CD Projekt Red expands its workforce for The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2, boosting development teams for both titles alongside new insights into the studio’s third major IP.
The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 Development Team Growing
499 Developers for The Witcher 4
Development on The Witcher 4 is accelerating, with the team now comprising 499 developers. CD Projekt Red’s (CDPR) fiscal year 2025 report reveals a consistent growth of 52 staff members for the project since October 31, 2025.
The presentation indicates that the studio's total headcount has risen, fueled by several high-profile projects in production. CDPR CEO Michał Nowakowski noted that over 220 developers have been hired since February 2025, with the majority joining The Witcher 4 team.
"Compared to October last year, most new hires are now part of the team working on The Witcher 4, where they help improve quality and scale-up solutions presented in the Unreal Fest tech demo across the entire game," he explained.
First revealed at The Game Awards 2024, this highly anticipated fantasy RPG sequel has received periodic updates from CDPR. These include confirmation from Narrative Director Philipp Weber that The Witcher 4 will adhere to the storytelling and progression structure of The Witcher 3, as well as an Unreal Engine tech demo shown in June 2025.
Despite these promising developments, CD Projekt Red has not yet announced a release date. During the fiscal year 2024 earnings call, CFO Piotr Nielubowicz mentioned that no specific launch window would be disclosed soon. "All we could share now to give more visibility to investors is that the game will not be launched within the time frame of the first target for the incentive program, which ends December 31, 2026," he stated.
Additionally, CDPR has expanded its team for Project Sirius, a multiplayer spin-off in The Witcher universe unveiled in 2022. Although details remain limited, resource allocation is increasing, with the team size growing from 49 members in early 2025 to 71 developers by February 2026.
Cyberpunk 2 Dev Team Grows to 149 Members
Another title making steady strides is Cyberpunk 2 (codenamed Orion). As of February 2026, the development team has expanded to 149 members, up from 135 in October 2025, reflecting ongoing recruitment efforts in North America.
The sequel entered pre-production in May 2025. While Nowakowski noted that development is "progressing well," he indicated it remains too early to transition to the next phase of production.
In May 2025, Cyberpunk creator and R. Talsorian Games founder Mike Pondsmith hinted at a new location alongside Night City for Cyberpunk 2. At the Digital Dragons conference, Pondsmith described this setting as "Chicago gone wrong," highlighting an aesthetic distinct from the Blade Runner-inspired look of the original game.
Project Hadar Progressing Dynamically
Beyond its established franchises, CDPR is developing its first new IP, codenamed Project Hadar. According to a March 2026 update, the project has officially entered the conceptual phase, with a core team of 26 developers building the foundation for this fresh universe.
"Work on the project is progressing dynamically, and the team has established the foundations of this entirely new IP. Now, we have clearly defined distinguishing features of this world and established key pillars that will not only provide a foundation for the game itself, but also potentially for other future products," Nowakowski stated.
CDPR intends to continue strengthening its workforce throughout the year, seeking more talent for its current projects. Although releases like The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 may still be distant, these updates demonstrate CDPR's dedication to delivering high-quality experiences for fans.
