Paramount to develop Cyberpunk 2077 film, boosting CD Projekt RED shares

• Cyberpunk 2077 has sold 40 million copies as of July 3, with its 'Phantom Liberty' expansion selling 15 million units
• CD Projekt RED currently has 184 developers working on a sequel to the 2020 game, with no launch date announced yet
• Analysts believe Paramount's film involvement will help sustain interest ahead of the next Cyberpunk game installment

Summary: Paramount to Develop Cyberpunk 2077 Film, Boosting CD Projekt RED Shares

Key Development:

Paramount Pictures is developing a live-action film based on CD Projekt RED's video game "Cyberpunk 2077," partnering with producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, according to entertainment outlet Deadline. The announcement sent shares of the Polish game developer higher on Thursday.

Company Response:

CD Projekt RED executive Michał Nowakowski expressed excitement about Paramount as a future partner, though the company declined to provide additional comment beyond his statement. Paramount did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

Key Financial Metrics:

• Cyberpunk 2077 has sold 40 million copies as of July 3
• The "Phantom Liberty" expansion has sold 15 million copies
• As of July 31, CD Projekt RED had 184 developers working on a sequel to the 2020 title
• No launch date has been announced for the sequel

Market Implications:

According to Erste analyst Krzysztof Tkocz, Paramount's involvement in the film adaptation should help sustain interest in the franchise ahead of the next Cyberpunk game installment. This cross-media expansion strategy could provide a significant boost to CD Projekt RED's brand value and maintain momentum for the gaming franchise during the development period of its sequel.

Context:

The film adaptation represents a strategic move to capitalize on the franchise's commercial success and expand its reach beyond the gaming audience, following a trend of successful video game-to-film adaptations in recent years.