Multiplayer Witcher spin-off Project Sirius reportedly hit by layoffs again, in “broader shift in development strategy” at CD Projekt Red

CD Projekt Red has confirmed layoffs affecting its unannounced multiplayer-linked Witcher spinoff, Project Sirius. Nine employees have been laid off—four from the studio’s Boston office and five from its Warsaw headquarters—while an additional nine have been invited to apply for redeployment to other projects within the company.

The studio justified the changes in a statement, saying it “adjusted the size of the Sirius team to reflect the project’s needs at this stage of development.” Kotaku first reported the layoffs, characterizing them as part of a “broader shift in development strategy” for the project.

As of April 30, Project Sirius employed approximately 83 people, meaning the latest staff reductions represent a cut of roughly 22% of the development team. The layoffs also affect employees at The Molasses Flood, which CD Projekt Red acquired and integrated into its operations.

This is not the first major staffing change for Project Sirius. In 2023, the studio laid off more than 25 people working on the project as it implemented what it called a “new framework” for development. At the time, CD Projekt expressed optimism about the updated direction while withholding details about the project’s nature and scope.

Project Sirius was first announced in October 2022 as a multiplayer-focused Witcher game, though specific details about gameplay, scope, and release timeline remain undisclosed. The repeated restructuring suggests ongoing evolution in the project’s ambitions or direction, though CD Projekt has not elaborated on what the latest strategic shift entails.

Multiplayer Witcher spin-off Project Sirius reportedly hit by layoffs again, in “broader shift in development strategy” at CD Projekt Red

Sources