CD Projekt Red's Turbulent Launch of Cyberpunk 2077 Prompts Extensive Company Restructuring
Following the tumultuous release of Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red undertook a significant revamp, resulting in a more agile and supportive workflow, marking a transformative shift in the studio's operations
Three years after a challenging launch, Cyberpunk 2077 has undergone major improvements thanks to a consistent stream of updates, patches, and the release of the Phantom Liberty expansion, which brought significant changes to the game. The current version of Cyberpunk 2077 is a lean and intense open-world sci-fi experience that successfully immerses players in the life of an Edgerunner with everything to gain and nothing to lose.
However, reaching this point required deep reflection from developer CD Projekt Red in response to negative reviews, player dissatisfaction, and a damaged reputation. The developers, who poured their all into the game, knew that they had a long road ahead as they committed themselves to enhancing Cyberpunk 2077 and not letting down their fans.
After the release, we made every possible effort," global art director Jakub Knapik told Our Website. "We put a lot of effort into the 1.5 next-gen release, where fixing the game was a top priority. It was incredibly challenging to motivate the team to work on the game and address its issues. Everyone was demoralized after the release, so getting the team to put in extra effort was extremely difficult."
Despite the low morale, CDPR was determined not to abandon the IP, especially one with such great potential. This renewed focus led to a restructuring of the organization, with CDPR creating more open lines of communication, adopting more flexible approaches to address development issues, and fostering a supportive workflow environment.
"In the previous game, we encountered a situation we referred to as Silosis," explained art director Pawel Mielniczuk. "This referred to the presence of separate art and code silos within different departments, working independently and not effectively communicating with each other. With Phantom Liberty, we have greatly improved communication and collaboration. Our strike teams now work together on quests as a single cohesive unit, rather than a designer simply directing individual tasks such as creating assets or vehicles."
CDPR's strike teams consist of developers from diverse departments and disciplines, collaborating on various sections of Cyberpunk 2077 while considering the overall vision. This new production framework enables daily communication, feedback, and support among teams. "It's invaluable," emphasized narrative director Igor Sarzynski. "For creative work, I think this is the only way to go right now."
The new streamlined workflow approach resulted in one of the best games of the year, with Phantom Liberty earning a rare 10/10 review score for embodying the very best of Cyberpunk 2077. Development of the sequel is officially underway, with several core members of the Cyberpunk 2077 team involved in this follow-up to the dystopian sci-fi adventure.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z fan, I am excited about the news of CD Projekt Red's restructuring and the positive changes it has brought to the development of Cyberpunk 2077. The turbulent launch of the game was a major disappointment for many fans, including myself, but it's clear that the developers have taken the criticism to heart and are committed to improving the game and restoring their reputation.
The restructuring of the company, with a focus on more open lines of communication, flexible approaches to development, and a supportive workflow environment, is a step in the right direction. The creation of strike teams consisting of developers from diverse departments and disciplines working together on various sections of the game is a great way to foster collaboration and ensure that the game is developed with a cohesive vision.
