The Studio That Inspired The Witcher and Cyberpunk No Longer Exists

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As a long-time gamer with roots in Eastern Europe, I can’t help but feel a deep connection to the news that German game studio Piranha Bytes, creators of the seminal RPG series Gothic, has ceased to exist. Having grown up playing these games and seeing their profound impact on Polish gaming culture, it’s hard not to be reminiscent of the memories and experiences they’ve brought me.

Piranha Bytes, the German game development company recognized for creating edgy-yet-unpolished role-playing games throughout its 27-year tenure, has been shut down. Notable titles under their belt include Gothic and Risen series. Additionally, Piranha Bytes significantly contributed to CD Projekt Red’s success in the development of The Witcher franchise.

Piranha Bytes experienced significant achievement following the launch of Gothic in 2001. However, the Polish game developer has faced challenges in recent times. Despite being their most elaborate projects, the launches of ELEX and its sequel ELEX II did not resonate with contemporary players. Consequently, the studio had to close down, but Piranha Bytes’ past works continue to thrive under CD Projekt.

2018 saw the release of an engrossing documentary by Polish YouTuber Dzieje Khorinis, titled “CD Projekt and Gothic: A Long History.” This production offers a comprehensive look back at the history of CD Projekt, a studio well-known for The Witcher and Cyberpunk series. Notably, many employees at this studio have played Gothic, often naming it among their favorite games. Given its significant impact in Poland, Piranha Byte’s RPG is considered instrumental in the recent growth of Poland’s video game industry.

2000s saw numerous games that didn’t specifically target Polish players. However, the Gothic series stood out as one of the exceptions. In 2002, this game was fully dubbed in Polish, which is often considered its most impressive voice-over. Moreover, it ran smoothly even on less powerful hardware, and it was reasonably priced for Polish gamers during a period when games were relatively expensive.

In many interviews for The Witcher game series, it is frequently mentioned that the design of this role-playing game was influenced by the Gothic series. During a 2007 interview with IGN, Michal Madej, the chief designer of The Witcher, explained that they drew inspiration from Gothic’s rich role-playing aspects. In contrast to other RPGs released around the same time that simplified their role-playing mechanics—such as Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion—The Witcher team aimed to create a game with equal depth and complexity as Gothic.

“Although Gothic had an open-ended story, it was essentially narrative-driven. In contrast, Oblivion lacked a compelling storyline altogether. I personally wasn’t fond of Oblivion. CD Projekt RED felt compelled to explore the game’s popularity despite my reservations.”

Over the past 17 years, Gothic has remained a frequent topic in conversations with CD Projekt Red. For instance, in an article on PCGamer published in 2017, The Witcher 3’s narrative director Tomaskzkiewicz was asked to name his favorite PC games of all time. Unsurprisingly, he mentioned Gothic II as his top pick.

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They mentioned that one of their earliest RPG games was incredibly immersive. What stood out to them was how each NPC seemed to have a unique role within the game world, reacting differently to various player actions. For instance, entering an NPC’s house, taking their belongings, or even brandishing a weapon in front of them would elicit different responses. The overall experience was enhanced by the realistic gameplay systems that made the world feel authentic. Instead of simply opening a crafting interface to create a sword, as is common today, they had to heat the metal, shape it on an anvil, cool it in water, and then sharpen it on a grindstone. This attention to detail helped make the game’s world feel alive and believable.

In Eastern Europe, the role-playing game (RPG) “Gothic” significantly influenced the gaming community, just as “Halo: Combat Evolved” and “Call of Duty” did in America. Amazingly, 19 years following the launch of “Gothic 2,” an enthusiastic fanbase came together to create a free, full-length RPG modification for its sequel entitled “The Chronicles Of Myrtana: Archolos.” This mod boasts a unique world, captivating storyline, innovative gameplay, and countless hours of entertainment.

Though its original developer Piranha Bytes is no longer active, the influence of Gothic endures strongly in Poland. This is evident through various Polish YouTube channels devoted to the game, the creation of political memes within the RPG genre, and ongoing Live Action Role Play (LARP) groups who continue to dress up as characters from the series today.

1. Although Gothic didn’t become popular in America or the UK, nor did it significantly influence online multiplayer gaming like Halo 2 did in 2004, its impact on the gaming world has been profound. If not for Gothic, we might never have had The Witcher series, and that means no Henry Cavill as Netflix’s Geralt. Similarly, STALKER may not have existed.

1. To this day, the influence of Gothic endures, as its initial version can be found on GOG and Steam. A reimagining of the first game is underway, though it appears not to meet fan expectations, being developed by a different studio. Yet, there’s some comfort in knowing that the original game remains accessible.

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2024-07-30 14:20