The Witcher Creator Expresses Discontent with Video Games Once More

Andrzej Sapkowski’s Ongoing Critique of Video Game Adaptations

Andrzej Sapkowski, the renowned creator of The Witcher series, has long expressed his lack of enthusiasm for video games. His skepticism was notably highlighted during his contentious dealings with CD Projekt RED, the Polish developer behind the blockbuster game adaptation. Initially, Sapkowski sold the rights to the video game at a modest price, underestimating its potential for success.

Royalty Disputes and Resolutions

The runaway success of The Witcher III: Wild Hunt led to a significant change of heart for Sapkowski, who subsequently demanded a hefty $16 million in royalties, despite their original agreement lacking any mention of such fees. Ultimately, a new contract was negotiated between Sapkowski and CD Projekt RED that purportedly addressed the concerns of both parties.

Sapkowski’s Recent Comments on Game Adaptations

In a recent AMA session on Reddit, Sapkowski once again took aim at the direction of CD Projekt’s games, particularly critiquing their creative expansion on the lore surrounding Witcher schools. He stated:

“The issue of ‘witcher schools’ requires—I apologise—a longer explanation. A single sentence about some ‘school of the Wolf’ mysteriously made its way into The Last Wish. I later deemed it unworthy of development and narratively incorrect, even detrimental to the plot. Therefore, later I never included or referenced any Witcher Gryffindors or Slytherins again. Never. However, that one sentence was enough. Adaptors, particularly video game people, have clung to the idea with remarkable tenacity and have wonderfully multiplied these ‘witcher schools.’ Completely unnecessary.”

Sapkowski further contemplated whether to remove the controversial sentence about the “school”from future editions of The Last Wish or perhaps to delve deeper into the lore in his upcoming books. His reflections show a blend of frustration and creativity regarding the adaptations of his work.

Distinguishing Literature from Adaptation

The author maintains that true literary works should not be diminished by their adaptations. In response to a question about adaptations, Sapkowski asserted:

“Regardless of the quality of these adaptations, there are no dependencies or points of convergence between the literary original and its adaptation. The original stands alone, and every adaptation stands alone; you can’t translate words into images without losing something, and there can’t be any connections here. Moreover, adaptations are mostly visualizations, which means transforming written words into images, and there is no need to prove the superiority of the written word over images, it is obvious. The written word always and decidedly triumphs over images, and no picture—animated or otherwise—can match the power of the written word.”

While Sapkowski is certainly entitled to his perspective, critics argue that such views may be rooted in a bias against the medium of gaming. Meanwhile, CD Projekt RED remains focused on the future; they plan to integrate concepts from Sapkowski’s latest novel, Crossroads of Ravens, into the forthcoming The Witcher IV, set for release no earlier than 2027.

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