The Witcher 3 producer says it's scary to work with another studio on the game's expansion: 'I also think twice about leaving my baby with someone'

CD Projekt Red is producing a new expansion for The Witcher 3 alongside a remaster, with development split between its own teams and Fool’s Theory, a studio founded by former CDPR staff. Executive producer Jakub Kutrzuba acknowledged the challenge of entrusting the game’s legacy to external partners, comparing it to leaving a child with others. He emphasized the emotional weight of sharing creative control over a project so closely tied to the studio’s identity.

Kutrzuba highlighted the advantages of working with Fool’s Theory, noting that many of its leaders previously worked at CDPR, which eased communication and aligned creative priorities. He described the collaboration as a ‘cousinly’ partnership rather than a distant one, reducing friction in aligning artistic and narrative standards. The shared history helped establish mutual trust and understanding from the outset.

The producer stressed the importance of shared values in partnerships, particularly a commitment to treating games as art rather than purely commercial products. He explained that finding studios with a similar philosophy reduces tension during development, especially when defining abstract concepts like quality and storytelling standards. This alignment, he argued, accelerates decision-making and ensures consistency in creative output.

Looking ahead, Kutrzuba indicated that CDPR will prioritize collaborations with studios that demonstrate a deep appreciation for player experience and artistic integrity. He noted that while familiarity with former colleagues is helpful, the most critical factor remains a unified understanding of quality and narrative ambition. This approach aims to maintain the studio’s creative standards across future projects.