CD Projekt Red Looking to "Fix Our Relationship" with Gamers After Cyberpunk 2077

Before its launch, Cyberpunk 2077 generated immense anticipation. CD Projekt Red had enjoyed tremendous success with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, raising expectations for their next project. However, the game's release in 2020 did not meet the fans' lofty expectations. Three years later, CD Projekt Red is preparing to release the Phantom Liberty expansion, and in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Michal Platkow-Gilewski, CD Projekt's VP of PR and communication, discussed the failed launch and the publisher's efforts to regain players' trust.

"I personally was not satisfied with how things unfolded. It was not what I expected. But I immediately realized that we needed to make a comeback. I loved the position we were in. I'm not referring to the peak of the hype, but two years prior to that, we had our community, we had a great relationship with them, and it was amazing to work at CD Projekt RED," Platkow-Gilewski shared with GamesIndustry.biz. "After the release, it was challenging, but I knew that we still had the same people. The gamers were the same...we just needed to mend our relationship. The only thing we can truly do is deliver what we are capable of. I have a feeling that soon we will be able to do that, and hopefully, it will mark a fresh beginning for everyone."

The launch of Cyberpunk 2077 is widely regarded as one of the industry's most problematic. The game was plagued by bugs, causing frustration among players and even other developers. In a surprising move, Cyberpunk 2077 was removed from the PlayStation Store. Over the past three years, CD Projekt Red has released numerous updates, significantly improving the game's state.

With the upcoming release of the Phantom Liberty expansion, CD Projekt Red hopes for a much smoother experience. To regain players' trust, the studio must ensure that future games are launched in a more polished state than Cyberpunk 2077. Fans won't have to wait much longer to see how the expansion unfolds, as it is set to release on September 26th.