Author of The Witcher Novels Regrets Not Asking for Royalties from the Videogames

Despite The Witcher game series having become a huge success in recent years, the original author of the franchise’s source material hasn’t seen a dime from those adaptations since selling the rights years ago.

In an interview with Eurogamer published earlier today, Andrzej Sapkowski lamented his decision to not ask for royalties when selling his novels’ videogame rights to developer CD Project Red:

I was stupid enough to sell them rights to the whole bunch. They offered me a percentage of their profits. I said, ‘No, there will be no profit at all – give me all my money right now! The whole amount.’ It was stupid. I was stupid enough to leave everything in their hands because I didn’t believe in their success. But who could foresee their success? I couldn’t.

The 69-year-old author went on to say that while he’s disheartened by the increase in Witcher fans who have no idea who he is, he’ll still begrudgingly sign game copies for those who consider themselves fans. “I cannot say no to that because it would be very impolite. Stand in a long queue, bring the game, what can I say? ‘Please go away, I will not sign it’? It will be very impolite,” he explains. Despite the unexpected and sometimes unpleasant direction his novels’ adaptations have shifted his career, Sapkowski says he still has another Witcher novel in him.

And he’ll likely be the only one enjoying the spotlight after the book’s release, since CD Project Red is done making Witcher games for the time being. Next up for the studio is the long-awaited Cyberpunk 2077, which still has no firm release window. If you haven’t heard enough glowing praise for the studio and their games already, check out our 2015 review of The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt here.