Many gamers know The Witcher games from CD Projekt RED, but initially, a project based on Andrzej Sapkowski's universe was being developed by a different studio.
Metropolis Software founder Adrian Chmielarz shared memories of working on the cancelled game. He was acquainted with the writer, so he easily struck a deal and obtained the rights:
I knew Andrzej Sapkowski from various sci-fi and fandom conventions. We had our own gatherings, and I met him there. We used to drink quite a bit of vodka [together] back then. And one day I just called him and said: \"Listen, I'd like to make a game based on your stories.\" If anyone knows Mr. Sapkowski even a little, they understand that he generally doesn't care what happens to his characters outside of his own universe. So he replied something like: \"Ah, well, okay. You want to make what, a video game? Fine. Show me the money — and then everything will be yours, go ahead.\"
At that time, the series \"Wiedzmin\" did not have a direct translation from Polish. Sapkowski himself thought of the option \"Hexer,\" but Chmielarz had a better idea:
[...] back then I was still into programming, and hex code was something I dealt with every day, so for me the word \"Hexer\" didn't sound quite right. So I suggested to [Sapkowski]: \"How about The Witcher?\" Because that's exactly how I imagined it. And he said: \"You know, that sounds good. I'm fine with it, let it be so. That's how the word appeared.\"
Metropolis Software took on the development of The Witcher, but the project never reached release — the studio took on too much:
It was a typical mistake that small studios make when they achieve success: instead of just growing to a level that allows making two games, we took on four at once.
As a result, Metropolis Software simply ran out of money. Then the publisher TopWare Interactive appeared, which allowed them to finish some of the launched projects:
I wanted to save The Witcher — not like super desperately, but still, I loved this universe. However, [TopWare] didn't care about it at all. They were from Germany, knew nothing about The Witcher, and showed no interest. They told us: \"No-no-no, you have a real-time strategy in development — that sells well in Germany, we're fine with that. You have a point-and-click adventure — that also sells in Germany. So we're keeping those.\"
In 2002, CD Projekt RED signed an agreement to develop a game based on The Witcher. At that time, Adrian had questions about the deal, but he decided not to take any action — and in the end, he was satisfied with the result:
I thought then: \"Wait, we still have a contract with [Sapkowski], which probably still acts exclusively.\" But to be honest, I didn't care. I realized I wouldn't be able to finish The Witcher game, so I said: \"Okay, let it be. I hope they make a great game.\" And I'm incredibly glad that's how it turned out, because I love these worlds. I really like what they did. They created a much better game than we could have. What we wanted to do with this universe, they embodied themselves — so, in the end, everything worked out wonderfully. That's the backstory. That is the history of The Witcher.