CD Projekt says abandoning its in-house engine for The Witcher 4 had nothing to do with Cyberpunk 2077's technical woes: 'The dream of the company was actually
CD Projekt has confirmed that the decision to switch from its in-house REDengine to Unreal Engine 5 for The Witcher 4 was not influenced by Cyberpunk 2077’s troubled development.
CD Projekt will replace its in-house REDengine with Unreal Engine 5 for The Witcher 4, marking a significant shift in the series’ technical foundation. The studio’s co-CEO, Michał Nowakowski, addressed speculation linking the engine change to Cyberpunk 2077’s development struggles, calling such assumptions false. He emphasized that REDengine itself was not the issue, but rather the company’s long-term ambitions. Nowakowski stated that CD Projekt never intended to remain an engine developer, despite using in-house tech to achieve cutting-edge visuals in past projects.
Nowakowski explained that the company’s primary goal has always been to create immersive, story-driven experiences rather than build technology. The decision to adopt Unreal Engine 5 came after CD Projekt observed Epic’s The Matrix Awakens demo, which demonstrated the engine’s potential for large-scale, technically demanding games. The studio proposed a strategic collaboration with Epic, aiming to influence the engine’s development from within rather than merely licensing it.
Under this collaboration, CD Projekt claims to be the only external team with direct access to the inner workings of Unreal Engine 5, working alongside Epic to shape its future. Nowakowski highlighted that this partnership allows the studio to contribute to the engine’s evolution, particularly for projects requiring specific technical capabilities. The collaboration could have implications for how Unreal Engine 5 is refined, especially given past criticisms of its performance and stability.
The studio’s involvement may extend beyond Unreal Engine 5, though Nowakowski clarified that CD Projekt does not plan to rely on AI for complete game creation. The long-term impact of this collaboration remains uncertain, particularly as Unreal Engine 6 incorporates more AI-driven features. The shift to Unreal Engine 5 reflects CD Projekt’s broader strategy to prioritize storytelling and technical innovation over proprietary technology.