Summary
It is no secret thatCyberpunk 2077initially fell victim to its own anticipation. Originally being announced all the way back in 2012, fans had been waiting a very long time for a title that simply did not deliver on many of its promises when it eventually released in 2020. The launch of the title is widely considered to be one of the most damaging in video gaming history, but the popularity surrounding the IP still made it possible for CD Projekt Red to make a comeback.
This was achieved with the recent launch ofCyberpunk 2077’sPhantom LibertyDLC, which is set to be the only large-scale story expansion for the game. WithPhantom Libertyreleasing alongside a comprehensive update that revamped a lot ofCyberpunk 2077’s core mechanics, the IP is finally in a position that is reflective of the hype that surrounded the title to begin with. As a lot of fans are now eagerly looking toward what is next for the IP, the future of CD Projekt Red’sThe Witcherfranchise is now in an unusually difficult position.
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Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty Success May Impact The Witcher’s Future
The Witcherwas the franchise that put CD Projekt Red on the mapas a development studio, finding its gaming roots in 2007. Inspired by the books of the same name by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski,The Witcherhas gone on to encompass the following media adaptations:
WhileThe Witcherwas long thought of as the flagship IP of CD Projekt Red, the recent success and popularity ofCyberpunk 2077is threatening to claim this top spot. LikeThe Witcher,Cyberpunkhas also received its own Netflix adaptation, with the animatedCyberpunk Edgerunnersreceiving more critical acclaim than the live-actionWitchershow.
The current state ofCyberpunkhas essentially made its high-profile bad launch a thing of the past, with fans already eagerly discussing where the franchise will go next over the coming years. A lot of this newfoundsuccess can be attributed to the September launch ofPhantom Liberty, which came with huge sales accomplishments and an explosion of popularity for the franchise as a whole.
CD Projekt Red Now Has to Juggle Two Massive Franchises
Cyberpunkhas overshadowedThe Witcherover the past few years, with this trend only being likely to continue now that the former has attained a more positive overall reputation. This could cause some issues for the next upcoming projects forThe Witcher, withThe Witcher 4being officially announced in March 2022. WhileThe Witcherwill always have a plentiful community of dedicated fans, any news of futureCyberpunkprojects is likely to take away a lot of the steam that upcomingThe Witcherreleases would otherwise have.
Of course, this is a fairly positive problem for CD Projekt Red to have, with two of their IPs now closely competing against eachother in the world of AAA releases. Going forward, Projekt Red will have to manage the expectations and hype surrounding these two giants, withthe recent success ofCyberpunkotherwise being a serious threat toThe Witcher’s future.
