CD Projekt Red has had it rough ever since the disastrous launch of Cyberpunk 2077 that tarnished the studio's reputation in the eyes of even some of its most-devoted fans. There was some hope that CD Projekt Red would be able to right the ship and make a comeback ala No Man's Sky through the next-gen version of Cyberpunk 2077, but now both it and the planned next-gen release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt have been delayed.
Originally, the plan was for both the next-gen versions of Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to launch in 2021. However, it's since been announced that those next-gen versions of the game have been pushed back to next year. Specific release dates weren't revealed, but now fans shouldn't expect the next-gen version of Cyberpunk 2077 until Q1 of 2022, while the next-gen version of The Witcher 3 isn't coming until Q2 of 2022.
Cyberpunk 2077 was delayed numerous times in the months leading up to its release, and so CD Projekt Red fans may not be surprised to find out that the next-gen version has also been pushed back. However, it is surprising that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's planned PS5 and Xbox Series X versions have been delayed. After all, there was some evidence that The Witcher 3 next-gen release was actually going to come sooner than expected.
European ratings board PEGI released its rating for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PS5 and Xbox Series X, and usually when that happens, it means a release is imminent. In fact, the ratings board listing had some expecting that CD Projekt Red was getting ready to surprise-launch the next-gen version of The Witcher 3, so some may be puzzled that not only is the game not coming until 2022, but it's coming later than the native PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of Cyberpunk 2077.
As for why the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt have been delayed, the decision was apparently made due to "recommendations supplied by persons supervising development." There were accusations from some Cyberpunk 2077 developers that CD Projekt management didn't listen to them when it came to the game's release date, so this could be a sign that the company has taken that criticism to heart.
In the meantime, one has to wonder if any of the major Cyberpunk 2077 DLC will come out this year, or if that's also been pushed back to 2022. More details should come to light in the weeks ahead.
Source: CD Projekt