CD Projekt Red explains financial and creative independence is “crucial” to developer’s strategy.

The Witcher developer CD Projekt Red is not looking to sell. Studio head Adam Badowski told GamesIndustry International that the company considers creative and financial independence to be a core component of its development strategy.

“Independence is a crucial part of a our strategy,” Badowski said. “That means we need to be independent in both ways. First, financially and secondly creatively; they’re both crucial for us. So as a company we’re listed publicly on the Warsaw stock exchange, which gave us financial independence and creatively we own all our IP so we’re free to invest in our own business with total creative freedom. This gives us a fresh eye in the studio, so it’s very important to us. Maybe we could get extra money or experience, but it wouldn’t make us happy.”

Badowski elaborated further on the subject of independence, saying CD Projekt Red has gone to great lengths to ensure business decisions do not decide the company’s future.

“I believe that if you want to succeed, creative vision has to inform business policy and not the other way around; that’s crucial for us,” Badowski said. “Sometimes business will decide a company’s creative policy, that’s very bad for a studio.”

Badowski pointed to CD Projekt Red’s unwillingness to embrace the free-to-play market as an example of why creative ambition should be placed ahead of business dealings. He said though there may be money to be made in this market, CD Projekt Red ultimately sees free-to-play as “strange and awkward” and a reason to stay away, at least for now.

“I believe that if you want to succeed, creative vision has to inform business policy and not the other way around; that’s crucial for us”

“Financial and business concerns shouldn’t decide which path we take or the creative aims of the company. For example, right now we are not dealing in the free-to-play market and this is why; the market is far from perfect yet, I think there’s something strange and awkward in this business model,” Badowski said.

“So we’re not getting involved in it, even if everyone is excited by how much money can be made using this model. Maybe we’ll change our minds in that regard, but not yet,” he added. “To succeed you have to believe in your project first and then do your job 100 per cent. So the creative side and your heart comes first. Business should be based around your vision.”

CD Projekt Red is currently developing two projects: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077. The company also operates GOG.com, an online marketplace for PC games.

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