Ex-CDPR Director Unveils Reasons for Exit, Establishes New Studio

Following the releases of The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, several key figures from CD Projekt RED departed to pursue independent ventures. Among them, a group formed Rebel Wolves studio, the creators of the recently announced The Blood of Dawnwalker.

Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, a CD Projekt RED veteran, shed light on his decision to leave the established company. His key reasons included:

A desire for creative freedom and innovation with trusted colleagues led to the founding of Rebel Wolves. While possessing a deep appreciation for the established conventions of role-playing games, Tomaszkiewicz and his team envisioned pushing boundaries and exploring unconventional gameplay mechanics. They believed that implementing these radical ideas would prove challenging within the framework of a large corporation, particularly when dealing with new intellectual property. Therefore, establishing their own studio became the necessary path to realizing their ambitious vision. This approach, however, carries inherent risks.

The smaller, independent structure of Rebel Wolves fosters a collaborative environment characterized by strong interpersonal relationships and open communication. Tomaszkiewicz argues that this close-knit team dynamic allows for more efficient idea sharing and a more streamlined creative process, ultimately leading to a more unified and innovative final product. This intimate setting, he believes, fuels creativity and makes the pursuit of unique game design more attainable.