The indie game studio named The Molasses Flood, established in 2014 by former developers of franchises like BioShock, Halo 2, and Guitar Hero, was acquired by CD Projekt in 2021. The studio has been working on the unannounced multiplayer project titled Project Sirius set in the Witcher universe since then; however, CDPR has since assumed complete control over the studio’s operations.
Effective April 1, The Molasses Flood has officially ceased to exist as an independent legal entity, as per an announcement on the studio’s website (reported by Game Developer). This shift does not indicate the closure of the studio or layoffs of its employees—there have been no layoffs declared in conjunction with this announcement—but rather signifies that the studio has fully integrated into CD Projekt.
The announcement was made relatively discreetly in March during CD Projekt’s most recent financial earnings call. Michał Nowakowski, co-CEO of CDPR, stated, “We have decided to integrate The Molasses Flood team into our studio’s structure by merging the company with CD PROJEKT RED Inc.” This decision aims to “ensure even better alignment in the scope and direction of the project.”
Nowakowski expressed that while the integration leads to “some changes in project leadership,” work on Project Sirius “is continuing.” Specific details regarding these leadership transitions remain undisclosed; however, it appears that one of the studio’s co-founders has opted to depart at this juncture.
Damian Isla, who held several leadership positions on Project Sirius, shared in a LinkedIn post, “I’ve decided not to follow TMF on this transition. So last Monday—marked as the final day of TMF’s legal existence—was also my last day at the studio.”
“This is a GOOD AND HEALTHY thing for the studio, and it was long-expected. It breaks down some organizational barriers and better integrates the TMF team with the rest of the amazing CDPR organization.”– Damian Isla
Isla also mentioned, “This signifies a very bright future for Project Sirius (also referred to as ‘the multiplayer Witcher game,’ where I served as Design Director for three years). It’s going to be an incredible game, one for the history books, and I can’t wait for everyone to learn what we’ve been creating.”
Prior to its acquisition by CDPR, The Molasses Flood released two indie titles, The Flame in the Flood and Drake Hollow, both of which received generally favorable reviews but didn’t achieve significant commercial success. Following the acquisition, Project Sirius was one of several announcements concerning future CD Projekt Red projects made back in 2022.
Although details about the game, particularly its multiplayer aspects, are still limited, we are aware of some challenges during its development, which led to a reboot in 2023. We remain hopeful that this transition proves beneficial for the game and the developers involved in its creation.
The Witcher 4 has “a huge team” dedicated to ensuring the world of the RPG feels authentic, as even elements like trees and foliage must be cohesive.