CD Projekt Red, the renowned game developer behind the popular Witcher video game series, has recently announced that it will be cutting around 100 jobs, which accounts for approximately nine percent of its workforce. This decision comes as a result of the company not having enough work to accommodate all of its employees, despite having several games in the pipeline.
This announcement follows previous layoffs in May and June, when The Molasses Flood, a studio owned by CD Projekt Red, let go of 29 employees. Additionally, 30 individuals who were working on a scaled-back Witcher card game were also laid off. These recent job cuts reflect the company’s need to align its workforce with its current and future project needs.
CD Projekt Red CEO, Adam Kiciński, stated in the announcement, “To meet our own high expectations and ambitions to create the best role-playing games, we not only want to have the best people but also the right teams. There’s no easy way to say this, but today we are overstaffed. We have talented people on board who are finishing their tasks and, based on current and expected project needs, we already know we don’t have other opportunities for them in the next year.” The company plans to inform all affected employees, but the layoffs will occur in a staggered manner, with some employees not being impacted until the beginning of 2024.
CD Projekt Red has experienced a multitude of challenges in the past few years, particularly with the troubled launch of Cyberpunk 2077. The game faced severe backlash due to widespread glitches and performance issues, prompting Sony Interactive Entertainment to remove it from the PlayStation Store just one week after its release. This action resulted in customers being offered refunds, and CD Projekt Red’s stock plummeted by over 20 percent, equating to a staggering drop of $1.8 billion.
Despite these setbacks, CD Projekt Red is looking ahead and focusing on its future projects. One of the highly anticipated releases is Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, a follow-up to the original game, featuring renowned actors Keanu Reeves and Idris Elba. The company is hopeful that this upcoming game will have a much smoother launch on September 26th, avoiding the pitfalls experienced with its predecessor.
It is important to note that job cuts and organizational changes are not uncommon in the gaming industry. The industry’s dynamic nature often necessitates adjustments to match project requirements and ensure the best possible outcomes. As CD Projekt Red continues to evolve, the company aims to maintain its commitment to delivering top-quality role-playing games while sustaining a workforce that aligns with its goals and objectives.
In conclusion, CD Projekt Red’s decision to cut around 100 jobs is a strategic move aimed at ensuring the company’s workforce is matched appropriately with its current and future project needs. This follows previous layoffs within the company and its subsidiary studios. Despite the challenges faced in recent years, CD Projekt Red remains focused on its upcoming projects, including the highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. The gaming industry is ever-evolving, and adjustments to staffing are not uncommon, as companies strive to deliver the best gaming experiences to their audiences.
