The Evolution of Project Hadar: CD Projekt RED’s Next Frontier
While the gaming community remains fixated on the studio’s extensive Witcher roadmap-which includes the turbulent development of the multiplayer-centric Project Sirius-the most enigmatic venture currently brewing at CD Projekt RED is undoubtedly Project Hadar. Although concrete details remain scarce, the studio is actively scaling its internal resources to bring this vision to life.
Scaling Up: Development Progress and Team Growth
During the company’s H1 2026 earnings call, Karolina Gnaś, Vice President of Investor Relations, provided a status update on the project. She confirmed that Hadar remains firmly within the conceptual stage. For context, this aligns with previous reports from last year, suggesting the team is still deeply entrenched in the pre-production and prototyping phase. Despite the early stage of development, the studio is aggressively expanding its workforce. Currently, the project is supported by a core group of over 30 developers, with management aiming to bolster that headcount to 50 by the close of 2026.
A Fresh IP in a Sea of Sequels
First revealed in 2022, Project Hadar represents a significant departure for the Polish developer. Unlike the studio’s reliance on established franchises like Cyberpunk or The Witcher, Hadar is a completely original intellectual property. Joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski has already verified that the title will adhere to the studio’s signature RPG roots.
Recent recruitment efforts have begun to paint a clearer picture of what players can expect. While earlier job postings hinted at a heavy emphasis on melee-based combat mechanics, more recent documentation from June 2026 suggests a shift toward narrative depth. The studio is now describing the title as an “emotional open-world experience,” signaling that CD Projekt RED intends to leverage its expertise in storytelling to create a world that feels as intimate as it is expansive.
