Almost 500 developers accelerate Polaris production

CD Projekt RED has decided to open the vault of technical information and the numbers of The Witcher 4 — affectionately called Polaris behind the scenes — show that the company means business. According to the most recent fiscal report from the Polish giant, the team dedicated to the new witcher saga already has 499 professionals. It is a considerable leap considering that, at the end of 2025, the team was close to 450 developers. This mass mobilization suggests that the pre-production phase, started in May 2025, is behind us, giving way to a large-scale development that consumes most of the studio's human resources. It is the maximum bet of a company that needs to erase the stains of troubled past releases with flawless technical delivery.

While the world of Geralt (or whoever takes the lead this time) drains almost all the oxygen from the house, other projects move at a slower but steady pace. The sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, known as Orion, recently received a modest reinforcement of only 14 new members. CD Projekt RED plans for this team to surpass 450 people only in 2027, which makes clear where the immediate priority of the board lies. This strategy of focusing almost 500 minds on a single point is ambitious, but it always carries the risk of creating an environment of extreme pressure, something that the industry has already observed cautiously in previous productions of the brand.

"The expectation is that large-scale production will advance even further over the next few months. The game entered pre-production in May 2025." — details the official document from the producer about the internal schedule.

Although the volume of hands-on work is impressive, the horizon for the average player is still very cloudy. Market analysts point out that the title may only make an appearance at the end of 2027, and, for now, the only platform officially confirmed is the PC. This temporary exclusivity or initial focus on computers is a double-edged sword; while it allows for extracting the most from Unreal Engine 5, it also leaves console owners in an agonizing and uncertain wait.

CD Projekt RED's movement reflects an attempt to rebuild its reputation as the elite of the global RPG world. Having 499 people focused on a single universe is a luxury that few studios possess, but the number of developers is not always a guarantee of a coherent narrative or innovative gameplay systems. The company's recent history has taught us that the final polish is what truly defines success, and with a team of this size, the demand for a bug-free release will be relentless.