The Witcher 4 Will Remain Predominantly Human-Made, Says CD Projekt

The developers behind The Witcher 4 say the next monster hunt will remain predominantly human-made, even as artificial intelligence becomes a bigger part of the games industry.

Speaking during CD Projekt’s latest earnings call, joint CEO Michał Nowakowski said AI may help with parts of development, but the studio is not planning to rely on it to make complete games. That distinction matters for a sprawling RPG whose best surprises still need people with odd ideas, patience and an alarming number of spreadsheets.

CD Projekt’s line on AI

“We are still predominantly using people,” Nowakowski said, according to PC Gamer’s report from the call. He described AI as a tool that may become more helpful in particular areas, while saying CD Projekt’s plan is to make games without walking away from human developers.

That is not a promise that the studio will avoid every AI-assisted workflow. It is a statement about where the creative centre of gravity sits. Nowakowski also said that, especially with complex games like CD Projekt’s, relying on AI to make complete games is not the right or ethical path for the company.

The timing is doing the talking

Generative AI is now being discussed alongside staffing, production costs, legal ownership and the unglamorous work that keeps huge projects moving. Nowakowski’s answer acknowledges the technology while rejecting the idea that a prompt can replace a multidisciplinary team.

He also stopped short of declaring a universal rule for the industry. Other companies must make their own judgments, he said, leaving room for different policies while making CD Projekt’s current position plain.

What this means for The Witcher 4

For players, the practical takeaway is modest but welcome: CD Projekt is presenting The Witcher 4 as a game made by people, with AI potentially assisting around the edges. There is no evidence in these comments that traditional art, design, writing or engineering work has been abandoned, and the studio did not specify which tools are being used.

CD Projekt’s official update puts The Witcher 4 in a planned 2028 release window, with Ciri taking over as the series’ main protagonist. That is a long runway for tools and policies to change, but it is a useful snapshot of the studio’s current philosophy.

So this is not a declaration that AI will never touch The Witcher 4. It is something more useful: CD Projekt says the humans are still steering the horse. Let’s hope they keep both hands on the reins.

ER

About the author

Evie Rose

Norse-Aussie. I tried my luck in game development but found out I was better at playing and testing them. Did some work as a QA, now I write about games.

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