The Witcher 4 Just Hired a Senior Quest Designer from Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
This is a classic "rich get richer" move, and I am all for it.
Let's be honest, The Witcher 3 and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 are in a league of their own. They're the two games that have proved RPG quests can be more than just "go here, kill 10 boars." They're intricate, detailed, and respect your intelligence.
So, what happens when a master from one of those teams joins the other? We're about to find out.
Karel Kolmann, a senior game designer who just spent eight years at Warhorse Studios, has jumped ship to CD Projekt Red. His new gig? Senior Quest Designer on The Witcher 4.
This Isn't About Learning How to Write
My first thought, like many, was that this is a great match. But let's be clear: CDPR doesn't need "lessons" in quest writing. This is the studio that gave us the Bloody Baron. They've got the narrative part down.
What makes this hire so exciting isn't just the writing (though Kolmann wrote 11 quests for KCD2). It's the systems.
What KCD2 DNA Could Mean for Witcher 4
This guy wasn't just a writer. His LinkedIn shows he designed and scripted the entire intricate crime system in KCD2.
He also designed the large-scale battles and, most impressively, the "Hardcore Mode".
That's the DNA I want to see injected into The Witcher 4.
We already know CDPR is inspired by KCD2 and Baldur's Gate 3, and that they're focusing on making the new world "deeper, more immersive, and more systemic". This hire is the first proof of that.
Imagine a Witcher game with a crime system that's actually nuanced, instead of just guards instantly trying to murder you because you bumped into a noble. Or better yet, imagine a Witcher 4 Hardcore Mode where you have to navigate the wilds of Kovir by the stars, just like in KCD2.
We know The Witcher 4 is Ciri's origin story as the first "Witcher by choice". We know it's being built on Unreal Engine 5 with a "console-first mindset". And we know they're focusing on combat responsiveness, which they admitted was Witcher 3's "weakest point".
This move just slots another perfect piece into the puzzle. It shows CDPR is serious about backing up their narrative with deep, systemic gameplay. This is one A-team hiring a veteran from another A-team, and it's got my expectations for Ciri's new adventure (and her new Lynx medallion) even higher.