Grab your swords guys and girls - both of them. The Witcher 4 is looking more likely than ever, as Polish developer and publisher CD Projekt RED has signed a new agreement with Andrzej Sapkowski, the author of the original novels on which CDPR's popular RPG series is based.
CDPR announced on its website that it had reached a new deal with the writer, "further solidifying their relationship". Longtime fans of The Witcher franchise will perhaps be aware that CDPR and Sapkowski hadn't had the... best of relationships before now. The author was never shy about expressing his dislike for the game series over the years. Just last year, even, the two parties had something of a public falling out over money.
In short, Sapkowski claimed he was owed additional royalties from The Witcher games, thanks to the success of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The author was reported to have been looking for around £12 million in compensation, insisting that he expected "beyond what had been contractually agreed upon between himself and the Company."
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The last we heard of this was earlier in the year. CDPR paid Sapkowski an undisclosed sum, and that was that. The recent announcement acknowledges those disagreements, but states that both parties are now ready and willing to move forward with future projects together. Doesn't that just fill you with Christmas spirit?
"The agreement satisfies and fully clarifies the needs and expectations of both parties, past and present, and sets out a framework for the future cooperation between the two sides," the CDPR writes. "The agreement grants CD Projekt new rights, as well as confirms the company's title to 'The Witcher' intellectual property in video games, graphic novels, board games, and merchandise."
While it's nice that author and developer have been able to bury the hatchet, the most exciting possibility to come out of this make up session is the apparent confirmation that more Witcher games are coming from CDPR.
The Witcher 3 (one of our Games of the Decade) kind of wrapped up Geralt's story in a satisfying fashion (or not depending on how you played), but CDPR has said a few times now they'd be willing to return to his world.
Back in August this year, CDPR discussed its business model going forward. While that would usually be enough to send me straight to sleep, the company essentially confirmed it plans to adapt a "dual franchise" business model, alternating between The Witcher and Cyberpunk. An incredibly exciting possibility, no?
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That, coupled with a new agreement in place with Sapkowski, surely sets the stage for The Witcher 4? There's also the chance we could get remakes/remasters of the first two games in The Witcher trilogy, of course, but a fourth entry now looks fairly inevitable.
Featured Image Credit: CD Projekt REDTopics: The Witcher, CD Projekt Red