Witcher Multiplayer Spin-Off Project Sirius Hit by New Round of Layoffs

CD Projekt Red has confirmed a new round of layoffs impacting the development team behind its upcoming Witcher multiplayer spin-off, codenamed Project Sirius. The cuts affect employees in both North America and Europe, marking the latest restructure for a project that has already undergone multiple development shifts.

In a statement to IGN, a CD Projekt spokesperson confirmed the staff reductions. "We adjusted the size of the Sirius team to reflect the project's needs at this stage of development," the spokesperson said. The cuts include four Boston-based workers and five Warsaw-based employees who have left the company.

Additionally, nine other CD Projekt Red employees have been given the opportunity to apply for other roles within the studio's active development projects. According to an initial report by Kotaku, these internal transitions coincide with "a broader shift in development strategy" for the title.

This is not the first time Project Sirius has faced staff reductions and organizational changes. The game, which has been in development for four years under Boston-based studio The Molasses Flood and CD Projekt Red, suffered a significant wave of layoffs in 2023 that primarily affected The Molasses Flood's staff following a decision to re-evaluate the project's direction.

Details regarding Project Sirius remain scarce. While the game has reportedly been reworked multiple times, CD Projekt Red has not officially detailed its exact gameplay loop or business model. Although the company recently discussed a free-to-play multiplayer Witcher RPG, it has not publicly confirmed whether that specific description refers to Project Sirius.