Gaming News
CDPR's Project Hadar: Vision Set, Work Begins
Developing
Photo: techpowerup.com (from the cited article) All clips and posts below are embedded from their original sources.
“moved on to the conceptual phase of the first video game.”
via insider-gaming.com
Our take
The confirmation that CDPR has a 'coherent vision' for Hadar marks a shift from vague conceptual work to tangible development, despite the team remaining small at 24 developers. This milestone validates the studio's strategy of building an original IP from the ground up, a process Nowakowski called its 'biggest undertaking to date.'
Background
Project Hadar is CD Projekt Red's first fully original intellectual property, distinct from its licensed adaptations of The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077. The studio first announced the project during its 2022 strategy update, stating that conceptual work had begun in 2021. According to 80.lv, the game is intended to remain a narrative-driven role-playing experience and is being developed using Unreal Engine 5, aligning with the studio's move away from its proprietary REDengine.
As of April 2026, the Hadar production team employed 24 developers, significantly smaller than the 513 assigned to The Witcher 4 and the 163 on Cyberpunk 2. Recent recruitment materials described the game as an 'emotional, open-world experience.' The studio has also been reported to be hiring around 50 more developers for the project, indicating a gradual ramp-up in resources.
The timeline
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CDPR CEO confirmed Hadar work has begun
According to insider-gaming.com, CD Projekt Red co-CEO Michał Nowakowski announced in an interview with Biznes that work has officially begun on Project Hadar. He described the project as the team's 'biggest undertaking to date,' noting that it took several years to reach this stage. Nowakowski confirmed the team now has a coherent vision for the world and its key elements, but clarified that the game is not yet in pre-production.[2]
Screenshot of techpowerup.com, captured Oct 17, 2026. Source [2]
Our read of the evidence
Mostly unverified. The CDPR CEO's statement that work on Project Hadar has begun was reported by techpowerup.com, providing a confirmed update from the company itself. The detail that the project is not yet in pre‑production, with small prototypes being built and gameplay elements tested, comes only from the insider‑gaming.com report and has not been corroborated by a primary source. No opposing viewpoint was presented in the available information, and the timeline for moving into full pre‑production or later stages remains pending.
Our rating counts evidence, not opinions about anyone: events confirmed by a primary source (the person's own post, their official site, a court or government record) weigh most, then how many independent outlets report the story.
Frequently asked
Is Project Hadar in pre-production?
No, according to insider-gaming.com, CD Projekt Red co-CEO Michał Nowakowski stated the project is not yet in pre-production. The team has begun work on the game, but small prototypes are currently being created and gameplay elements are being tested.
When did CDPR start working on Project Hadar?
According to 80.lv, CD Projekt Red first announced Hadar during its 2022 strategy update, where the company said conceptual work had begun in 2021. Nowakowski noted that it took several years to settle on the world's vision.
What engine is Project Hadar using?
According to 80.lv, a listing for an Engineering Director confirmed that the game is being developed with Unreal Engine 5. This aligns with CDPR's wider production strategy, as The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 are also being developed with Unreal Engine.
How large is the Project Hadar team?
According to 80.lv, in April the project employed 24 developers. This is considerably smaller than the teams assigned to The Witcher 4 (513 developers) and Cyberpunk 2 (163 developers).
More related drama (4)
Sources (5)
- insider-gaming.com, CDPR Has Taken 'Several Years' To Give Project Hadar a 'Coherent Vision', Oct 15, 2026.
- techpowerup.com, CD Projekt Red Finally Has a "Coherent Vision" for Project Hadar, but It's Not in Pre-Production Yet, Oct 15, 2026.
- Youtube (original post).
- 80.lv, CDPR Says Its First Original IP Has Been Its “Biggest Undertaking” Yet, Oct 15, 2026.
- Twitter (original post).
Cite this timeline
This timeline compiles 1 dated events from 5 sources. If it helped your reporting, cite it:
GenZHype. “CDPR's Project Hadar: Vision Set, Work Begins.”
GenZHype, 17 October 2026,
https://genzhype.com/gaming/cdpr-s-project-hadar-vision-set-work-begins/.