Witcher Devs' Project Hadar Teases Open-World Emotions

What Is Project Hadar?

Project Hadar is a new intellectual property in early development at CD Projekt RED, the renowned studio behind The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077. Announced in March 2022 as one of three new projects—alongside a new Witcher saga and a Cyberpunk 2077 sequel—the title is a story-driven, single-player open-world RPG built entirely from the ground up, outside of existing franchises. It aims to deliver an emotionally resonant adventure in a fresh, original universe, meeting fan demand for deep narrative exploration beyond the studio’s established worlds.

CD Projekt RED’s Project Hadar is an entirely new, single-player open-world RPG IP first confirmed in March 2022.

Key Facts

The table below consolidates all confirmed details about Project Hadar from CD Projekt RED’s 2022 strategy update and an April 2025 job listing, as reported by Rock Paper Shotgun.

As of April 2025, Project Hadar remains an early-development, single-player open-world RPG with no announced platforms or release date.

What Does the Recent Job Ad Reveal?

A job listing for a Senior or Principal Environment Artist, posted by CD Projekt RED in early 2025, explicitly describes Project Hadar as a “story-rich single-player open-world RPG.” The advertisement stresses building a world that evokes a wide emotional spectrum, indicating a design centered on narrative immersion and environmental storytelling rather than just action mechanics or genre horror.

“Witcher devs' Project Hadar will make you feel all of the open-world emotions, a new job ad suggests, though sorry, it still isn't a cosmic Japanese horror game.”

— Rock Paper Shotgun, April 2025

The phrasing “all of the open-world emotions” echoes the listing’s language, according to the report. This reveals a deliberate effort to prioritize player affect and a rich atmospheric experience.

The Project Hadar job ad confirms a single-player open-world RPG designed to deliver a broad emotional experience, not a cosmic horror game.

Is Project Hadar a Cosmic Horror Game?

No. Despite persistent fan theories that CD Projekt RED’s cryptic new IP would be a cosmic horror title—possibly set in Japan—the April 2025 job advertisement and Rock Paper Shotgun’s analysis categorically debunk that idea. The game is repeatedly described as an open-world RPG with emotional range, not a horror-centric experience.

The “cosmic Japanese horror” rumor likely grew from the enigmatic codename Hadar and the studio’s history with dark themes. However, the ad’s focus on a “story-rich” emotional journey and the publication’s direct clarification put that speculation to rest.

Contrary to popular fan theories, CD Projekt RED’s Project Hadar is not a cosmic Japanese horror game.

Who Should Be Excited About Project Hadar?

Project Hadar is tailored for gamers who adore immersive, story-driven open-world RPGs and are eager to explore an entirely new universe from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Fans of single-player experiences that prize emotional journeys over competitive multiplayer will find this project particularly compelling.

The title aims to blend the studio’s knack for complex narratives with a fresh IP, potentially offering the depth of The Witcher’s side quests and the ambition of Cyberpunk 2077’s world-building—all in an original context.

Anyone valuing deep narrative, emotional range, and single-player open-world design in a new CD Projekt RED IP should follow Project Hadar’s development.

Common Questions

Is Project Hadar a cosmic Japanese horror game?

No. Rock Paper Shotgun’s coverage of a 2025 job ad explicitly states that, despite fan theories, the project is not a cosmic Japanese horror game. The ad describes a story-rich open-world RPG with emotional focus.

What did the 2025 job ad reveal about Project Hadar?

The listing for a Senior Environment Artist describes Project Hadar as a “story-rich single-player open-world RPG” and suggests the game will evoke “all of the open-world emotions,” indicating a strong narrative and environmental storytelling emphasis.

When was Project Hadar first announced?

CD Projekt RED first revealed Project Hadar during a strategy update on March 30, 2022, as an early-stage new IP unrelated to The Witcher or Cyberpunk. At that time, the studio provided no details on its setting or genre.

Sources and Methodology

This article synthesizes information from Rock Paper Shotgun’s April 2025 report on the Project Hadar job advertisement and CD Projekt RED’s official March 2022 strategy update. All direct quotes and job-listing descriptions are attributed to Rock Paper Shotgun’s coverage, as the original job ad was not independently accessed. The reporting draws on one primary source (the job ad) as filtered through the secondary source (Rock Paper Shotgun). No currency or unit conversions were required.

• Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun – Project Hadar report

This article synthesizes publicly available information from Rock Paper Shotgun and CD Projekt RED’s investor update, providing a factual snapshot of Project Hadar as of April 2025.

This article was last updated on April 22, 2025.