An opinion piece argues that The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 should not rely on expanding maps and adding quests as their primary means of surpassing their predecessors. The author contends that CD Projekt Red should invest more resources into detailed world-building and substantial narratives, rather than simply inflating the scale of content.
Using The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt as an example, the author argues that its vast world doesn't feel empty, and many side quests carry significant narrative weight. The most memorable parts of the game are often small stories that give the environment a unique personality, rather than the largest systems or set pieces. If The Witcher 4 merely expands its checklist of activities, it may instead feel bloated.
Cyberpunk 2077 improved its market reception through years of updates and expansions after a controversial launch. Critics believe that Cyberpunk 2 will not only be compared to its predecessor but will also face scrutiny from players regarding the full journey from the original game's launch to its subsequent updates.
The article also extends this issue to the production model of modern AAA games: larger teams, longer development cycles, and increased budgets all raise publishers' and investors' sales expectations. Even if a title sells millions of copies, it may still fail to meet these targets. CD Projekt Red has not yet announced the map size, content volume, or design trade-offs for The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2; the above points are the author's analysis of industry trends and the direction of sequels.