CD Projekt Red's new IP Hadar revealed as open-world game

CD Projekt Red's mystery franchise Hadar has been confirmed as an 'emotional, open-world experience' through a job advertisement for an engineering director, according to Eurogamer. The listing explicitly describes the project as creating an immersive game in the Hadar world that will 'stay with gamers'. Currently in early development with only 26 people working on the project as of February 2026, Hadar represents CDPR's next major franchise following The Witcher and Cyberpunk series.

What the leak reveals about Hadar

According to the engineering director job posting on CD Projekt Red's careers page, Hadar is described as 'an emotional, open-world experience that will stay with gamers'. The role involves helping to 'push the envelope for the next, immersive game in the Hadar world', confirming the project's scope and ambition. This marks the first concrete details about the game's nature since the project was established in March 2026.

The description aligns with CDPR's established formula of narrative-driven, open-world experiences seen in The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk franchises. Joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski revealed that the team is 'creating multiple prototypes and implementing them directly in Unreal Engine', allowing them to test mechanics and gameplay elements during development.

Early development stage with small team

Hadar remains in the early stages of development, with only 26 people working on the project at the end of February 2026. The appearance of multiple job listings for the project suggests CD Projekt Red is preparing to expand the team and ramp up development on what they describe as 'specific elements' that may or may not end up in the final game.

The studio is using Unreal Engine to create and test prototypes, a departure from their previous REDengine technology used for The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. This approach allows for live-testing of selected mechanics and gameplay elements before committing to full development.

CDPR's expanding game portfolio

Hadar represents CD Projekt Red's third major franchise alongside The Witcher and Cyberpunk properties. The studio is currently juggling multiple projects, including a new Witcher 3 expansion, The Witcher 4, and Cyberpunk 2. This expanded development pipeline suggests the Polish developer is positioning itself as a multi-franchise studio rather than focusing solely on single properties.

The open-world nature of Hadar indicates CDPR will continue leveraging its expertise in creating large-scale, immersive environments that have become their signature. However, with the project still in prototype phase, it will likely be several years before fans see gameplay or receive a concrete release timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CD Projekt Red's Hadar?

Hadar is CD Projekt Red's new mystery IP described as an 'emotional, open-world experience' according to a recent job listing. It represents the studio's third major franchise alongside The Witcher and Cyberpunk series.

When will Hadar be released?

No release date has been announced for Hadar. The project is currently in early development with only 26 people working on prototypes, suggesting it's several years away from completion.

Is Hadar an open-world game?

Yes, a job advertisement for an engineering director explicitly describes Hadar as creating 'an emotional, open-world experience' that follows CD Projekt Red's established design philosophy.

What platforms will Hadar launch on?

No platforms have been confirmed for Hadar yet. Given it's being developed in Unreal Engine and CD Projekt Red's history, it will likely target PC and major console platforms.

How many people are working on Hadar?

As of February 2026, only 26 people were working on Hadar. However, new job listings suggest CD Projekt Red is preparing to expand the development team.

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