CD Projekt Red has confirmed a round of layoffs affecting the team behind Project Sirius, the multiplayer Witcher spin-off, as the studio adjusts development resources and continues work on multiple major titles
CD Projekt Red has officially confirmed a new round of layoffs impacting the development of Project Sirius, the multiplayer-focused Witcher spin-off currently in production at The Molasses Flood. The studio has cited a need to realign the team size with the current stage of development, resulting in job losses across both its Boston and Warsaw offices.
Layoffs and Team Restructuring
The company has stated that nine staff members have been let go from the Project Sirius team, with four departing from the Boston office and five from Warsaw. In addition, nine further employees have been invited to apply for roles on other CD Projekt Red projects, but their continued involvement is not guaranteed. As of 30 April, Project Sirius had 83 staff assigned, but following these changes, the team is now estimated to be closer to 60 people.
CD Projekt Red explained that the decision was made to better match the team size to the needs of the project at its current phase. This is not the first time Project Sirius has faced restructuring; in 2023, the studio announced a significant restart of development, which also led to job cuts at the time.
Development Status and Ongoing Projects
Project Sirius remains in active development, with no indication from CD Projekt Red that the game has been cancelled. However, nearly four years have passed since its initial announcement, and the studio has yet to release any gameplay footage or detailed information about the title. The Molasses Flood, known for The Flame in the Flood, was brought on board in 2021 to lead the project, but progress has been slower than initially anticipated.
Meanwhile, CD Projekt Red is managing several other major projects. The Witcher 4 is currently the studio's largest focus, with 513 staff assigned, while Cyberpunk 2 has 163 developers and the new IP Project Hadar has 24. The company is also preparing a The Witcher 3 expansion for release next year and a remake of the original The Witcher.
Ambitious Franchise Roadmap
CD Projekt Red has outlined an ambitious plan to launch The Witcher 4, The Witcher 5, and The Witcher 6 within a six-year period, a schedule that leaves little room for expansions to The Witcher 4. Cyberpunk 2 is also in the pipeline, though its release window remains unconfirmed. The studio's multi-project approach has led to significant resource allocation decisions, which appear to be a factor in the recent layoffs.
For context, the challenges of managing multiple large-scale projects simultaneously are not unique to CD Projekt Red. As seen in other major studios, such as Hello Games, which recently marked a decade of No Man's Sky with less than 1% of its planets explored, balancing ongoing support and new development can stretch resources and impact timelines. (Read more about No Man's Sky's long-term development here.)
What Remains Uncertain
At present, there is no official release date or gameplay reveal for Project Sirius. The lack of public updates and the repeated restructuring suggest the project is still some distance from launch. CD Projekt Red has not detailed the specific gameplay features, platforms, or monetisation model for the spin-off. With the studio's resources heavily committed to other flagship titles, the future of Project Sirius remains uncertain, though it has not been formally cancelled.
Players following the Witcher franchise should expect further updates only once the project reaches a more advanced stage of development. Until then, the focus will likely remain on the mainline Witcher sequel and the next Cyberpunk entry.
In game development, team restructuring and layoffs often occur when a project shifts between phases or undergoes a significant change in direction. Studios may reduce staff after pre-production or a development restart, reallocating resources to higher-priority titles or other internal projects. While such changes can be disruptive for affected developers, they are a common part of large-scale game production, especially when multiple ambitious projects are in progress at the same company.
