It’s been 10 years since The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt first launched, and CD Projekt Red is celebrating by sharing some fun memories and stories from the game’s development and release. While The Witcher 3 is now known as one of the best RPGs ever made, things didn’t always feel so good for the developers at the time.
Panic First
In the weeks before the launch on May 19, 2015, the studio was finishing work on the game’s first expansion, Hearts of Stone. Developers were anxious as they waited for review scores. When the first one came in, a 10 out of 10 from GameSpot, the mood in the studio changed instantly.
“There was panic,” said Paweł Sasko, then a Senior Quest Designer. “We didn’t expect such high praise. It was hard to believe.”
Soon, more reviews followed, and they were all extremely positive. For a few days, nobody could focus on work. “We just kept talking about the reviews, reading them, and checking for new ones,” he added.
A Visit From the Prime Minister
The panic didn’t stop there. The Polish Prime Minister at the time, Ewa Kopacz, even visited CD Projekt Red on launch day. Her team called ahead, security checked the office, and she held a press conference at the studio’s front desk. “It was wild,” said Radek Grabowski, Global PR Director.
But the craziest call came from someone claiming to be from the President’s office. They said the President was stuck in the game and needed help. The team rushed to find a walkthrough, only to find out it was a prank by a local radio station.
The Joy (And Pressure) of Success
The success brought joy, but also a lot of pressure. “We knew we had to keep the quality high for the expansions,” said Paweł. “There was no way we could release something worse after that reception.”
Writer Magdalena Zych, who had just started her job when the game launched, remembers the moment a lot. “After 5 p.m. on review day, we all went to the river nearby to celebrate. It was beautiful. One of my favorite memories ever.”
Looking Back With Pride
For the team at CD Projekt Red, The Witcher 3 wasn’t just another game, it was a turning point. “It was the explosion of ambition that had been building since the first Witcher,” said Borys Pugacz-Muraszkiewicz, English Adaptation Director.
Even now, 10 years later, many team members say those days shaped how they see game development: challenging, emotional, but incredibly rewarding.
To say the least, CD Projekt Red kept delivering beautiful and emotional stories that are loved by many players. Even Cyberpunk, which has a rough start, ended up being one of the most beloved games out there. With Witch 4 being currently worked on, we can only guess that CD Projekt will work hard to deliver another amazing piece of art!
If you want to read the complete interview, you can head to CD Projekt Red’s official page. They also released a special 10th Anniversary video where developers share even more stories from the early days of The Witcher 3. You can check it out here:
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