CD Projekt Red Wasn't "Aligned" With Witcher Spin-Off Project Sirius, Wanted To Cut Costs Early

Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red has attempted to shed more light on its recent decision to restart development of its Witcher spin-off Project Sirius, saying the company doesn't "want to carry on with projects we aren't aligned with."

On March 20, CD Projekt Red announced the spinoff being developed by The Flame in the Flood studio The Molasses Flood had undergone an "evaluation" of its "scope and commercial potential," and that the company was "formulating a new framework for this project."

What exactly that all meant was a little unclear, but various reporters took CD Projekt Red's messaging and regulatory filings to mean Project Sirius was undergoing a dramatic overhaul.

As part of a recent financial earnings call, CD Projekt Red chief financial officer Piotr Nielubowicz attempted to offer more details on what exactly happened with Project Sirius, though the developer didn't elaborate on what the project is or might be in the future.

The project, Nielubowicz said, is "new to us in terms of design and format" and different from the "big productions" the developer is known for.

"To stay competitive, we need to keep looking for new ways to extend our franchises," Nielubowicz said. "At the same time, we need to be ready to reevaluate our original concepts, even if development work is already underway."

Nielubowicz called the decision to create a new framework for Sirius "a tough one to make," but that it is the right decision. He went on to say that CD Projekt Red's goal was to cut costs for the project early and give the developer time for reassessment, rather than moving forward full steam ahead on a project the company wasn't "aligned with."

Project Sirius is just one of multiple new Witcher games that were announced by CD Projekt Red back in October 2022, which includes a new main Witcher trilogy (developed on Unreal Engine 5) by CD Projekt Red, as well as a third-party-developed remake of the original Witcher game codenamed Canis Majoris. CD Projekt Red is also working on a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 and a new IP codenamed Hadar.