After the much-anticipated launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020, CD Projekt Red (CDPR) faced severe backlash due to the game’s buggy and unplayable state, especially on older consoles. Despite efforts to fix the game, including multiple patches and the critically acclaimed Phantom Liberty expansion, CDPR’s CEO Michał Nowakowski recently acknowledged that the company’s once sterling reputation might be irreparably damaged.
CD Projekt’s Rocky Journey
In a statement reflecting on the company’s journey, Nowakowski admitted that, “It’s a certain perception of the company that’s never going to come back.” He emphasized the challenge of rebuilding trust after the disastrous launch of Cyberpunk 2077. CDPR worked tirelessly to regain the community’s favor, rolling out massive updates and expansions that transformed the game into one of the most beloved titles of recent years. However, the CEO still expressed concerns about the long-term damage to the company’s image.
Paweł Sasko, Associate Director on the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, added, “We can actually win some of those people around,” showing optimism that future releases, including the new Witcher titles and CDPR’s original IP Hadar, could help restore some faith in the developer.
CDPR’s comeback, marked by the success of the Phantom Liberty expansion and the 2.0 update, has proven that the company can bounce back. However, as the CEO noted, regaining their flawless reputation may be an impossible task.
