CD Projekt: Rebuilding Trust with Gamers

The real-world story of Cyberpunk 2077 was a tale of high expectations and crushing disappointment. Following the success of The Witcher 3, CD Projekt was on a roll, with anticipation for its next title reaching unprecedented levels. The game's E3 2019 showcase, featuring Keanu Reeves, was a highlight of the event. However, when the game finally launched, it was plagued by performance issues, particularly on PS4 and Xbox One, and was subsequently removed from the PlayStation Store. Fast forward to the present, and CD Projekt is now promoting the game's major expansion, Phantom Liberty. In a recent interview, the company's VP of PR and communication, Michał Platkow-Gilewski, reflected on the journey so far. "We're in a cool moment right now," he said. "The road was bumpy, but we knew we had to work hard to come back. We had to rebuild a lot of things inside the company, and we started by rethinking our development pipelines and structure." Platkow-Gilewski emphasized the importance of rebuilding the relationship with the gaming community. "We had a great community, and we liked them, they liked us. But after the release, it was tough. We knew we had to come back, and the only thing we can truly do is deliver what we are capable of." He also acknowledged the need to change the company's culture, particularly with regards to crunch time and work-life balance. The company has made significant changes, including the creation of a new team dedicated to improving life within the studio. "Work-life balance is really important to us," Platkow-Gilewski said. "We're improving, rebuilding, and reshaping the studio on many levels. We're learning to work with digital tools, and we're creating new spaces to make it more comfortable to work." The Phantom Liberty expansion has received positive reviews, with many praising the significant changes made to the base game. The developer has also cast Idris Elba in the expansion, which is described as a spy thriller-themed story. Platkow-Gilewski believes that the expansion is a crucial step in rebuilding the relationship with gamers. "For us, expansions are really important. We want to create something significant, something that shows we care about the game and the community." Despite the challenges, CD Projekt is moving forward with a new slate of games, including a new IP, three Witcher games, and a Cyberpunk sequel. Platkow-Gilewski is confident that the company has learned from its mistakes and is focused on delivering high-quality games. "We have a lot of discussions about what's most important right now, where we want to go, and what we want to achieve. We think we know what to do, and we're excited about the future."