In the midst of a surprise storm of major announcements for CD Projekt today, we have a small but very important internal news release. Marcin Iwiński, who co-founded the studio in 1994 and is now co-CEO, is stepping down.
“For me, this is a big moment. I have been with CD Projekt for nearly 30 years, moving from a handful of passionate rebels to an international story-driven role-playing game loved by millions. Iwinski wrote in his farewell message. “When Michał Kiciński and I founded the company, , I don’t think even in our wildest dreams we could have imagined this incredible journey.
“I am very excited about the future of CD Projekt. Today, the company consists of over 1,200 employees in offices around the world. Hard work and dedication of all those who chose to work.”
Iwiński is stepping down as CEO, but has no intention of leaving the company. Instead, he will become chairman of his CD Projekt. Audit & Supervisory Board (opens in new tab)oversees the activities of CD Projekt Capital Group. board of directors (opens in new tab)— Of course, he is also a major shareholder of the company.
“In my new non-executive role, I will be dedicated to supporting and actively engaging the entire board,” he said. “I also stay connected to the core that makes us special: creating the best storytelling games in the world and doing what is right by gamers.”
A message from Marcin Iwiński, co-founder and co-CEO of CD PROJEKT. pic.twitter.com/NTp7F9RcFwOctober 4, 2022
Given CD Projekt’s recent history, the last point, “doing the right thing for gamers,” feels particularly salient.His highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077 was such a mess at launch that it completely derailed the studio’s plans for updates and new content. (opens in new tab), and severely damaged CD Projekt’s reputation among fans. However, it has been working on the game for the past two years and has at least reached a point of respectable features and player count. (opens in new tab) sale (opens in new tab) Both bounced in response. Cyberpunk 2077 isn’t The Witcher 3 yet, but it’s also not a massive humiliation.
CD Projekt today also announced the opening of a new studio in Boston, in addition to its current operations in Vancouver. (opens in new tab), which would become known as CD Projekt Red North America. The new operation will be independent from The Molasses Flood, the Boston-based developer of The Flame in the Flood, which was acquired by CD Projekt in 2021. (opens in new tab)and enable CD Projekt to “fully exploit the North American talent pool.”
Continued growth is critical to CD Projekt’s long-term plans.The studio also announced today that it has plans for a new Witcher trilogy (opens in new tab) Two more Witcher spin-off games released over six years (which seems wildly optimistic) (opens in new tab)Full-fledged Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel (opens in new tab)completely original new project (opens in new tab) All of this is in addition to the current work being done on Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher’s next-gen upgrade, plus whatever the molasses flood is doing. All the more so for studios that have struggled to
