CDPR's Triumph Over Open-World Storytelling in The Witcher 3: Behind the Scenes

In a revealing interview, Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, the former lead quest designer of The Witcher 3, disclosed that CD Projekt Red (CDPR) harbored doubts about the feasibility of integrating a grand narrative within an open-world game environment. This concern stemmed from the fear that the expansive storytelling typical of linear RPGs, such as those seen in The Witcher 2, might not translate seamlessly into an open-world setting.

Image: steamcommunity.com

"Few games have dared to attempt what we did: blending expansive storytelling techniques, usually reserved for linear RPGs with corridor-like structures, such as The Witcher 2, and adapting them to fit an open-world experience," said Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz.

Despite these initial reservations, CDPR's development team boldly embraced the challenge, ultimately crafting The Witcher 3, a title that has since been hailed as one of the most acclaimed RPGs in gaming history. Tomaszkiewicz now spearheads the team at Rebel Wolves, working on their upcoming project, The Blood of Dawnwalker. Set in an alternate medieval Eastern Europe with a dark fantasy twist, this new game focuses on a vampire-centric narrative.

The Blood of Dawnwalker is currently in development for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series platforms. While no official release date has been set, eager fans can look forward to a gameplay reveal this summer.