As a dedicated gamer who has followed CD Projekt Red's journey for years, I find myself reflecting on the company's evolving approach to mobile gaming. The recent confirmation that CDPR is actively exploring new mobile opportunities feels like witnessing a phoenix cautiously testing its wings after previous ventures turned to ashes. This strategic pivot comes at a fascinating time, as the company reported a substantial 39% increase in full-year 2023 profits, largely fueled by the remarkable resurgence of Cyberpunk 2077 and its Phantom Liberty expansion.
CDPR's relationship with mobile gaming has been as turbulent as Geralt's journey through the swamps of Velen. The company's mobile endeavors date back to 2014 with The Witcher Adventure Game, yet recent years saw them pulling back from the smartphone market entirely. The shutdown of The Witcher: Monster Slayer after less than two years and the discontinuation of support for Gwent: The Witcher Card Game felt like watching a master swordsmith reluctantly sheathing their blades. These moves suggested that CDPR's mobile revenue streams had dried up like a desert oasis during a drought.
However, Joint CEO Adam Kiciński's recent comments reveal a more nuanced strategy. The company is now considering licensing its valuable intellectual properties to third-party mobile developers—an approach that reminds me of a seasoned alchemist carefully selecting which potion recipes to share with apprentices. This licensing model could allow CDPR to maintain audience engagement with their franchises during the lengthy development cycles of their mainline games. With The Witcher 4 only just entering active production and unlikely to release before 2027, and the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel still in pre-production, mobile spin-offs could serve as vital connective tissue between major releases.
What fascinates me most about this strategy is how it represents CDPR learning from both their successes and failures. The company's mobile track record has been as unpredictable as a game of Gwent against a skilled opponent—sometimes triumphant, often challenging. Their approach now seems more measured, like a witcher carefully studying a monster's patterns before engaging. By potentially licensing their IPs rather than developing in-house, CDPR can leverage external expertise while focusing their internal resources on what they do best: creating groundbreaking AAA experiences.
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, the mobile gaming landscape offers CDPR opportunities that extend far beyond traditional game development. The company has already hinted at expanding their IPs into other media like tabletop games and animated series. Mobile games could serve as perfect companion pieces to these ventures, creating interconnected ecosystems that deepen fan engagement. Imagine mobile experiences that complement upcoming Witcher or Cyberpunk television projects, or tabletops games with digital companions—the possibilities are as vast as the Continent itself.
Yet challenges remain. The mobile market is notoriously competitive, filled with free-to-play titans and live service behemoths. For CDPR to succeed, they'll need partners who understand how to adapt their rich, narrative-driven worlds to mobile platforms without compromising what makes them special. It's like trying to translate an epic poem into a haiku—the essence must remain, even if the form changes completely.
As a player, I'm cautiously optimistic about this direction. CDPR's worlds are so rich and detailed that they deserve to be experienced in multiple formats. When done right, mobile games can offer delightful ways to engage with favorite characters and settings during spare moments throughout the day. They can be like finding unexpected notes from old friends—brief but meaningful connections that enhance our appreciation of the larger stories.
The company's renewed interest in mobile comes at a time when the gaming industry continues to blur boundaries between platforms. With cloud gaming advancing and cross-play becoming standard, the distinctions between console, PC, and mobile experiences are dissolving faster than a potion's effects after battle. CDPR's strategic shift acknowledges this convergence while playing to their strengths as world-builders and storytellers.
What remains clear is that CDPR hasn't abandoned their core principles. Their commitment to quality and player respect appears undiminished, even as they explore new business models. This mobile strategy feels less like a desperate pivot and more like a calculated evolution—the kind of growth one expects from a studio that has learned valuable lessons from both triumph and adversity.
As I look toward the future of gaming in 2025, I see CDPR's mobile explorations as part of a larger industry trend toward integrated entertainment experiences. The lines between games, shows, books, and interactive experiences continue to blur, creating opportunities for richer, more interconnected worlds. If CDPR can find the right partners and approaches, their mobile ventures could become valuable extensions of their beloved franchises rather than mere spin-offs.
Ultimately, the success of this strategy will depend on execution. But as someone who has journeyed with CDPR through both their glorious successes and challenging setbacks, I believe they've earned the benefit of the doubt. Their cautious, partnership-focused approach to mobile suggests they've learned from past experiences and are determined to find ways to bring their incredible worlds to new audiences without compromising what makes them special.