CD Projekt, a Polish video game developer and publisher, was founded in 1994 and rose to global prominence with The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077. The company has undergone significant corporate milestones including an IPO on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, expansion into digital distribution via GOG.com, and multiple acquisitions.
Marcin Iwiński and Michał Kiciński establish CD Projekt in Łódź, Poland, initially as a distributor of imported CD-ROMs. The company quickly becomes a leading game distributor in Central Europe. #business #gaming
CD Projekt starts bundling Master System adapters with CD-ROMs, expanding its reach into hardware distribution. This move helps establish the company's foothold in the Polish gaming market. #business #gaming
The company secures exclusive distribution deals with international publishers like Interplay and Activision, becoming the official distributor of their games in Poland. This significantly boosts its market presence. #business #gaming
CD Projekt starts localizing games into Polish, including Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale, establishing a reputation for high-quality translations and cultural adaptations. #business #gaming
CD Projekt establishes CD Projekt RED, its internal game development studio, with the goal of creating original titles based on Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher series. #gaming #development
CD Projekt S.A. is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, providing capital for expansion and development. The IPO marks a key milestone in the company's corporate history. #business #finance
CD Projekt RED publicly announces The Witcher, an RPG based on the book series. The game uses BioWare's Aurora engine and introduces a morally complex narrative. #gaming #announcement )
CD Projekt RED releases The Witcher worldwide to critical acclaim, particularly for its storytelling and mature themes. The game sells over 1.5 million copies globally, establishing the studio as a major RPG developer. #gaming #release )
CD Projekt launches Good Old Games (GOG.com), a digital distribution platform specializing in DRM-free classic games. The platform becomes a hallmark of the company's consumer-friendly philosophy. #business #digitaldistribution
CD Projekt RED releases an enhanced version of The Witcher, featuring improved graphics, additional content, and technical fixes. The release demonstrates the studio's commitment to post-launch support. #gaming #update )
CD Projekt RED expands with a new development studio in Warsaw, increasing its workforce and capacity for multiple projects. The studio later becomes a key site for Cyberpunk 2077 development. #business #expansion
CD Projekt RED launches The Witcher 2 exclusively on PC, later ported to Xbox 360. The game receives widespread praise for its branching narrative, graphics, and revamped combat, selling over 1 million copies in its first year. #gaming #release
CD Projekt RED announces Cyberpunk 2077, an open-world RPG based on Mike Pondsmith's Cyberpunk tabletop game. A teaser trailer generates massive anticipation for the futuristic title. #gaming #announcement
The studio develops REDengine 3, a proprietary game engine powering The Witcher 3. The engine emphasizes open-world environments and dynamic storytelling. #technology #gaming
GOG.com launches GOG Galaxy, a desktop client offering cloud saves, multiplayer, and automatic updates. The client strengthens GOG's position as a competitive digital storefront. #technology #digitaldistribution
CD Projekt RED releases The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to universal acclaim, winning numerous Game of the Year awards. The game sells over 6 million copies within six weeks, solidifying the studio's reputation as a world-class developer. #gaming #release #award
The first major expansion for The Witcher 3, Hearts of Stone, is released. It receives critical praise for its narrative depth, new characters, and side quests. #gaming #dlc
The Witcher 3's second expansion, Blood and Wine, launches and is widely considered one of the best DLCs ever. It adds the new region of Toussaint and concludes Geralt's story. #gaming #dlc
CD Projekt announces that The Witcher 3 has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, a milestone for a single-player RPG. The game's success drives significant revenue for the company. #business #gaming
Development begins on REDengine 4, the engine for Cyberpunk 2077. The engine aims to support advanced rendering, ray tracing, and dense urban environments. #technology #gaming
CD Projekt RED reveals a 48-minute gameplay demo of Cyberpunk 2077 at E3, receiving a standing ovation. The demo showcases the game's first-person perspective, character customization, and open-world Night City. #gaming #e3
During Microsoft's E3 2019 conference, CD Projekt RED announces the release date for Cyberpunk 2077. The announcement includes a new trailer featuring Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand. #gaming #announcement
CD Projekt RED delays Cyberpunk 2077 from April to September due to development complexity. The delay is announced alongside a new release date, causing some investor concern. #business #gaming
A second delay pushes the release to November 19, 2020. CD Projekt RED cites the need for more polish and balancing across platforms. #business #gaming
CD Projekt RED announces that Cyberpunk 2077 has gone gold, meaning the master disc is ready for production. The release date remains November 19. #gaming #development
Cyberpunk 2077 launches on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Stadia. Despite high pre-orders (8 million), the console versions are criticized for bugs and performance issues, leading to a major backlash. #gaming #release #controversy
Following widespread complaints, Sony removes Cyberpunk 2077 from the PlayStation Store and offers refunds. CD Projekt's stock price drops sharply, losing over 30% in value. #business #controversy
CD Projekt co-founders release a video apology, acknowledging that the game did not meet expectations on last-gen consoles. They outline a plan to fix the game and restore trust. #business #gaming
CD Projekt acquires the Boston-based studio The Molasses Flood, known for The Flame in the Flood, to support future projects including an unannounced game. #business #acquisition
A major update brings native PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S support, substantial gameplay improvements, and new features. The patch marks a turning point in Cyberpunk 2077's recovery. #gaming #update
CD Projekt reveals that a new Witcher game (codenamed Polaris) is in development using Unreal Engine 5, marking the start of a new multi-game saga. #gaming #announcement )
CD Projekt announces that Cyberpunk 2077 has sold over 25 million copies globally, partially driven by the success of the Edgerunners anime and the 1.6 update. #business #gaming
CD Projekt confirms the Cyberpunk 2077 expansion Phantom Liberty, starring Idris Elba. The expansion is set in a new district of Night City and adds the Relic skill tree. #gaming #announcement
CD Projekt RED releases Phantom Liberty to critical acclaim, with praise for its story, performances, and improvements to the base game. The expansion revitalizes Cyberpunk 2077's reputation. #gaming #release
CD Projekt confirms that the next mainline Witcher game, codenamed Polaris, has moved into the production phase. The game is developed using Unreal Engine 5. #gaming #development )
CD Projekt establishes a new North American studio in Boston to support development of the Polaris project and other future titles. #business #expansion
CD Projekt releases the Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition, bundling the base game and Phantom Liberty. The edition is available on PC and consoles. #gaming #release
CD Projekt acquires full ownership of GOG.com after buying out minority investors, solidifying its digital distribution arm. #business #acquisition