phantom Liberty expansion substantially improved the game’s condition and public reception. The studio’s business covers original game development, publishing, downloadable content, expansions, remasters, merchandise-related activity, and transmedia exploitation of its intellectual property. It operates internationally, releasing primarily through PC and console storefronts and working with platform holders, distributors, media companies, and advertising partners. CD Projekt Red remains part of a publicly traded group that also includes GOG.com. In the 2020s, the group reorganized its production structure, acquired or integrated additional development capabilities, and shifted toward parallel development of future Witcher and Cyberpunk projects while retaining an stated preference for independence rather than acquisition by a larger technology or gaming company.

History

CD Projekt Red emerged from CD Projekt’s development ambitions after the Polish company had established itself as a distributor of imported computer games. Founded in Warsaw in 1994 by Marcin Iwiński and Michał Kiciński, CD Projekt initially operated in the informal and rapidly changing Polish software market. The company’s early success came from bringing legally localized and distributed versions of international games to Polish consumers. This business helped demonstrate that a strong local market existed for legitimate releases and gave the group commercial relationships with major publishers. The next turning point was the acquisition of development rights connected with Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher universe. CD Projekt created its development studio in 2002 and began production on The Witcher in 2003. The project was unusually ambitious for a Polish production, requiring several years of work and a large team. Released in 2007, The Witcher combined a mature fantasy setting with branching decisions, political consequences, and a morally ambiguous protagonist. It became the foundation of the studio’s identity and international expansion. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings followed in 2011 and broadened the company’s technical and narrative capabilities. CD Projekt Red increasingly became known for putting player choice and writing at the center of large commercial role-playing productions. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, released in 2015, was the decisive breakthrough. Its open world, quest design, characters, and expansions earned extensive critical recognition and established CD Projekt Red as a leading international AAA studio. The game’s success also created unusually high expectations for the company’s next original project. Cyberpunk 2077 was announced years before release and was promoted through a long sequence of teasers, trailers, demonstrations, interviews, partnerships, and livestreams. The campaign positioned the game as a landmark futuristic role-playing experience and used Keanu Reeves as the performer and public face of Johnny Silverhand. The title launched in December 2020, but its condition on older consoles fell substantially short of public expectations. Players and journalists reported crashes, visual defects, unstable performance, and differences between promoted features and the launch experience. CD Projekt apologized, offered refunds, and committed to extensive corrective work. The episode also produced legal and regulatory consequences, including investor litigation and temporary removal from Sony’s digital storefront. The company gradually rebuilt the game through patches and a next-generation update. Phantom Liberty, released in 2023, served both as a major expansion and as part of the rehabilitation of the Cyberpunk brand. It added a spy-thriller storyline, a new district, systems changes, and Idris Elba as a prominent performer. The studio subsequently reorganized its teams and pursued multiple projects across The Witcher and Cyberpunk universes. It also expanded through acquisitions and integrations, including Digital Scapes, The Molasses Flood, and Spokko-related restructuring. Leadership changed during the same period: Marcin Iwiński left the joint CEO role in 2022, Adam Kiciński moved out of the CEO position, and Adam Badowski and Michał Nowakowski became joint CEOs in 2024. CD Projekt Red remains an active global developer and publisher under CD Projekt S.A., with independence and long-term ownership of original franchises central to its stated strategy.

2024
Joint CEO structure takes effect
[8]Joint CEO structure takes effectgamerant.com
Adam Badowski and Michał Nowakowski assume joint CEO responsibilities.
2023
Phantom Liberty releases
[4]Phantom Liberty TikTok case studyads.tiktok.com
The major Cyberpunk 2077 expansion launches with Idris Elba in a leading role and extensive systems changes.
2022
Leadership transition begins
[7]Leadership transition beginsgamedeveloper.com
Marcin Iwiński announces his departure from the joint CEO role and intended move to the supervisory board.
2020
Cyberpunk 2077 launches
[3]Cyberpunk 2077 launch advertising partnershipcdprojekt.com
The long-awaited futuristic role-playing game releases after an extensive international marketing campaign, followed by major technical criticism.
2015
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt releases
[6]The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt releasesgamesindustry.biz
The open-world role-playing game becomes the studio’s global breakthrough.
2011
The Witcher 2 releases
[1]CD Projekt Group historycdprojekt.com
The sequel expands the series’ international profile and production scope.
2007
The Witcher releases
[1]CD Projekt Group historycdprojekt.com
The first Witcher game establishes CD Projekt Red as a creator of story-driven role-playing games.
2003
Work begins on The Witcher
[1]CD Projekt Group historycdprojekt.com
The studio starts production on its first proprietary role-playing game based on the Witcher universe.
2002
Development studio is established
[1]CD Projekt Group historycdprojekt.com
CD Projekt creates the development operation that becomes CD Projekt Red.
1994
CD Projekt is founded
[1]CD Projekt Group historycdprojekt.com
Marcin Iwiński and Michał Kiciński establish CD Projekt in Poland, initially focusing on game distribution.

Products and positioning

Premium, creator-led global role-playing entertainment centered on narrative depth, player choice, distinctive fictional worlds, and long-term franchise development.

Role-playing video games · 2007
The Witcher series
CD Projekt Red’s fantasy role-playing franchise follows Geralt of Rivia through a politically complex world inspired by Slavic folklore and Andrzej Sapkowski’s fiction. The series is defined by branching choices, morally difficult quests, character-focused writing, and a mixture of open-world exploration and structured storytelling. It includes The Witcher, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, together with downloadable expansions and later editions.
Open-world role-playing game · 2015
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Released in 2015, The Witcher 3 is an expansive fantasy role-playing game centered on Geralt’s search for Ciri. Its open world combines main quests, investigations, contracts, exploration, and optional stories whose outcomes can change the political and personal landscape. The Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions extended the game substantially, while a later next-generation update introduced technical and presentation improvements.
Open-world action role-playing game · 2020
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is a first-person open-world role-playing game set in Night City, a technologically advanced but deeply unequal future metropolis. Players create V and pursue a survival-oriented storyline involving cybernetic technology, corporate power, gangs, and Johnny Silverhand. The game launched in 2020 with serious technical problems on older consoles and was subsequently rebuilt through patches, a next-generation update, and broader systems revisions.
Story expansion · 2023
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Phantom Liberty is a large-scale expansion for Cyberpunk 2077 set primarily in the dangerous district of Dogtown. Its espionage storyline introduces new characters, missions, choices, and Idris Elba’s Solomon Reed. It was released alongside a major update that revised progression, combat, police systems, and other core elements, helping reposition Cyberpunk 2077 after its troubled original launch.

Controversies

2021
CD Projekt reaches proposed investor settlement
CD Projekt Red reportedly reached a settlement with investors who sued over allegations that the developer misled them about Cyberpunk 2077's performance. The proposed $1.85 million settlement still needed court review.
Source
2021
Court consolidates lawsuits over Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt Red said that a court consolidated four lawsuits concerning Cyberpunk 2077 and designated a lead plaintiff. Investors in two of the suits alleged that they were misled about the condition and playability of the game's previous-generation console version; the report does not detail the other two suits.
Source
2021
CD Projekt Red discloses cyberattack
CD Projekt Red said its internal systems had been compromised in a targeted cyberattack. Hackers claimed to have stolen internal documents and game source code; the company said it was restoring its IT infrastructure and data from backups and that, to its knowledge, compromised systems did not contain players’ or service users’ personal data.
Source
2020
Cyberpunk 2077 launch controversy
Cyberpunk 2077 launched with severe bugs and performance problems, especially on base-generation consoles. Criticism focused on the gap between pre-release expectations and the retail experience. CD Projekt offered refunds, and Sony temporarily removed the game from the PlayStation Store. The episode also led to investor litigation and lasting scrutiny of the company’s development and communication practices.
Source
2020
CD Projekt Red co-CEO apologizes for comments about crunch
CD Projekt Red co-CEO Adam Kicinski apologized to employees after his comments about crunch on Cyberpunk 2077 drew backlash. Kicinski had said the crunch was "not that bad." In his apology, he stated that his remarks were demeaning and harmful.
Source
2020
CD PROJEKT RED apologizes for Cyberpunk 2077 console performance
CD PROJEKT RED issued an apology regarding the performance of Cyberpunk 2077 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The company stated that it would release further patches for the game. It also offered a contact route intended to help buyers of boxed copies seek refunds. The apology addressed the console versions' performance specifically and did not detail the content of the planned patches or the refund process.
Source
2020
Investors sue CD Projekt over Cyberpunk 2077 disclosures
A lawsuit was filed on behalf of people and entities that acquired publicly traded CD Projekt RED securities between January 16 and December 17, 2020. The suit alleges that Cyberpunk 2077 was virtually unplayable on current-generation Xbox and PlayStation systems and that defendants' statements about the business, operations, and prospects were materially false or misleading, or lacked a reasonable basis. These are allegations stated in the lawsuit.
Source
2019
Criticism of the “Mix It Up” promotional poster
A Cyberpunk 2077 promotional image featuring a sexualized transgender-coded model drew criticism that it was exploitative, transphobic, and inconsistent with the game’s treatment of gender identity. CD Projekt Red defended the image, making it a recurring point of debate about the studio’s marketing style.
Source

2023Phantom Liberty TikTok campaign
United States · Canada · Japan · United Kingdom · Australia · Poland · and other markets
CD Projekt Red used paid and organic TikTok activity to promote Phantom Liberty to existing Cyberpunk players and prospective newcomers. The campaign featured Idris Elba and Keanu Reeves and ran across fourteen markets, using Brand Lift measurement to assess recall and purchase intent.
Outcome. TikTok reported a 23.2% ad-recall lift, a 3.5% increase in purchase intent, and a 465% increase in engaged views for the campaign.
Source
2020Cyberpunk 2077 launch campaign with Agora Group
Poland
CD Projekt partnered with Agora Group media, AMS outdoor advertising, and Helios cinemas for a broad Polish campaign across newspapers, online platforms, radio, outdoor placements, and movie theaters. The campaign was planned in phases around the game’s launch and post-launch period.
Outcome. The campaign extended Cyberpunk 2077’s visibility across multiple domestic media channels, although the game’s subsequent technical problems overshadowed part of the launch narrative.
Source
2020Night City Wire
Global
A series of streamed presentations revealed gameplay systems, locations, characters, and development details in installments. The format sustained attention over an extended pre-release period and encouraged audiences to follow the project through repeated content drops.
Outcome. The series generated substantial anticipation and discussion before release, contributing to exceptionally high expectations for the finished game.
Source

Brand decisions

2023
Adopt a joint CEO leadership modelOther
Background
After long-serving executive changes, the group reorganized top management while retaining continuity in creative and commercial leadership.
Action taken
Adam Badowski and Michał Nowakowski became joint CEOs from January 2024, while Adam Kiciński moved to another strategic role.
Aftermath
The change placed creative and commercial leadership together at the top of the operating organization.
Source
2022
Simplify the corporate structure around the CD Projekt Red StoreStrategy
Background
CD Projekt sought to streamline its group structure while continuing store-related operations with a specialized external partner.
Action taken
The company approved a merger plan under which CD Projekt Red Store’s assets would transfer to CD Projekt S.A.; the merger was registered in February 2023.
Aftermath
The transaction simplified the legal structure without increasing share capital or exchanging shares.
Source
2021
Move future marketing closer to releaseStrategy
Background
The company said it had learned from the length and intensity of the Cyberpunk 2077 campaign, including the risks of showing material and making commitments long before launch.
Action taken
CD Projekt Red stated that future campaigns would generally be shorter, with detailed trailers, demonstrations, and mechanic explanations held until closer to release while allowing limited early teasers.
Aftermath
The decision represented a communication and expectation-management change intended to reduce the gap between promotional messaging and the final product.
Source

Recent events

Unconfirmed
Paramount developing live-action Cyberpunk 2077 film with CD Projekt Red involved[20]派拉蒙开发《赛博朋克2077》真人电影，CD Projekt Red参与ifanr.com
Reported: 2026-10-09
Paramount Pictures is developing a live-action film set in the universe of Cyberpunk 2077, with the game's developer CD Projekt Red involved in the project and Lorenzo di Bonaventura serving as producer; the story and cast have not yet been announced.
Unconfirmed
CD Projekt reaches proposed investor settlement[16]CD Projekt reaches proposed investor settlementign.com
Reported: 2021-12-16
CD Projekt Red reportedly reached a settlement with investors who sued over allegations that the developer misled them about Cyberpunk 2077's performance. The proposed $1.85 million settlement still needed court review.
2021-06-01
CDPR reports first-quarter profit decline[21]CDPR公布一季度利润同比下降finance.sina.com.cn
Reported: 2021-06-01
CDPR reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, including a 65% year-over-year decline in profit.
Unconfirmed
Court consolidates lawsuits over Cyberpunk 2077[17]Court consolidates lawsuits over Cyberpunk 2077finance.sina.com.cn
Reported: 2021-05-20
CD Projekt Red said that a court consolidated four lawsuits concerning Cyberpunk 2077 and designated a lead plaintiff. Investors in two of the suits alleged that they were misled about the condition and playability of the game's previous-generation console version; the report does not detail the other two suits.
2021-02-09
CD Projekt discloses ransomware attack[19]CD Projekt Red discloses cyberattacktechcrunch.com
Reported: 2021-02-09
CD Projekt confirmed it was hit by a ransomware attack. The hackers threatened to release stolen source code and internal files if the company did not pay. The company said it had secured its IT infrastructure, begun restoring data, and was investigating; it said that, to its best knowledge, compromised systems did not contain players’ or users’ personal data.
2021-02-09
CD Projekt Red discloses cyberattack[18]CD Projekt Red discloses cyberattacksiliconera.com
Reported: 2021-02-09
CD Projekt Red said its internal systems had been compromised in a targeted cyberattack. Hackers claimed to have stolen internal documents and game source code; the company said it was restoring its IT infrastructure and data from backups and that, to its knowledge, compromised systems did not contain players’ or service users’ personal data.
2020-12-27
Investors sue CD Projekt over Cyberpunk 2077 disclosures[14]Investors sue CD Projekt over Cyberpunk 2077 disclosuresnme.com
Reported: 2020-12-27
A lawsuit was filed on behalf of people and entities that acquired publicly traded CD Projekt RED securities between January 16 and December 17, 2020. The suit alleges that Cyberpunk 2077 was virtually unplayable on current-generation Xbox and PlayStation systems and that defendants’ statements about the business, operations, and prospects were materially false or misleading, or lacked a reasonable basis. These are allegations stated in the lawsuit.
2020-12-24
Rosen Law files class-action lawsuit against CD Projekt Red[15]Investors sue CD Projekt over Cyberpunk 2077 disclosuresengadget.com
Reported: 2020-12-25
Rosen Law announced that it had opened a class-action lawsuit against CD Projekt Red, alleging that the studio's management misled investors about Cyberpunk 2077 before its release and failed to disclose that the game was virtually unplayable on PS4 and Xbox One due to bugs.
2020-12-14
CD PROJEKT RED apologizes for Cyberpunk 2077 console performance[13]CD PROJEKT RED apologizes for Cyberpunk 2077 console performanceshacknews.com
Reported: 2020-12-14
CD PROJEKT RED apologized for Cyberpunk 2077’s performance on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, said it would release further patches, and offered a contact route to help boxed-copy buyers seek refunds.
2020-10-30
CD Projekt Red co-CEO apologizes for comments about crunch[12]CD Projekt Red co-CEO apologizes for comments about crunchmcvuk.com
Reported: 2020-10-30
After his comments that crunch on Cyberpunk 2077 was “not that bad” drew backlash, CD Projekt Red co-CEO Adam Kicinski apologized to employees, saying his remarks were demeaning and harmful.

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