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CD Projekt RED is slowly drip-feeding new information on its secretive new IP, Project Hadar. While the game was first announced in 2022, few tangible details have been shared - until now.
A new job posting on the studio’s careers page provides the most significant hint to date. CDPR is on the hunt for a Senior Gameplay Designer for Project Hadar, and the skills requested for the position provide a major direction: the candidate must have a minimum of five years of experience and RPG or action games with a focus on melee combat system design are preferred.
It would not be a stretch to assume this points to a melee combat system that is skill-based and fast-paced, perhaps with the fantasy design ethos of The Witcher injected with the action-forward combat of, say, its brand of Cyberpunk.
That’s in line with previous comments from CD Projekt brass, who have stressed the importance of returning to familiar genres while venturing into new ideas. Joint CEO Michał Nowakowski noted that the team would “continue to do games within that kind of genre,” speaking of action-RPGs.
What Could This Mean for Hadar?
- The job listing heavily implies the combat won’t rely on guns or ranged systems, possibly returning to swordplay or hand-to-hand combat mechanics.
- The project is still in its early stages, meaning the core systems and gameplay loops are likely being prototyped.
- Shared DNA with The Witcher: Hadar might borrow ideas or tech from The Witcher 4, especially in combat animations or encounter design.
As for a release window, we don’t have that yet, but there’s further confirmation that The Witcher 4 is in full development while Project Orion (Cyberpunk 2077’s follow-up) has just entered pre-production. It could be several years before Project Hadar is ready to launch, but its direction is finally beginning to take shape.
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