CD Projekt’s CEO Addresses AI Concerns During Earnings Call
The conversation around AI in the gaming industry took center stage recently, as Michał Nowakowski, joint CEO of CD Projekt—known for titles like The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077—responded to a pointed inquiry during an earnings webcast. The question specifically touched on the use of AI to potentially “reduce headcount,” a claim that Nowakowski firmly rejected.
During the Q3 2025 earnings call, an investor raised concerns about the perception that AI is rendering many roles redundant. “Can you imagine that you could cut staff thanks to AI tools in the near future without affecting the quality of your projects?” the investor asked. Nowakowski’s initial reaction seemed to reflect a bit of surprise, as he sought clarification on whether the question pertained to IT roles or game developers.
“We are not really hiring ‘classic IT,'” he clarified. “But I understand this is supposed to be about talent in the gaming industry. The availability of talent has perhaps increased a bit over the last three years, but I wouldn’t necessarily say that’s thanks to AI.”
In a contrasting perspective, Take-Two Interactive, the company behind franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Borderlands, has found “success” using AI for more repetitive tasks. However, they don’t view it as a creative replacement: “We are not using this as an excuse to reduce headcount,” they stated.
Others in the industry, such as the lead for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, have shared similarly cautious sentiments, suggesting that while AI might one day play a role in accelerating game development, it’s not a reality at this stage.
Nowakowski also pushed back against the idea that recent layoffs in the gaming sector are direct consequences of AI advancements. Instead, he attributes these workforce reductions to project cancellations within studios. “To be perfectly honest,” he admitted, “Some studios have been through turmoil; there were some project closures that resulted in many layoffs. We’ve all seen the dramatic shifts in the industry. However, I don’t recall any instance where it would be directly linked to AI. As for reducing headcount through AI, I don’t foresee that happening.”
That said, CD Projekt is open to leveraging AI, with Nowakowski acknowledging that the technology does provide “meaningful” and “real” benefits. Yet he emphasized that he doesn’t envision AI taking the place of human developers anytime soon. “Our application of AI is predominantly in productivity,” he explained. “The benefits are substantial, but it’s not a matter of AI sitting down to create games. That’s our viewpoint. It doesn’t mean we don’t see AI as potentially useful, but it won’t be making The Witcher 5, or 6, for that matter.”
As the dialogue about AI continues, it’s clear that while opinions vary, the industry is intent on finding a balance between technology and creative talent.