Console Witcher ditched in favor of Witcher 2?

Source: Independent reports from Polish gaming site Polygamia and role-playing-game-centric GameBanshee.What we heard: In December, CD Projekt Red at last made official what many had already long suspected: The Witcher is coming to consoles. As detailed in GameSpot's first look at the Xbox 360 and...

Source: Independent reports from Polish gaming site Polygamia and role-playing-game-centric GameBanshee.

What we heard: In December, CD Projekt Red at last made official what many had already long suspected: The Witcher is coming to consoles. As detailed in GameSpot's first look at the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game, The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf tells the same story as the highly regarded 2007 PC adaptation of Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski's dark fantasy universe. However, more than just ports, the console editions were also supposed to feature new content, better graphics, improved AI, and refined animation, among other tweaks.

Now it appears that CD Projekt Red has run afoul of the global economic crisis, forcing it to halt development on the title. On Monday, Polish gaming site Polygamia reported that unnamed sources had confirmed that the console adaptation of The Witcher had been canceled. That information was followed up today by another report from the RPG-oriented GameBanshee, which said that the publisher-developer has made deep cuts at its Warsaw headquarters.

GameBanshee went on to lay out the scenario behind the layoffs. After The Witcher's release, CD Projekt Red reportedly began three new projects based on the Witcher IP: the console port, The Witcher 2, and an unnamed third game. However, CD Projekt Red first reportedly canceled the unnamed Witcher title, pink-slipping nearly all employees associated with the project. Then yesterday, the studio closed the book on The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf, cutting loose an additional two dozen staff.

GameBanshee's source didn't just offer reports of doom-and-gloom for CD Projekt Red, however. The source also claimed that development continues on The Witcher 2, which is being prepped for both consoles and the PC. All remaining staff and resources have been diverted to this project, the source went on to say. No information on a release window was offered, though Rise of the White Wolf had been scheduled for this fall.

The official story: "We don't comment on rumors," a CD Projekt Red representative told GameSpot. "Any plans will be announced via official channels."

Bogus or not bogus?: CD Projekt Red is hardly the first, and not likely the last, to make concessions in the wake of a tanking economy. Looking not bogus.

178 Comments

  • xEpiphoneSG

    Posted Dec 9, 2009 7:26 pm PT

    i know this is really old but...

    @Dalamar

    fallout 3 was not for xbox but was praised when it came out for it, even though many people didnt play the prequels...so yeah...

  • Snaptrap

    Posted Sep 13, 2009 11:17 am PT

    For the price of a console these days people can buy a high-end video card and CPU. With the extra crap they buy for them they can add some RAM and a new motherboard instead. I have to wait until tomorrow to play The Witcher but either way, I'm glad I upgraded.

  • sleath_hunter33

    Posted Jul 18, 2009 9:39 pm PT

    no the rise of the white wolf was cancelled sadly so just get the ee version 4 now and wait 4 the witcher 2

  • _en1gma_

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 11:11 am PT

    Witcher 2 better be PC exclusive.

  • fazedjb

    Posted Jun 26, 2009 9:59 am PT

    can't wait for witcher 2. just don't reckon I'll have the super computer to play the PC version.

  • electronic_eye

    Posted Jun 21, 2009 6:25 pm PT

    I really hope it is a rumor that White Wolf isn't coming to consoles. I have been really excited for it.

  • Memoryitis

    Posted May 20, 2009 12:48 pm PT

    Sweeet, now they can focus 100% on the Witcher 2, drools

  • Theconsciousss

    Posted May 12, 2009 4:49 am PT

    A damn shame, for me CDP have made a big and long lasting impression on me, and i was in fact hoping to buy RotWW for PS3 despite having it on PC. Hopefully its only a rumour (though that seems unlikely) Nonetheless I will be one of the many looking forward to TW2

  • HARI96

    Posted May 5, 2009 3:10 am PT

    its not that bad pc ftw

  • Cloud310

    Posted May 3, 2009 7:25 pm PT

    the witcher is a great game, too bad would of been great on 360 and ps3 also. another point the witcher 2 could be even better and debut multiconsole. nothing to give our hopes up on.

  • patton101

    Posted May 3, 2009 7:21 pm PT

    Damn I was hoping for a console version for my PS3. My computer cant really run it.

  • shinchy

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 2:22 pm PT

    @lotsofgunfire by the point the patch came out I'd already got rid of the game.

  • dark_sith_

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 5:44 am PT

    As long as they are going to make The Witcher 2 and the game doesn't lose any of it's scope, complexity or quality storytelling due to multiplatforming there is nothing to worry about. Better that they make a single great game then to spread themselves across three titles and make three mediocre games. After all they already remade The Witcher once and I'm sure that almost anyone who was interested bought one of those two editions already, or is planing to buy. As for the third unnamed title; they can always make that after The Witcher 2 and money influx that game is sure to bring them.
    Definitely looking forward to this game, because I liked the first game and still have it installed.

  • topsemag55

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 5:29 am PT

    Witcher 2 is a definite buy for me.

  • aaronobst

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 7:56 pm PT

    @ DaIamar

    The same could be said for a lot of games. Heaps of people buy sequels before the previous installments

  • lotsofgunfire

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 4:59 pm PT

    @shinchy
    What, you haven't tried dling the Enhanced Edition patch on their website?

  • shinchy

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 3:46 pm PT

    Oh man that sucks, I got the PC version when it came out but it was plagued with problems and in the end I gave up. So when it was announced for the consoles it became a must buy. If it's true, I'll pick up the enhanced version and see if that fixes the issues I was having.

  • DaIamar

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 3:34 pm PT

    Epic fail is epic. Do they really think console owners would pay money for Witcher 2 if thay hadn't got a chance to play the first one?

  • warsh88

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 3:13 pm PT

    While it's great news that TW2 is coming out on all platforms, I feel for all console owners that they might not be able to play the original. If the rumor is true and the 2nd ties in any way to the original, I recommend playing the original! The specs aren't that high and scale well anyways

  • mep69

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 2:52 pm PT

    im hopeing bogus, and if not; its a bad choice.

  • 8smokes

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 2:27 pm PT

    Well, at least CR Projekt Red survived, and didn't have to close their doors.

  • Extra_Life

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 1:56 pm PT

    I was looking forward to the console edition of the The Witcher no doubt I'll never play it now as I don't have a PC capable of it.

  • 0678

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 1:47 pm PT

    humm that is an odd move. "hey kids!"
    "yeah?!"
    "remember the smash hit that was exclusive to one platform that was the witcher?!"
    "YEAH!!!"
    "well now YOU yes YOU can play the......SEQUELLLLL to the game you probably didnt play last time!!!!"
    "yay?"

  • ElectrolightSH

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 1:06 pm PT

    Well that is stupid of them. Why would I ever buy a sequel to a game I never played. What they should have done was focus on getting an Xbox 360 version of the game out so people won't be confused when the second game comes out. They would have made quite a bit of profit which they could have used to resume production on The Witcher 2.

  • DAftHour

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 12:56 pm PT

    now this is what all of us were expecting.... the witcher 2 both for console and pc gamers. Fabulous:X:X:X

  • raptures330

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 12:22 pm PT

    Very nice and original RPG. Pity the console only gamers will have to miss it. Now just hope that W2 is as good as W1 but with more stuff, then it will not be such a pity

  • Emraldo

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 12:02 pm PT

    Yuuusssssss, sorry console folks, but I'm very happy to have another one of CD Projekt's masterpieces on PC.

  • dr_jashugan

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 11:42 am PT

    Too bad, but blame it on the economy crisis.

  • neomana

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 11:05 am PT

    Wouldnt be good, been waiting for the console version for ages!

  • BenBenBen93

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 10:46 am PT

    i have witcher but my PC cannot play it this is horrible news to me.

  • Onyx99

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 10:32 am PT

    This is disappointing. I have the PC version and love it but I was hoping to see how it would translate over to the console. However as long as there is a Witcher 2 I will be satisfied.

  • BigDaddy973

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 10:32 am PT

    MEh

  • Da_Don_J

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 10:09 am PT

    Well this sucks (especially for the people who lost their jobs), was kinda looking forward to the new combat system. The Witcher EE was one of the best RPGs ever, it sucks that consles wont get to experince this awsome game. And it looked like they were'nt just porting a two year old game (like they did with Mafia), they were actually making some fresh content. Well at least they're still making The Witcher 2.

  • jenguando

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 9:36 am PT

    Oh no no no no.Please no no no!!!

  • Peabody99224

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 9:15 am PT

    @jyound312

    I totally agree... Dragon Age will also have to be my fix later this year. Damn another game bites the dust...

  • jyoung312

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 9:13 am PT

    I was looking forward to this; this is a shame. Blame the economy and the big budgets needed to complete games. Dragon Age it is for my rpg fix then later in the year. I hope Sony brings Demon's Souls to NA so that i can make up for this loss.

  • TehEliteElite

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 9:12 am PT

    "...unnamed sources had confirmed that the console adaptation of The Witcher had been canceled."

    Hmm, I dunno, "unnamed sources" sounds kinda sketchy. I'll believe it when they announce it. Same goes for Obsidian's Aliens RPG. It's been months, since it was "canceled," so I'm gonna say bogus for now on this one.

  • paulie7285

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 8:55 am PT

    NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Boo!! This year's games don't look that great, I was only interested in Batman, Dragon Age, and this one! (maybe one or two others I can't think of right now) This sucks!

  • paulie7285

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 8:54 am PT

    NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Boo!! This year's games don't look that great, I was only interested in Batman, Dragon Age, and this one! (maybe one or two others I can't think of right now) This sucks!

  • Sniper

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 8:27 am PT

    The console versions of The Witcher were supposed to feature better graphics? That seems like another marketing lie. How can the PS3 and Xbox 360 offer better graphics when they use old hardware, compared to the latest generation of PC processors and video cards?

  • kakotan

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 8:25 am PT

    THIS BITES!!!!! My brother and I do not have a PC that can run this game. We both have been wanting to play this game so bad the first story not a 2nd one. From what we saw this game looked amazeing and when we heard it was comeing to consoles we were stoked. Really hope they change their minds.

  • Humorguy_basic

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 7:56 am PT

    For once consoles lose out and a games publisher sticks with a game that includes releasing on PC - who would have thought?!

  • WeWerePirates

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 7:35 am PT

    Wow, that sucks. One of the few games I would have been happy to buy for a third time.

  • Payback7

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 6:54 am PT

    @shackles_of_Zar - that sucks dude!! Such a good game. I'd return it and get a new copy! Anyway, looking forward to Witcher 2! MORE RPGS!!! YAAAY!!

  • grillepain_man

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 6:54 am PT

    Mhh...

  • BigDaveyDogz

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 6:53 am PT

    This sucks...I never played the PC version cause comp couldn't handle it. Was so looking forward to playing this on my 360...friggen economy!!!

  • DPhunkT

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 6:51 am PT

    So stupid. If the port is almost finished then why sack it?

  • Shackles_of_Zar

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 6:12 am PT

    i have this for my pc, but it doesn't work i got a a dodge cd

  • BreakneckBlake

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 6:11 am PT

    Damn, was looking forward to the console version because my pc wont run it

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