Exploring the Narrative Alchemy of "The Witcher 3": CDPR's Conquest of Open-World Storytelling

In a recent interview, Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, former lead quest designer for The Witcher 3, discussed CD Projekt Red's initial concerns about marrying a sprawling narrative with an open-world structure.

Image: steamcommunity.com

Tomaszkiewicz noted the bold ambition of their approach: "Few games have attempted what we did: blending expansive storytelling, typically found in linear RPGs like The Witcher 2, into an open-world setting."

CD Projekt Red initially feared the story's scale might conflict with the open-world design. However, they persevered, resulting in the critically acclaimed The Witcher 3. Now leading Rebel Wolves, Tomaszkiewicz is helming The Blood of Dawnwalker, a dark fantasy vampire RPG set in an alternate medieval Eastern Europe.

The Blood of Dawnwalker is in development for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. While a release date remains unannounced, a gameplay reveal is anticipated this summer.