CD Projekt Red has The Witcher 4 running on all target platforms after Cyberpunk 2077 lesson
CD Projekt Red has adopted a new multi-platform development approach for The Witcher 4 following the troubled launch of Cyberpunk 2077. According to co-CEO Michal Nowakowski in an interview with Game Developer, the studio learned critical lessons from Cyberpunk 2077’s disastrous launch and subsequent removal from the PlayStation Store.
Under the new methodology, The Witcher 4 is being tested and optimized across all target platforms throughout development, rather than focusing primarily on one platform first. Nowakowski highlighted that the game is currently running on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X, demonstrating the studio’s commitment to simultaneous multi-platform support.
This represents a significant shift from Cyberpunk 2077’s development process, which was PC-centric during its creation phase. That platform-first approach reportedly contributed to the game’s notorious performance issues on consoles at launch, which ultimately led to Sony removing the title from the PlayStation Store—a rare and damaging occurrence in the industry.
By implementing cross-platform testing and optimization from the outset, CD Projekt Red aims to prevent a repeat of that situation. The studio’s new strategy emphasizes quality assurance across all supported systems before release, rather than attempting post-launch fixes and patches. This proactive approach reflects the industry’s growing recognition that multiplatform releases require coordinated development efforts from early stages onward.