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NEOWIZ Invests In Former The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 Veterans' Blank Game Studios

by Rainier on Nov. 13, 2023 @ 1:55 p.m. PST

NEOWIZ announced that it has made a strategic investment in the Polish game development company BLANK Game Studios, founded in early 2023 by four key developers of The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077.

Founded in early 2023 by four co-founders: Mateusz Kanik, Mikołaj Marchewka, Jędrzej Mróz and Marcin Jefimow.  

Mateusz served as the co-game director for 'The Witcher 3,' Game Director, and Design Director for 'Cyberpunk 2077.' Mikołaj served as an advisor and a member of supervisory boards for several studios, as well as the CEO of Rookiez from Warsaw. Jędrzej is the former Lead Producer of ‘The Witcher 3’, Executive Producer and Production Director for 'Cyberpunk 2077,' and Marcin was the Lead Producer of ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ and the Executive Producer of 'Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.' 

BLANK's core team comprises veteran developers, primarily from CD Projekt Red, with extensive experience in leading AAA game development for PC and consoles. The team's pedigree, combined with the opportunity to create fresh and innovative games in a new studio built upon decades of experience, has convinced some of the most accomplished developers in Poland to join BLANK. 

Michał Dobrowolski served as the Lead Gameplay Designer and product owner for 'Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.' Grzegorz Przybyś held the position of Art Director in multiple AAA and AA titles, contributing to projects such as 'The Witcher 3,' 'Dying Light,' and 'Showgunners.' Artur Ganszyniec, the Lead Story Designer for 'The Witcher' and principal designer of 'The Witcher 2,' also shares his expertise as a university lecturer on story design. Michał Nowak, who previously served as the Engineering Director at CD Projekt Red and Techland, rounds out BLANK’S core team roster. 

Mateusz Kanik, Game Director of BLANK, stated, "Our team has been battle-tested leading large teams, managing substantial budgets, making tough decisions, streamlining projects, and delivering major releases. BLANK is more than just a startup; it's a reunion of industry veterans who have collaborated for years. From the first day at the office, we hit the ground running, and thanks to NEOWIZ, we will be able to build an exceptional team to create games and stories that evoke emotions and leave a lasting impact on the players.” 

Recently, NEOWIZ gained substantial success in the North American and European markets with the release of 'Lies of P,' selling over one million copies within a month, with more than 90% of the revenue generated in overseas markets. NEOWIZ plans to leverage the experience gained from 'Lies of P' to expand its global business base in the medium to long term. In addition to expanding its console lineup, NEOWIZ actively invests in talented overseas development studios. 

Seung-Cheol Kim, co-CEO of NEOWIZ, expressed, “As a strategic investor, we view BLANK Game Studios as a studio poised to emerge as a formidable contender in the realm of AAA-quality gaming. We also recognize substantial synergies between our experiences in crafting unique titles. BLANK’S debut game features a structure unlike the majority of narrative-driven games. With its distinctive take on the apocalypse, the experience will prove to be simultaneously refreshing and familiar for audiences, complete with intriguing twists.” 

The collaboration between BLANK, a company that has garnered attention from large game companies and investors worldwide due to its high capability, and NEOWIZ, a company aiming for global expansion through self-developed titles and partnerships, is of great significance. The two companies will continue to become competitive development studios and collaborate on various business opportunities as part of ongoing efforts. 

Mikołaj Marchewka, Managing Director of BLANK, states, "NEOWIZ recognized the potential in our debut game and the long-term vision for the studio. Since our first meeting it was clear that NEOWIZ and BLANK are an exceptional match and complement each other's objectives. 'Lies of P' gained a lot of recognition in the Western market and serves as an outstanding example of delivering highly polished games upon release, a value we hold dear at BLANK. 

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