Author of Witcher books resolves dispute with maker of Witcher video games

All is quiet on the Continent…for now.

If you’re just now hearing the story of Witcher author Andrzej Sapkowski’s crusade against the people who made the very successful Witcher video games, here’s a quick breakdown:

• Although Sapkowski’s Witcher series of books are finding new popularity now, with Netflix’s Witcher show spreading the word, they’ve been around since the ’90s. In the mid-2000s, developer CD Projekt Red acquired the video game rights to the books. At the time, Sapkowski sold them for a mere $9,350 lump sum, foregoing a profit-sharing arrangement because he assumed the games wouldn’t be successful. “I was stupid enough to leave everything in their hands because I didn’t believe in their success,” he told Eurogamer in 2017.
• For a while, The Witcher games sold okay, but not great. Then The Witcher 3 came along and did absolutely gangbusters business. Suddenly, Sapkowski was kicking himself for not securing more of that money when he had the chance. He demanded 6% of lifetime profits for the series, which amounted to $16.11 million from The Witcher 3 alone. CD Projekt Red refused, but said it wanted to resolve this dispute amicably if possible.

And that brings us up to now, with CD Projekt Red putting out a press release announcing that it’s talked things over with Sapkowski and come to “an agreement further solidifying their relationship.”

"The agreement satisfies and fully clarifies the needs and expectations of both parties, past and present, and sets out a framework for the future cooperation between the two sides.The agreement grants CD PROJEKT new rights, as well as confirms the company’s title to “The Witcher” intellectual property in video games, graphic novels, board games, and merchandise."

What exactly does this agreement entail? We have no idea, but if we had to guess, Sapkowski walked away with more than $9,350.

Really, Sapkowski is doing pretty good right about now. The Witcher 3 is considered one of the greatest games of the past generation and has helped CD Projekt Red fight its place in the video game industry. The studio’s next project, Cyberpunk 2077, is hotly anticipated. Plus, Netflix’s Witcher show has found an audience. And both of those are raising the profile of Sapkowski’s original books. I’m sure he has money flowing in from all quarters.

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