CDPR is known best for its proficiency in producing open worlds that provide immersive experiences for millions of gamers. In particular, Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3 showcase the best work this team has done, but sequels to both titles are aiming to eclipse the studio’s past releases.
Toward that end, The Witcher 4, set to arrive first, is described as the most ambitious undertaking for the developer to date. Previously, the studio also stated that it wouldn’t use generative AI when working on The Witcher 4, but it has at least experimented with the technology.
In a new report published today, CDPR specified that it focused on testing realistic crowds of NPCs powered by AI for the future.
The statement comes from CD Projekt RED’s management board report on group activities for 2025. As expected, this report mentions work on future titles, such as the new IP Project Hadar, Cyberpunk 2077 Orion, and The Witcher 4.
In the research activities section, CDPR mentions its work on exploring artificial intelligence opportunities, which the developer also discussed publicly in the past. However, this report specifies that one focus of the studio was realistic generational NPC crowds.
The report also notes that some of these experiments yielded results that encouraged the team to proceed with further testing and even preliminary use.
“The team responsible for Artificial Intelligence research continued investigating opportunities for employing AI-based tools – particularly in the scope of generating realistic crowds of non-player characters(NPCs).” -CD Projekt RED
Elsewhere, the staff experimented with automating prototyping and testing of NPCs. This is so interesting because the developer has always attempted to push boundaries with the characters in its worlds.
For example, CD Projekt RED previously promised over 1,000 NPCs with unique routines in Cyberpunk 2077. Needless to say, the studio could be eyeing generative AI to implement such lively NPCs on a larger scale in the future.
