CD Projekt RED has a lot to be proud of today.
As originally shared on ResetERA, Michał Nowakowski, the studios co-CEO, said this to investors (translated with DeepL):
We are pleased that the Switch 2 version of Cyberpunk 2077 is currently one of the best-selling titles in physical distribution, right behind Nintendo’s own titles. At the same time, it’s worth remembering that this console has its own peculiarities – players here primarily reach for first-party titles, and they definitely dominate in terms of sales volumes.
In our case, we hope that the sales of Cyberpunk 2077 on Nintendo Switch 2 will be more staggered, unlike what is standard for our big launches on other platforms.
Interestingly, Nowakowski did not tout the fact that CD Projekt RED chose to release Cyberpunk 2077 as a complete game on cart, instead of a Game-Key Card, as a factor in the game’s success. This has certainly been a huge point of contention with Nintendo fans since Nintendo announced this new product category that threads the line between digital download and physical ownership for games.
Of course, if that hadn’t been an issue at all, it was easy to predict that Cyberpunk 2077 would be one of the big releases on the system, alongside Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition. It’s simply one of the big AAA games of this console generation, and CD Projekt RED has demonstrated their dedication to making the best version of their games that they can produce on Nintendo’s platforms.
Now, if you may remember, the Switch 2 sold 3.5 million units in its first 4 days. Notwithstanding the challenges Nintendo did face in distributing their console at launch, it’s possible that CD Projekt RED broke some record within this launch as well.
What’s really interesting is Nowakowski mentioning that their game has the potential to have a long tail on the Switch 2. That would indicate a confidence that CD Projekt RED’s release would have the enduring popularity of Nintendo’s own titles. If it does turn out that way, that would be great for Nintendo too, of course.
The prospect of a long tail could be even more irresistible to the trend of live service to game studios. Because even though live service seems to generate a constant stream of income, having games with completely finished development continue to generate income might be even more enticing, especially when one considers how much it costs to maintain and add new content to live service.
But for that to happen, third parties like CD Projekt RED will have to earn it.
