Witcher 3 Director Breaks Silence! Shocking Truth Behind CD Projekt Exit?

Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, the name synonymous with the critical acclaim of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and a key player on Cyberpunk 2077, is attempting a fresh start. His departure from CD Projekt Red in 2021, shrouded in accusations of workplace bullying, left a bitter taste, despite an external investigation clearing him of formal wrongdoing. It's a cloud that still seems to follow him, and understandably, he's eager to move beyond it.

Witcher 3 Director Breaks Silence! Shocking Truth ...

The shadow of "crunch" culture at CD Projekt Red, particularly during the notoriously difficult development of Cyberpunk 2077, is well-documented. However, reports suggest that a demanding atmosphere had been brewing since the early Witcher days. Paweł Mielniczuk, lead character artist on the original Witcher, painted a vivid picture of those early days: "For half a year, we were working 12-hour days, every day, all weekends, all the time." You can imagine that grinding feeling.

Even as far back as 2017, shortly after The Witcher 3 had wrapped up, CD Projekt Red publicly acknowledged internal concerns about low morale, admitting that their demanding approach "is not for everyone." This suggests the problems weren’t solely a Cyberpunk-era issue. Tomaszkiewicz believes the issues intensified as the company ballooned in size. "The problem was – I was analyzing it – that people feel differently when you are anonymous for them because the company is huge and [they don't necessarily know you]," he explained. "The stress is not comparable to the situation when you work with them arm in arm every day." It's a relatable feeling, that sense of disconnect growing as a team expands.

So, what's next for Tomaszkiewicz? He's taking matters into his own hands, launching a new venture designed to recapture the close-knit, collaborative spirit he remembers from the Witcher's heyday. "I decided that I want to open my own company and do things differently," he said. "I want to have the maximum amount of people [similar to] how we had it in The Witcher 3, because at that time, I knew everyone, full name and surname, and in our company it's totally the same."

That company is Rebel Wolves, co-founded in 2022 with a strong contingent of former CD Projekt Red talent, including writer Jakub Szamalek, artist Bartłomiej Gaweł, and animator Tamara Zawada. It’s a statement in itself, signalling a desire to recreate a specific kind of working environment. "I know everyone," Tomaszkiewicz emphasized. "I work with them every day, not only to feedback and review their stuff, but doing the stuff with them. I implement the quests, also. I'm scripting the combat and the opponents."

The aim isn't just to be the boss, but a leader. "I want to be the leader, not the boss," he clarified. "I want to work with them and show direction and help them to go in this particular direction, not be somewhere there in Olympus and not have the camaraderie with the people. I want to feel this crazy fire as I felt it in The Witcher 3, The Witcher 2, in The Witcher 1. And later, when the team was too big, I lost it somewhere. And right now I have it back." It's a compelling vision, driven by a desire to recapture the magic of earlier successes.

Rebel Wolves is currently working on their debut title, The Blood of Dawnwalker, an upcoming game slated for release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X in 2026. Only time will tell if Tomaszkiewicz can truly create the workplace he envisions, but you can't deny the ambition and drive to learn from past experiences.