CD Projekt Red has laid off nine Project Sirius developers
CD Projekt Red has confirmed layoffs affecting 18 people working on Project Sirius, a multiplayer spinoff of The Witcher franchise. Nine developers were terminated across two locations—four in Boston and five in Poland—while another nine have been invited to apply for positions on other company projects. The studio cited the adjustments as necessary to “reflect the project’s needs at this stage of development.”
Project Sirius has faced a tumultuous development history. Originally led by The Molasses Flood studio before its integration into CD Projekt Red, the project was rebooted in 2023 with a focus on cost reduction. This latest round of layoffs marks the second time the project has seen significant staff reductions. The affected developers represent approximately a quarter of the game’s current team, which is considerably smaller than the resources allocated to the mainline sequel, The Witcher 4.
The multiplayer game’s troubled trajectory reflects broader industry challenges with live-service development and project management. Project Sirius’ ongoing difficulties underscore the risks inherent in transitioning established single-player franchises into competitive multiplayer experiences, particularly amid economic pressures and shifting development priorities within major studios.