CD Projekt’s subsequent Witcher trilogy has a brand new game director

Cyberpunk 2077 animation director Sebastian Kalemba has revealed on Twitter that he is taken the function of game director in CD Projekt’s subsequent Witcher game.

“Profession information: I’m directing the brand new Witcher Saga,” Kalemba tweeted. “Since becoming a member of @CDPROJEKTRED I consider nothing is not possible and elevating the bar, telling emotional tales & creating worlds is what we’re right here for. I’m proud to be a part of CDPR and work with such a gifted and passionate group.”

Previous to Cyberpunk 2077, Kalemba served as a personality animator on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, after which as lead animator on the Hearts of Stone growth, and animation director on Blood and Wine. Earlier than hooking up with CD Projekt, he was lead animator on Risen 3: Titan Lords, and did testing on Grim Legends 2: Track of the Darkish Swan. Most just lately, in line with his LinkedIn profile, Kalemba held a inventive director function at CD Projekt, though it would not point out what venture he was engaged on.

CD Projekt has not formally introduced Kalemba’s place, however a number of staff together with Cyberpunk 2077 quest director Pawel Sasko, group director Marcin Momot, PR director Radek Grabowski, and communication supervisor Pawel Burza congratulated him on the brand new job.

Kalemba would be the first relative newcomer to take the reins on CD Projekt’s Witcher collection. The unique Witcher did not have a director by identify however credit CD Projekt co-founder Michał Kiciński for “game imaginative and prescient,” whereas the director on The Witcher 2: Assassins of King was Adam Badowski, who’s been with CD Projekt since 2002 and is a member of the corporate’s board of administrators. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz received his begin as a tester on the unique Witcher earlier than turning into lead quest designer on Witcher 2. Tomaszkiewicz left CD Projekt in early 2022 to co-found a brand new studio referred to as Insurgent Wolves.

I do not see that as an issue, to be clear. The Witcher 3 is seven years previous and can nearly actually be a full decade (or, probably, extra) by the point Witcher 4 rolls round; the unique Witcher will probably be pushing 20. As a lot as I like the collection (and I find it irresistible very a lot), if CD Projekt goes to hold on with it—and particularly if it may move away from the persevering with adventures of Geralt—then new blood and new imaginative and prescient will probably be important to creating it work.

We nonetheless know little or no about The Witcher 4 at this level. CD Projekt stated in Could that the game had entered pre-production, however who it’s going to comply with—most likely not Geralt, however possibly Ciri, or maybe somebody totally new (or perhaps a entire new faculty)—stays to be seen, as does the right title, which we’re guessing will not be The Witcher 4. One fascinating factor to notice is that Kalemba’s avatar on each his Twitter and LinkedIn accounts is artwork taken from The Witcher: Previous World board game, which is ready lengthy earlier than the time of Geralt, when a number of witcher colleges had been on the top of their energy. 

A touch of what is to come back? In all probability not, however something is feasible at this level.

A launch date for the following massive Witcher game is not even being hinted at, after all: CD Projekt just lately stated it needs to launch three new Witcher video games over a six-year stretch, which we do not suppose is essentially a good suggestion—an excessive amount of of a great factor and all that—however we’re additionally not that apprehensive, as a result of there’s principally zero likelihood of it taking place.