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The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 studio CD Projekt RED celebrated the 19th birthday of the first Witcher title the other day, and the mark the occasion, it posted a tribute to the recently fallen BioWare.
If you weren't aware, BioWare played a special role in CD Projekt RED's history: the first game used BioWare's Aurora engine, and the Canadian company even let its Polish counterpart use its exhibition space at E3 to promote the game.
"19 years ago, an ambitious dream to bring an iconic book series into the world of video games came to life with the release of The Witcher," says CD Projekt RED in a post on social media.
"It was the start of an unforgettable path, which wouldn't have been possible without our friends at BioWare," adds the company. "From lending us their Aurora Engine and sharing their knowledge, to giving us a spot at their booth at E3, their support helped turn our vision into Geralt’s first interactive adventure."
The fortunes of the two companies couldn't be more different today. Founded in 1995 and famous for games such as Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age, BioWare was sadly closed by Electronic Arts last week. 2019's Anthem was a commercial and critical flop, while 2024's Dragon Age: The Veilguard sold below EA's expectations.
Despite releasing only a handful of games, CD Projekt RED has become one of the world's most famous video game developers. It followed the original Witcher with two successful sequels and, in 2020, launched Cyberpunk 2077.
Its games have sold millions of copies, and it recently reissued 2015's Witcher 3 on modern formats.