CD Projekt Red has announced that it will remake The Witcher in Unreal Engine 5, along with developer Fool’s Theory.
This is one of five new games the company announced earlier this month, and it previously went by the codename Canis Majoris. This will be a true remake that, the company says, will be “rebuilt from the ground up” in Unreal Engine 5, the early stages of development.
As part of its announcement, the company warned: “We want to do this right, so please be patient – it will take some time until we can share more details.”
We’re excited to reveal that, along with Tweet embedWe’re working on a remake of The Witcher using Unreal Engine 5 (codename: Canis Majoris)!
We want to do it right, so please be patient – it will take some time until we can share more details.
⚔️ https://t.co/6VCAokPgXs pic.twitter.com/ERFOXQrUEP– The Witcher (witchergame) October 26 2022
“The Witcher is where it all started for us, for CD Projekt Red. It was our first game ever, and it was a huge moment for us at the time,” said Adam Padowski, Head of Studio, CD Projekt Red at Announcement Post.
“Collaborating with Fool’s Theory on the project is exciting, as are some of the people who were previously involved with The Witcher games. They know the source material very well, they know how much players have been looking forward to seeing the new release, and they know how to make amazing and ambitious games. It will take some time before we are ready to share more about and from the game, I know it will be worth the wait.”
One of the most interesting announcements on CD Projekt’s upcoming roster was Canis Majoris, the first time the developer will be working with an outside developer. Fans were very intrigued to know who the developer was, but we’ve never seen Fool’s theory as a guesswork before.
Founded in 2015 and described as “a group of AAA veterans,” the company is a Polish studio that previously contributed to Baldur’s Gate III, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice and Outriders, among other projects. Fool’s Theory is also working on a project codenamed Vitriol, a new IP created in collaboration with 11-Bit Studios (Frostpunk, This War of Mine).
Released in 2007, The Witcher was CD Projekt Red’s first game, and while less refined than its predecessors, it set a great deal of knowledge, tone, and systems that would define the RPG series that is now a landmark. At the time, we gave it an 8.5 review, and said it was “definitely a game you’ll remember well over the years.” If you’re wondering why a remake was announced today, it’s because it’s the 15th anniversary of the original.
Joe Scripps is the executive news editor at IGN. follow him Twitter. Do you have a tip for us? Want to discuss a potential story? Please send an email to [email protected].
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