„They really didn’t believe it was possible.” CD Projekt’s CEO on how hard it was to sell the idea for The Witcher 3

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While the next Witcher game is still years away, it’s already generating a lot of buzz among fans and industry professionals. But that wasn’t always the case. CD Projekt Red’s CEO, Adam Badowski, recently told PC Gamer how challenging it was to get people to believe in The Witcher 3. He explained that at the time, combining a compelling narrative with a cinematic presentation and a large open world was considered a significant risk in the gaming industry.

People didn’t think it could be done, and some focused on what the game did well instead. Badowski had to explain how the third game was different from others, but most players were only interested in the core gameplay, which they found fairly typical.

The game blends action-packed fighting with in-depth character stories, and includes magic, though the magic system is intentionally limited to fit the gritty world and realistic style of the Witcher. The CEO acknowledged that this makes it challenging to create truly innovative magical elements.

It was difficult to convey how good The Witcher 3 was just by talking about it, similar to the challenges of getting people interested in the previous games. Badowski liked to give people a taste of the experience rather than explain everything, which is why he strongly believed in the power of demos – they allow players to experience the gameplay firsthand. The development team actually created several demo versions of the game for themselves before its release.

Adam Badowski is a designer who always pushes boundaries, often challenging his team. He championed the inclusion of both swimming and diving in The Witcher 3, and created a detailed underwater world filled with things to discover. Badowski believed this level of detail was crucial for creating a truly immersive experience – if a game features water, players should logically be able to explore it.

Some quests take place in specific areas designed to make players feel in control, but most happen in open, expansive worlds. This difference significantly impacts how the game is made, making production quite challenging.

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2025-11-12 15:33