CD Projekt Red, known for its popular game series, has hired Australian beetroot farmer Eero Varendi to work on The Witcher 4. Pawel Sasko, the associate game director, shared this unique hiring story during an interview with Flow Games.
(Photo : CD PROJEKT RED / Screenshot taken from Steam.)
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From Farming to Game Designing
Pawel Sasko advised aspiring game developers to learn how to mod games, as many current developers, including those on Cyberpunk 2, started as modders. In the interview, Sasko highlighted the journey of Eero Varendi, who began his career making mods while working on a beetroot farm in Australia.
Sasko noticed Varendi's work through a YouTube video that showcased The Witcher 1's prologue recreated in The Witcher 3. Impressed by the high-quality work, Sasko reached out to CDPR's narrative director, Philipp Weber, who knew Varendi. Varendi then submitted his CV and passed a design test with flying colors.
Sasko shared that Varendi, at the time, was a 20 or 21-year-old beetroot farmer who spent his evenings modding. Varendi was eventually brought to Poland from Australia and now works as a senior quest designer on the new Witcher game, Polaris.
Modders in the Gaming Industry
It is common for video game studios to hire talented modders, as seen with companies like Valve, Activision Blizzard, and Bethesda. However, having half of the quest team for Cyberpunk 2 composed of former modders is exceptional. Sasko's story of Varendi's hiring demonstrates that location and background are no barriers when one's work stands out.
CD Projekt Red's latest project, The Witcher 4, is considered their most advanced game to date, surpassing even Cyberpunk 2 and The Witcher remake in complexity and ambition.
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