Original Witcher game getting Unreal Engine 5 remake

The Witcher developer CD Projekt Red announced today that the original 2007 game is being remade from the ground-up in Unreal Engine 5 with the same toolset being used on upcoming Witcher titles.

Formerly codenamed Canis Majoris, the remake is a collaboration between CDPR and developer Fool’s Theory, who is most known for their support work on RPGs such as Divinity Original Sin II, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Outriders. Fool's Theory is also home to many former CDPR staff members who worked on the original Witcher trilogy of games.

Regarding the announcement, CDPR studio head Adam Badowski said that while players should be excited, they should also be patient as the remake is still in the early stages of development:

“The Witcher is where it all started for us, for CD PROJEKT RED. 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,” said Adam Badowski, Head of Studio, CD PROJEKT RED. “Collaborating with Fool’s Theory on the project is just as exciting, as some of the people there have been previously involved in The Witcher games. They know the source material well, they know how much gamers have been looking forward to seeing the remake happen, and they know how to make incredible and ambitious games. And although it will take some time before we’re ready to share more about and from the game, I know it’ll be worth the wait.”

The Witcher was first released in 2007 on PC and is based on the novel series from Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. A console version was scheduled to release in 2009 but was cancelled due to financial issues with port developer Widescreen Games. Sequels followed in 2011 and 2015 to round out the original trilogy, with CDPR recently announcing that a new saga of Witcher games is in the works.

Previously referred to by the codename “Canis Majoris” during the studio’s Strategy Update earlier in October, the remake will be a modern reimagining of 2007’s The Witcher — the first game in CD PROJEKT RED’s acclaimed RPG trilogy. The title will be built from the ground up using Unreal Engine 5 technology, and will use the toolset CDPR is creating for the new Witcher saga. The project is currently in the early stages of development at Fool’s Theory — a game development studio specializing in role-playing games. The team employs numerous veteran developers who previously worked on The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and CD PROJEKT RED is providing full creative supervision.