When it comes to the question of whether AI will replace human developers, CD Projekt RED’s attitude is remarkably direct.
According to a report by GamesRadar+, during a recent earnings call, CD Projekt Joint CEO Michał Nowakowski directly addressed questions regarding whether "AI would be used to downsize the workforce." He didn't beat around the bush, offering a definitive "no": AI is certainly significant, but it isn't going to make The Witcher 5.
During the session, an analyst posed a rather sharp question: With mounting reports suggesting AI is rendering many roles redundant, does CDPR see a shift in the industry's talent pool? Furthermore, could they envision reducing their headcount in the near future via AI tools without compromising the quality of their next project?
Nowakowski didn’t rush to pivot the conversation solely to AI. He first clarified that CDPR doesn't typically hire "IT staff" in the traditional sense. While he acknowledged that the talent landscape across the gaming industry has indeed shifted compared to a few years ago, he argued that this change cannot simply be pinned on the emergence of AI.
Addressing the wave of layoffs sweeping the industry in recent years, his stance was even clearer. Nowakowski stated bluntly that the turmoil stems more from project cancellations and directional pivots rather than any notion of "AI efficiency causing redundancy." He was candid: many studios have faced closures and brutal staff cuts, but to his knowledge, almost none of these instances can be directly attributed to AI. As for proactively shrinking teams because of AI? He admitted he "can't imagine that at all."
Of course, this doesn't mean CDPR is rejecting AI. On the contrary, Nowakowski repeatedly emphasised that the value brought by the technology is real and "significant." However, that value lies in assisting humans, not replacing them.
In CDPR's practice, AI is utilised primarily to boost production efficiency—handling repetitive, procedural tasks where the returns are most obvious. The benefits are there and very concrete, but he doesn't believe there is an AI in existence yet where you can "sit down and have it build a game for you."
"At least in my experience, that has not happened," he noted.
He drew a definitive line in the sand with a very intuitive statement: AI won't make The Witcher 5, and it won't make The Witcher 6.
This encapsulates CDPR's core stance: AI is a tool, not an author.
So, here’s the question: Do you agree with this outlook? In the future of game development, will AI remain in a "supportive" role, or will it one day cross that line?
The above content is compiled by ModeZone, a fashion and entertainment magazine.
