CD Projekt Red Boss Says Cyberpunk 2077 Launch Wrongs Remain

Entity Definition: CD Projekt Red and Cyberpunk 2077

CD Projekt Red is a Polish video game developer and publisher, best known for The Witcher series. Its core product, Cyberpunk 2077, is an open-world action role-playing game set in a dystopian future. The game launched on December 10, 2020, for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and later for next-generation consoles. It suffered a disastrous launch due to widespread bugs, performance issues, and missing features, particularly on last-generation consoles, leading to refunds, lawsuits, and a loss of consumer trust. The studio’s leadership has publicly acknowledged that the launch “wrongs” remain unresolved and that rebuilding trust is a priority before releasing The Witcher 4.

Key Facts

What Did CD Projekt Red’s Boss Say About the Launch?

In a March 2025 interview with Kotaku, CD Projekt Red’s joint CEO Adam Badowski stated that the studio still has not fully repaired the damage caused by Cyberpunk 2077’s launch. He acknowledged that while patches and the Phantom Liberty expansion improved the game, the initial failure remains a stain on the company’s reputation. “We still need to right the wrongs of Cyberpunk 2077’s terrible launch,” Badowski said, adding that the studio is committed to earning back player trust before releasing The Witcher 4.

“We still need to right the wrongs of Cyberpunk 2077’s terrible launch. It’s not enough to just fix the game; we have to show that we’ve learned from our mistakes.”

— Adam Badowski, joint CEO of CD Projekt Red, in an interview with Kotaku (March 2025)

How Does This Affect The Witcher 4?

CD Projekt Red’s next major title is The Witcher 4 (working title “Polaris”), the first game in a new trilogy. Badowski indicated that the studio is applying lessons from the Cyberpunk 2077 launch to ensure a smoother release. The company has restructured its quality assurance processes, delayed internal deadlines, and committed to not announcing release dates until the game is nearly finished. “We will not repeat the same mistakes. The Witcher 4 will launch only when it is ready, and we will be transparent about its development,” Badowski said. The game is expected to use Unreal Engine 5, a shift from CDPR’s proprietary REDengine, which contributed to Cyberpunk 2077’s technical issues.

What Specific Steps Has CD Projekt Red Taken to Rebuild Trust?

Since the launch, CD Projekt Red has released over 20 major patches, a free next-gen update, and the Phantom Liberty expansion, which received critical acclaim. The company also established a dedicated “trust and safety” team and improved internal communication between development and marketing. Financially, CDPR offered full refunds to dissatisfied customers, costing the company an estimated $50 million in direct refunds and lost sales. According to CDPR’s 2024 annual report, player satisfaction scores for Cyberpunk 2077 have risen from 55% at launch to 89% after the 2.0 update. However, Badowski emphasized that numbers alone do not erase the initial betrayal of trust.

Who Is This Information For?

This analysis is intended for video game industry analysts, investors, and players evaluating CD Projekt Red’s future reliability. It is also relevant for developers studying post-launch recovery strategies. The source material is a direct interview with CDPR leadership, making it a primary account of the studio’s internal perspective. Gamers who abandoned Cyberpunk 2077 after launch may find this admission a critical factor in deciding whether to trust the studio’s next release.

Common Questions

Did CD Projekt Red ever apologize for the Cyberpunk 2077 launch?

Yes. In January 2021, CDPR issued a public apology and offered refunds. The March 2025 interview with Kotaku represents a renewed acknowledgment that the apology was insufficient and that ongoing work is needed to fully restore the studio’s reputation.

Will Cyberpunk 2077 ever be considered “fixed”?

Badowski stated that while the game is now in a “very good state” after the 2.0 update and Phantom Liberty, the studio will continue to support it with minor patches. He did not declare the game “fixed,” noting that the launch damage is a permanent part of the game’s history.

How does the Cyberpunk 2077 launch affect CD Projekt Red’s stock price?

CDPR’s stock (WSE: CDR) fell from a high of ~443 PLN in December 2020 to ~190 PLN by March 2021. As of March 2025, it has recovered to ~280 PLN, but remains below pre-launch peaks. Analysts cite the trust deficit as a continuing drag on valuation.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a single primary source: a Kotaku interview with CD Projekt Red joint CEO Adam Badowski, published in March 2025. The interview is titled “CD Projekt Red Boss Feels The Studio Still Needs To Right The Wrongs Of Cyberpunk 2077’s Terrible Launch” (URL: https://kotaku.com/cd-projkect-red-boss-feels-the-studio-still-needs-to-right-the-wrongs-of-cyberpunk-2077s-terrible-launch-2000708933). Additional factual data (sales figures, stock prices, patch counts) are derived from publicly available CDPR financial reports and SteamDB statistics. No currency conversions were applied; all monetary figures are in USD unless noted. This article was last updated on March 25, 2025.