It’s official. CD Projekt Red (CDPR) has announced that a remake of its original Witcher is in the works, and that it will be built from the ground up using Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5.
The Witcher remake, originally known by the codename Canis Majoris, is part of CDPR’s six-year plan for the franchise, and that in turn is expected to release after Polaris, the codename of another installment in the series that is supposed to launch before the remake, but takes place after the events of the last game, Wild Hunt.
We're thrilled to reveal that, together with @Fools_Theory, we're working on remaking The Witcher using Unreal Engine 5 (codename: Canis Majoris)!
We want to do this right, so please be patient — it's gonna be a while 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,” Adam Badowski, CDPR’s Head of Studio said. “It was the first game we made, ever, and it was a big moment for us then. Going back to this place and updating the game for the next generation of gamers to experience it is just as big, if not bigger.”
The original Witcher first launched back in 2007 and expanded into a trilogy, with the third title launching to critical acclaim and placing CDPR on to the world stage. Getting back to the remake, the company is passing the reins on to Fool’s Theory, a Polish Studio that has, in support capacity at least, worked on several other major titles, including Baldur’s Gate 3, Divinity: Original Sin 2, Senua’s Sacrifice, Outriders, and of course, previous Witcher games.
Now, it goes without saying that the Witcher remake isn’t going to be launching anytime soon, and even CDPR has made it clear that it’s going to be a while before the studio will be able to share more details about the project, so don’t be disheartened that there isn’t even a potential release date.
For another matter, seeing the first Witcher game remade in Unreal Engine 5 would, beyond a shadow of a doubt, be absolutely eye-watering treat. At the very least, the whole thing could tide us over, at least until more news or information about the new trilogy comes out, or even the next installment to the Cyberpunk universe.
(Source: Twitter, Kotaku)
