Game news Microtransactions in The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077? CD Projekt has a clear opinion on the issue
Microtransactions in Premium video games – therefore paid – continue to enrage players who regularly rebel against such economic processes. Dragon’s Dogma 2 recently suffered from controversy on this subject. CD Projekt RED, the Polish studios behind the Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher franchises – have taken the lead and clarified their vision.
CD Projekt RED on all fronts
CD Projekt RED has come a long way, and they have taken the means to get out of a situation that can easily be described as chaotic. The launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in December 2020 did not go smoothly, and it took the studios almost three years to offer fans the “ultimate” version of their futuristic creation. Update 2.0 and the Phantom Liberty DLC marked the end of development for CP 2077 with style. Tens of millions of euros were necessary to achieve this and thus make their vision of Night City available to players.
Now it’s time for CD Projekt RED to look to the future and it’s actually done. Polish studios have already been working for several months on the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 and several projects in the universe of The Witcher. Moreover, the technicians abandoned their in-house engine in favor of Unreal Engine 5. “Cyberpunk 2077 – 2” code name “Orion” is developed by the North American branch based in Boston and supported by Vancouver while The Witcher 4 codenamed “Polaris” is supported by the Polish division. It should be noted that this new title would be without Geralt of Rivia, thus marking the start of a new era for the fantasy saga.
Two other projects labeled “The Witcher” are currently on track and entrusted to external studios. The first is none other than the remake of the first The Witcher by Fool’s Theory. The second named “Sirius” by The Molasses Flood is internally qualified asAction-RPG offering an imposing single-player mode and a major multiplayer component. With one “Cyberpunk” title and three “The Witcher” titles, CD Projekt RED has its work cut out for it, but that does not stop its leaders from speaking out to reassure fans. Especially when it concerns microtransactions.
Microtransactions in Cyberpunk and The Witcher?
At the end of March 2024, one of the leaders of CD Projekt RED spoke and thus clarified the vision of the Polish studios regarding microtransactions. During an investor discussion on StockWatch.pl (reported by account @JuiceHead), the Administrative and Financial Director (or CHief Financial Officer – CFO) of CD Proket RED declared:
We do not see a place for microtransactions in single-player games, but we do not exclude using this solution in the future in the case of multiplayer projects. – Piotr Nielubowicz (Administrative and Financial Director of CD Projekt RED)
We can deduce from this the presence (or not) of microtransactions in the next video games from CD Projekt RED. If the future of the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel is still uncertain, that of the “SIrius” project is revealed a little more. Indeed, the multiplayer dimension is central, which could mean in-app purchases. To be continued!