CD Projekt Red Announces Progress on Project Hadar: A New World Begins to Take Shape

CD Projekt Red (CDPR) has finally provided an update on Project Hadar, an original game that has so far been shrouded in mystery. The company's CEO, Michał Nowakowski, revealed that the development team has completed the "world vision" stage—a conceptual foundation that underpins every element of the game. The news was shared in an interview with Polish publication Biznes Pap, marking the first substantial update since the project was introduced four years ago.

According to Nowakowski, this achievement is the largest in the studio's history. "This is our biggest endeavor to date, taking years, but now we can say that we have a coherent vision for this world and its key elements," he said. Nevertheless, he stressed that the game has not yet entered pre-production. Currently, the team is building a small prototype and testing various gameplay elements.

Project Hadar will be CDPR's first original IP, after the company was previously better known for adapting others' works—such as Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher series and Mike Pondsmith's Cyberpunk. This move marks a strategic shift: CDPR is no longer just a developer relying on external licenses, but is beginning to build its own franchise from scratch. For the global game industry, this is a signal that the studio wants full control over its creative direction and long-term monetization potential.

On the other hand, CDPR has a packed project portfolio. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past is scheduled for release in 2027, becoming the first expansion since Blood and Wine (2016). Previously, The Witcher 3 received a remaster for PC and consoles. In addition, The Witcher 4 is planned for 2028 with Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter, as the protagonist, taking over the role of monster hunter. The studio also plans to release a Witcher trilogy within six years, meaning The Witcher 5 in 2031 and The Witcher 6 in 2034—an ambitious target given the long development cycles of modern AAA games.

"This is our biggest endeavor to date, taking years, but now we can say that we have a coherent vision for this world and its key elements." — Michał Nowakowski, CEO of CD Projekt Red

For the Indonesian market, this development is worth watching. Indonesia is one of the largest game markets in Southeast Asia, with a growing base of PC and console players. The arrival of an original IP from a studio of CDPR's caliber could enrich the global game ecosystem, which in turn may encourage local creators to dare to build their own franchises. Moreover, the success of Project Hadar could serve as a benchmark showing that building a world from scratch is not impossible, even though it requires patience and major investment.

However, challenges remain. CDPR must prove that it can manage several large projects simultaneously without sacrificing quality—a lesson from the launch of Cyberpunk 2077, which drew criticism. With a release schedule already filled through 2034, time and resource management will be a tough test. If successful, Project Hadar could become a new milestone for CDPR as an independent IP owner. If it fails, their reputation as a meticulous developer could once again be called into question.

Looking ahead, the big question is: will Project Hadar be able to match or even surpass the success of The Witcher and Cyberpunk? And how will CDPR balance this grand ambition with players' ever-rising expectations? Only time will tell, but the first step has been taken.