CD Projekt Red Unfazed by Console Price Shocks and Next-Gen Delays
Key takeaways
- CD Projekt Red CEO says consoles will survive RAM cost inflation and next-gen delays aren't a commercial concern.
- Nowakowski prioritizes game quality over hardware platform, claiming strong content finds audiences regardless of delivery method.
- Developer notes their teams adapt flexibly—shelving advanced ideas if console launches slip—rather than being locked into rigid timelines.
CD Projekt Red joint CEO Michał Nowakowski dismissed worries about skyrocketing console production costs and rumors of next-gen hardware delays in a September 1 interview with The Game Business. He emphasized that consoles remain essential for casual and semi-casual gaming audiences, and predicted the industry will "weather the storm" despite pricing pressures. Nowakowski stressed that how CDPR reaches players matters less than the quality of its games. "Content is the king," he said. "If the content is right, people will find a way to play it." While his development team naturally pushes for maximum hardware power to showcase ambitious features, Nowakowski acknowledged they're realistic enough to shelve experimental ideas if console launches slip.
The bigger picture
Nowakowski's confidence in console longevity comes as Sony's decision to end PS5 disc production by January 2028 has sparked broader questions about physical hardware's future. His comment that CDPR will adapt business models depending on what platforms players actually use suggests the studio views platform fragmentation as a solvable problem, not an existential threat. Rivals like Valve and Epic Games have already invested heavily in PC and distribution flexibility, positioning themselves to thrive across any hardware landscape. What CDPR does with The Witcher 4 — whether it lands before or after Sony's disc cutoff — will test whether this confidence holds.
We're following this because console hardware transitions shape the entire gaming ecosystem, and developer confidence (or lack thereof) influences investment decisions across studios. When a major publisher like CD Projekt Red stays calm about delays and pricing, it's worth hearing directly. We want our readers to understand what industry leaders actually think beyond the headlines.
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