The Witcher Author Lands an Excellent Witcher 4 Deal — But CD Projekt Rarely Seeks His Advice
A fragile calm has returned — the question now is whether it will last.
Author Andrzej Sapkowski is feeling good about his Witcher deal, not so much about being looped into the next game. At a recent book event for his new prequel, he said his contract situation with CD Projekt is now excellent, but when it comes to The Witcher 4, the studio basically isn’t asking him for input anymore.
So, is Sapkowski involved in The Witcher 4?
Short answer: no. Speaking at a launch event for his new Witcher prequel novel, Crossroads of Ravens (GamesRadar+ was in the room), Sapkowski said he hasn’t contributed to The Witcher 4 at all. That tracks with his recent jab at part of the RPG series that he called 'narratively incorrect.' He didn’t name the exact piece he dislikes here, but the vibe is clear: he’s not shepherding this one.
The money is good now
'The contracts between me and the game people are excellent right now. Let’s hope it stays that way.'
That’s Sapkowski’s current read on his business with CD Projekt. It wasn’t always rosy. Back in 2019, he and CD Projekt Red settled a dispute after he sought additional compensation under Polish copyright law, which lets a rights holder ask for more if a licensed work earns far beyond expectations. After The Witcher 3 became a phenomenon and given the relatively small amount he originally took, he pushed for $16 million in royalties. They settled, and everyone moved on. Clearly, he’s happier with the terms today.
They used to call more often
Sapkowski says that during the earlier games, CD Projekt Red would sometimes hit him up for advice or lore clarifications. Now? He says it’s 'so rare' that they ask for details. If you’re wondering why, the obvious explanation is that the studio has been living in this world for years and built a lot of their own continuity. Also, his book saga is done, and by his own account it would be 'impossible' for him to write a direct sequel. The games, meanwhile, take place after the last book and are very much their own thing.
About that new book feeding the games
Even if Sapkowski isn’t directly consulting on The Witcher 4, some of his newest ideas are still filtering into the franchise. He said concepts from Crossroads of Ravens will make their way into the next RPG, similar to how The Witcher 3 wove in material from his standalone novel Season of Storms. Interesting little bit of behind-the-scenes cross-pollination there.
- Sapkowski says he hasn’t worked on The Witcher 4.
- He recently criticized part of the RPG series as 'narratively incorrect.'
- He now has an 'excellent' contract with CD Projekt and wants it to stay that way.
- In 2019, he settled with CD Projekt Red after seeking $16 million in extra royalties under Polish law.
- CDPR used to ask him for lore advice; today, he says that’s 'so rare.'
- He considers a direct sequel to his book series 'impossible,' while the games continue the timeline after the novels.
- Ideas from his new prequel, Crossroads of Ravens, will show up in The Witcher 4, just like Season of Storms fed into The Witcher 3.