CD Projekt Red's struggle to win back trust after Cyberpunk 2077

In short

• CD Projekt Red has still not completed a full “redemption arc” after the launch of Cyberpunk 2077, which took place on April 16, 2020.
• Co-CEO Michał Nowakowski admits the studio has permanently lost the trust of some players, despite the game having sold at least 35 million copies so far.
• To date, CD Projekt Red has reportedly invested around $126 million into improving Cyberpunk 2077, especially after its widely criticized launch.

GAME-scanner analysis

Michał Nowakowski’s comments underline the lasting impact of Cyberpunk 2077’s launch, which many consider one of the biggest failures in the games industry. Despite selling more than 35 million copies, CD Projekt Red’s reputation remains under pressure. The studio has poured significant resources into improving the game, with hopes that development on The Witcher 4 can help rebuild lost trust. That matters, because the disappointment surrounding Cyberpunk 2077’s quality, especially on older consoles, has left a lasting mark on how players view the studio.

What does this mean for players?

For players, it means CD Projekt Red is aware of its past mistakes and is committed to making amends. The question, however, is whether the improvements to Cyberpunk 2077 and the upcoming release of The Witcher 4 will be enough to win back player trust. Gamers will have to decide whether they want to give the studio another chance, or whether the memory of that disappointment will keep them from buying future releases.