Next-gen must 'blow people away' says Witcher dev

Sony and Microsoft must "blow people away" with their next-generation platforms if the systems are to succeed in a changed games market, according to CD Projekt Red CEO Marcin Iwinski.

Speaking with Edge, Iwinski said not only will the technology itself be important for the PlayStation 4 and rumored Xbox 720, but also the method of delivery, given how iOS and Android devices have "turned it all upside down."

"I'm really curious what the platform holders will deliver this generation because they really have to surprise and blow people away," Iwinski said. "The technology is one part, and then there's the method of delivery--this is the part I’m super-excited about. We have GoG.com and direct relations with consumers there, of course there’s Steam, and I'm really excited to see what will happen on the next-gen consoles, because iOS and Android consoles have completely turned it all upside down."

Iwinski also claimed that dialogue between creators and gamers will be instrumental to the success of the upcoming platforms. If there is a communication breakdown, game quality could suffer, he argued.

"Here’s the developer, here's the gamer--they should talk," Iwinski said. "If there's a chain of people in the middle that is kind of muffled. The more direct the communication, the better the games are. It's that simple."

Iwinski and CD Projekt Red are currently working role-playing games The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for PC, PlayStation 4, and other "high-end" platforms and Cyberpunk 2077, which has been confirmed only for PC thus far.