CD Projekt Red has addressed how artificial intelligence is being used during the development of The Witcher 4, making it clear that human developers remain at the center of the studio’s approach. Joint CEO Michał Nowakowski said the company is using AI in certain areas, but it does not intend to hand over complete game development to the technology.
The comments came during CD Projekt Red’s H1 2026 earnings call, held as the studio confirmed that The Witcher 4 is targeting a 2028 release. The company also revealed that the project is currently in its most intensive development phase, with the team having grown to 513 developers earlier in 2026.
CD Projekt Red Will Keep Humans at the Center of The Witcher 4
When asked about potential efficiency gains from AI during the earnings call, Nowakowski acknowledged that the technology is becoming increasingly relevant to game development. However, he stressed that CD Projekt Red’s development philosophy remains centered on human teams.
“AI is definitely becoming a thing in the games development as well. We are still predominantly using people and this is our plan, to make games where we’re not walking away from that,”
Nowakowski said during the call.
The executive described AI as another tool that could help developers with specific tasks rather than something intended to replace them. More importantly, he said CD Projekt Red has no plans to depend on AI to create complete games, particularly when working on projects as complex as The Witcher 4.
Nowakowski also stopped short of declaring that every studio should follow the same approach. He argued that decisions surrounding AI use ultimately belong to individual companies, while describing fully AI-generated development as something he does not consider the right or ethical direction for complex games.
The timing of the comments is notable because The Witcher 4 remains one of CD Projekt Red’s largest ongoing projects. The studio officially confirmed a 2028 release window during its latest financial update, while development continues at full scale.
For now, CD Projekt Red’s position is straightforward: AI can assist its developers, but human creators will remain the primary force behind The Witcher 4.
