CD Projekt Red bolsters RPG development teams with trio of veteran hires

CD Projekt Red is further stacking its development teams as it works on the future of its flagship franchises. According to reporting from GamesRadar+, the studio has added three lead developers from Warhorse Studios, the creators behind the Kingdom Come: Deliverance series, to its ranks. These hires bring years of specialized experience to the ongoing development of both the next Witcher title and the follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077.

The new faces at the studio

The influx of talent began in November 2025 when Karel Kolmann, a former lead gameplay designer on both Kingdom Come installments, transitioned to CD Projekt Red as a senior quest designer. He was followed in May 2026 by Zdeněk Glatz, who served as a lead level designer for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and also worked on the first game and its DLC; he now holds the position of senior open-world designer. The most recent addition is Zbyněk Zelinka, a former lead technical designer at Warhorse with nearly eight years of tenure, who joined the studio this October as a senior gameplay designer.

GamesRadar+ notes that these developers spent significant time at their previous studio—a rarity in the current gaming landscape—suggesting a shift toward fresh challenges at the house of Geralt of Rivia and Cyberpunk 2077. While specific assignments for the new hires remain unconfirmed, their backgrounds in quest, level, and technical design make them natural fits for large-scale open-world RPG projects.

Why it matters

For players, this infusion of veteran talent signals a significant “level up” for the design capabilities behind CD Projekt Red’s upcoming heavy hitters. By securing leads who spent nearly a decade honing their skills on complex, historical open-world RPGs, the studio is clearly aiming to bolster the depth and technical polish of The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2.

While there is currently no word on release dates or specific regional features for these titles, the move highlights the studio’s commitment to massive, narrative-driven experiences. Fans should keep an eye on official updates to see how this expanded roster influences the design philosophies of these highly anticipated games as they continue through development.