Witcher Multiplayer Spin-Off Faces More Development Turmoil

CD Projekt’s multiplayer Witcher spin-off, currently known as Project Sirius, has reportedly been hit by another round of staffing cuts, raising fresh questions about the game’s future. The project has already had a complicated development history, and this latest setback suggests the road ahead may remain uncertain.

According to recent reporting, nine employees working on the game were laid off, while another nine were reassigned to different roles within CD Projekt. The changes are said to be part of a broader shift in development strategy. While the company still appears committed to the project in some form, the decision signals that the team is once again being reshaped as leadership reevaluates how the game should move forward.

Project Sirius has stood out from other Witcher games since the moment it was announced. Rather than following the same formula as the mainline role-playing entries, this title was described as a game set in The Witcher universe that would aim for a broader audience. It was also planned to include both single-player and multiplayer gameplay, making it one of the more experimental projects connected to the franchise.

The game was first revealed in October 2022 during an investor update. Development was placed under CD Projekt Red Boston, the studio that previously absorbed The Molasses Flood. That team was known for creating The Flame in the Flood in 2016 and Drake Hollow in 2020, giving it experience with stylized survival and action-focused design. At the time of the original announcement, Project Sirius was said to be in pre-production, with more than 60 developers involved.

However, the project’s momentum did not last. In 2023, CD Projekt announced that the game had been restarted from scratch. That reset was accompanied by layoffs affecting 29 developers, making it clear that the company was not satisfied with the direction the game had been taking. Leadership framed the decision as part of a necessary effort to stay flexible and avoid spending too many resources on a version of the game that was not meeting expectations.

That earlier restart already put Project Sirius in a difficult position. Starting over on a major game can dramatically extend development timelines, increase costs, and create uncertainty for both employees and fans. Even when a reset leads to a stronger final product, it often reflects deeper creative or structural challenges behind the scenes. For a project trying to break new ground for The Witcher brand, those risks are even greater.

Recent reports suggested that development had been going relatively well after changes made earlier this year, which made the latest cuts more surprising. In May, the project also brought in Kwan Perng, a veteran developer known for work on Destiny 2, to serve as lead writer. That hire seemed like a positive sign, hinting that CD Projekt was still investing in key creative leadership for the game. Even so, the newest staffing changes show that confidence in the project’s direction may still be fragile.

The uncertainty surrounding Project Sirius is easier to understand when viewed alongside CD Projekt’s larger slate of games. The company has a packed lineup that includes multiple Witcher projects, a Cyberpunk sequel, and an entirely new intellectual property. Managing all of those efforts at once is a major challenge, especially when several of them are ambitious, long-term productions.

Among the biggest priorities is Project Polaris, the codename for the next main Witcher saga. That game later became known as The Witcher 4, and it is intended to launch a new trilogy. CD Projekt has said it wants to release that trilogy over a six-year period, an aggressive target considering the scale typically associated with Witcher games. On top of that, the company is also developing a remake of the original Witcher and continuing to expand its broader fantasy portfolio.

Outside of The Witcher, CD Projekt is also working on Project Orion, the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077. After spending years repairing and improving Cyberpunk 2077 following its troubled launch, the company now faces the challenge of building a follow-up while maintaining confidence from players and investors. There is also Project Hadar, a completely original IP that remains in the earliest conceptual stages.

With so many major initiatives underway, Project Sirius risks becoming one of the company’s most difficult balancing acts. It is not the flagship Witcher release, nor is it the most established concept in CD Projekt’s pipeline. Because it aims to blend single-player and multiplayer elements in a universe best known for story-driven RPGs, it may require more experimentation than the company’s other projects. That makes it exciting in theory, but also vulnerable when priorities shift.

For now, Project Sirius remains one of the most intriguing and uncertain games tied to The Witcher name. The concept of a multiplayer-focused experience in that world still has plenty of potential, especially if CD Projekt can find the right structure and tone. But repeated layoffs and strategic resets are rarely encouraging signs. Fans will likely continue to watch closely for any official update that clarifies whether the game is finally stabilizing or still searching for its identity.

At this stage, the project is still alive, but its future appears far from settled. Until CD Projekt shares a clearer vision and demonstrates steady progress, Project Sirius will remain a question mark in the company’s increasingly crowded lineup.