CD Projekt Red has announced a partnership with Digital Scapes, a studio known for creating multiplayer modes in some popular games. According to the press release, Digital Scapes will work with the Witcher studio on “creating and optimizing technological solutions for use in the development of Cyberpunk 2077.”
But what exactly does this fancy babble all mean? Presumably, the cooperation exists to have Digital Scapes focus on creating multiplayer components for Cyberpunk 2077. The studio has made a name for itself creating multiplayer modes. Some of the games in its portfolio include Dying Light, Company of Heroes, and, erm, Prototype. CD Projekt has wanted multiplayer in the game since the beginning. However, being a company with a history in solo-driven projects, it appears to have given the responsibility to more capable hands.
“Cyberpunk 2077 is our most ambitious project to date and we work hard every day to make it a creative and technological achievement,” said Michał Nowakowski, SVP Business Development at CD Projekt Red. “The Digital Scapes team brings aboard a lot of talent, experience and technical knowledge, and I’m very confident our long-term cooperation will add plenty to the game.”
Dying Night (City)
It’s been known for a while that Cyberpunk 2077 will have multiplayer features of some kind, but it won’t be up and running by the game’s launch. CD Projekt has made a legacy in creating single-player RPGs like The Witcher. However, the company is concerned about the game’s longevity in today’s competitive market.
Speaking to a Polish investment website, company CEO Adam Kiciński talked about the need for multiplayer. “Online is necessary, or very recommended if you wish to achieve a long-term success,” he said.
However, it can be worrying when a major company talks up online features. It’s become difficult to avoid hearing about scandals behind loot boxes and microtransactions. Some companies have been leaning away from the “pay to own” strategy, instead switching to games as a service. CD Projekt Red, however, maintains that its goal has always been to create a rich, single-player story. The company has attempted to assuage concerns via Twitter since last year.
.@PrettyBadTweets Worry not. When thinking CP2077, think nothing less than TW3 — huge single player, open world, story-driven RPG. No hidden catch, you get what you pay for — no bullshit, just honest gaming like with Wild Hunt. We leave greed to others.
— CD PROJEKT RED (@CDPROJEKTRED) November 19, 2017
Cyberpunk 2077‘s release date has yet to be revealed. We assume it should be next year considering the state of the project. But it’s still all daydreams and speculation regarding the game’s multiplayer. Will people drop the game after the credits roll? Or is Cyberpunk 2077 going to capture us for years to come? We don’t know, but we can’t wait to find out.
