CD Projekt Red, the renowned Polish game developer behind hits like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher series, has declared their disinterest in being acquired, despite the recent trend of big companies like Xbox and PlayStation snapping up studios. Adam Kiciński, the company’s chief strategy officer, has confidently stated that CD Projekt Red plans to continue growing independently. The company is expanding with CD Projekt Red North America, which will have teams working on the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, codenamed Orion, while other teams concentrate on The Witcher's next installment, codenamed Polaris. Moreover, The Molasses Flood, another studio under the CD Projekt Red umbrella, is independently developing a multiplayer Witcher title, codenamed Sirius. This news emerges amidst the video game industry's rampant acquisition phase, highlighted by Xbox’s significant purchase of Activision Blizzard in 2023.

What recent game studio acquisitions have major players like Xbox and PlayStation made?

In the game industry's escalating acquisitions, one of the notable moves includes Xbox's purchase of Activision Blizzard in 2023. PlayStation has also made acquisitions, including the purchase of developer Bungie, known for creating the Halo franchise and Destiny games, in early 2022.

As background information, CD Projekt Red is a highly esteemed video game developer based in Warsaw, Poland. Recognized globally for their detailed world-building and complex storytelling, the studio saw their fame rise with the release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which received universal praise and won numerous Game of the Year awards. They also experienced a tumultuous launch with Cyberpunk 2077 due to technical issues, but have since worked diligently to rectify the game's performance. With an active stance against an acquisition, CD Projekt Red intends to push forward as an independent studio with promising titles like Orion and Polaris, and expand their legacy within the gaming community.