Michal Nowakowski, co-CEO of CD PROJEKT RED (hereinafter referred to as CDPR), has sparked discussion with his comments on X regarding the closure of BioWare’s studio.
His post also featured photos from that time—including the debut of *The Witcher* at E3—showing industry insiders reacting to the news.
“It has played an incredibly significant role in CDPR’s history”—Reflecting on the encounter with BioWare and memories of the original ‘The Witcher’
CDPR Co-CEO Michał Nowakowski commented on his X account, referencing the announcement of BioWare’s studio closure. He noted that BioWare has been an indispensable part of CDPR’s history.
BioWare and CDPR first came into contact through *Baldur’s Gate*, and it appears they had interactions when distributing the game in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and other regions.
The relationship between the two companies that began there also played a major role in *The Witcher*. The original *The Witcher*, released in 2007, used BioWare’s “Aurora Engine,” and the logo can be seen in trailers and other materials released at the time.
Furthermore, Mr. Novakowski mentioned that BioWare provided a dedicated exhibition space for *The Witcher* at their booth during that year’s E3. He spoke of the deep connection between the two companies, noting that staff from both Poland and Canada would sometimes visit each other’s offices.
He concluded his post by saying, “I sincerely feel for those affected by this, but it’s also sad to see a legendary brand decline. This is certainly not a good day for the gaming industry.”
Photos from *The Witcher*’s first E3 appearance in 2004 and other figures sharing their memories
Novakowski’s post generated a significant response on X as well. Michael Gamble, a project director at BioWare who worked on titles such as *Mass Effect*, expressed his gratitude to Novakowski, further highlighting the strong bond between the two companies.
Additionally, Ryszard Chojnowski, a translator who worked on the original *The Witcher* and *Baldur’s Gate 2*, posted on X about what it was like when *The Witcher* was first showcased at E3 in 2004.
“There was a single PC set up in a space partitioned off by a curtain, and a demo using the Aurora engine was somehow managing to run,” he commented.
Furthermore, a report from the 2004 BioWare booth is still available on IGN International, revealing that the original *The Witcher* was on display alongside *Dragon Age* and *Jade Empire*. Additionally, in Eurogamer’s previously published feature “Seeing Red: The story of CD Projekt,” the story of how CD Projekt first connected with BioWare through *Baldur’s Gate* is recounted.
