CD Projekt Red's ambitious multiplayer Witcher spinoff, Project Sirius, is struggling once again. A fresh round of layoffs has impacted a significant portion of the development team, raising concerns about the game's future.

Key Takeaways

  • 18 staff members have been cut from the Project Sirius team.
  • This represents approximately 25% of the project's total workforce.
  • This marks the second major round of layoffs following a 2023 reboot.
  • The original developer, The Molasses Flood, has been fully absorbed into CDPR.

Project Sirius, the unsettled multiplayer spinoff within the Witcher universe, is facing mounting difficulties. Following reports from Kotaku, developer CD Projekt Red confirmed to IGN that they are cutting 18 staff members from the project. Industry insiders estimate this loss accounts for nearly a quarter of the project's entire development team.

The impact of these cuts is twofold: half of the affected developers have been made redundant, while the other half have been invited to participate in internal recruitment for other ongoing CD Projekt Red projects. This instability comes after a significant project reboot in 2023, making this the second time the team has been scaled back.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the repeated restructuring of Project Sirius highlights the immense difficulty CD Projekt Red faces in pivoting from single-player mastery to the complexities of multiplayer gaming. The loss of specialized talent could further delay a game that has seen little public progress since its 2022 announcement.

The pattern of mass redundancies across the gaming industry suggests a systemic struggle to balance ambitious creative visions with fiscal stability.

Adding to the complexity, The Molasses Flood—the original development team behind the project—has lost its independence. Despite initial promises from CDPR to maintain their unique identity, the studio was fully absorbed into the parent company in 2025, signaling a shift toward centralized development control.

Historical Background

Since the announcement of Project Sirius in 2022, fans have been waiting for a glimpse of this rumored RPG. However, the project has been overshadowed by the massive resources being poured into the mainline single-player sequel, The Witcher 4, leaving the multiplayer experiment in a precarious position.

Did You Know?: The developers of Project Sirius, The Molasses Flood, were previously known for their unique titles like 'The Flame in the Flood'.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Project Sirius cancelled?

While not officially cancelled, the continuous layoffs and team reassignments suggest the project is in a state of high uncertainty.

Why is CD Projekt Red cutting staff?

The company appears to be reallocating resources toward its core single-player franchises, specifically the upcoming Witcher 4.