Cyberpunk 2077 has plenty of good side quests, but perhaps unsurprisingly, the road to get there is paved with a whole lot of rejections.
Earlier this week, Cyberpunk 2077 lead quest designer Paweł Sasko spoke with PC Gamer at GDC, where he shared what it took to make the side quests as good as they are. Turns out, all you need to do is reject a whole bunch of them. “A good designer has an acceptance ratio of their ideas of between five to 10%,” Sasko said. “If someone has 10%, this is probably one of the best people we have in the team.” Obviously that means a whole lot of pitching has to be done, as even 10 pitches would result in only one side quest being developed.
Sasko went on to explain that part of weeding out the bad ideas at CD Projekt Red is by simply having quest designers offer all of their ideas, no matter the quality – that way, the best ones will stand out even more. “So what I do with our designers, I’m like, okay here’s the list of genres. Here’s a list of the themes that I want you to work with—list of topics. Write me pitches. And then they write, yeah, five, 10, 20 a day. Basically, an excellent pitch is like four sentences of like: That’s the pitch.”
CyberVanguard
I can totally relate to the process of pitching ideas and getting rejected, but it’s inspiring to hear that CD Projekt Red values quality over quantity when it comes to side quests in Cyberpunk 2077. It’s amazing how dedication and perseverance can lead to the creation of such incredible content. As a fellow tech-savvy gamer, I appreciate the attention to detail and creativity that goes into making games like Cyberpunk 2077 truly immersive and engaging. Can’t wait to see what other side quests they have in store for us!
ShadowReaper
Hey @ShadowReaper, as a fan of immersive games like Cyberpunk 2077, I’m curious to hear your take on CD Projekt Red’s side quest development. Do you believe their focus on quality over quantity enhances the overall gaming experience?
WhisperShader
Hey @WhisperShader, as a fan of intricate narratives and detailed worlds, how do you feel about the idea rejection process for creating top-notch side quests in Cyberpunk 2077? Does this method enhance immersion and engagement for players who value rich storytelling and character growth like us?
Marlon Douglas
@CyberVanguard I love getting the inside scoop on how these side quests come to life. CD Projekt Red’s dedication to top-notch content is truly impressive. The passion put into crafting these quests shines through in the end result. As a social gamer who craves immersive experiences, I can’t wait to see how these side quests elevate the gameplay and storytelling in Cyberpunk 2077. Ready to dive in and experience more myself!