In a significant move for the gaming industry, The Molasses Flood, the studio celebrated for titles like ‘The Flame in The Flood‘ and ‘Drake Hollow,’ has announced its full merger into CD Projekt Red, effective April 1, 2025. This development, occurring less than four years after its acquisition by CD Projekt, means The Molasses Flood will cease to exist as a “separate legal entity,” with CDPR Inc. now assuming all its rights and obligations. The studio reassured fans, stating, “The merger will not affect the availability or distribution of ‘The Flame in The Flood‘ and ‘Drake Hollow‘ videogames, which will continue to be published by CD PROJEKT Group; [for] information about the CD PROJEKT Group please visit https://www.cdprojekt.com/en/.”
A Shift in Strategy: Background on the Acquisition and Project Sirius’s Early Hurdles
This merger marks a notable shift from CD Projekt‘s initial intentions when it acquired The Molasses Flood in October 2021. At that time, the Polish parent company stated that the Boston-based studio would “keep their current identity” and operate independently. However, The Molasses Flood‘s primary undertaking, Project Sirius—a spin-off game set in the Witcher universe—soon encountered significant development challenges. These hurdles led to a project reboot with an “updated direction” and, subsequently, layoffs at the studio. Even two years after this strategic reset, concrete information about Project Sirius has remained sparse, leaving many tech enthusiasts and gamers eager for substantial updates.
CD Projekt’s Official Rationale: Streamlining for Project Sirius
CD Projekt formally announced its plan to fully integrate The Molasses Flood during its 2024 year-end financial presentation. Joint CEO Michał Nowakowski explained that the primary driver for this merger is to achieve “even better alignment in the scope and direction” of Project Sirius. He also acknowledged that this deeper integration would inevitably lead to “some changes in the project leadership,” signaling a move towards more centralized oversight for the anticipated title.
“End of an Era”: Co-founder’s Departure and Optimistic Outlook
Damian Isla, co-founder of The Molasses Flood and former design director for Project Sirius, described the merger as “the end of an era.” In a heartfelt message on LinkedIn, Isla confirmed his decision not to transition with the studio as it becomes part of CD Projekt Red. Despite his departure, Isla expressed a remarkably optimistic view on the studio’s future, calling the merger a “GOOD AND HEALTHY thing.” He elaborated that this move should help “break down organizational barriers,” allowing for a more seamless integration of The Molasses Flood team within the broader CDPR organization, ultimately pointing towards a “very bright future for Project Sirius.”
Currently, Project Sirius remains in the “pre-production” phase, as confirmed in CD Projekt‘s FY 2024 earnings report released in March. While the positive sentiments from figures like Isla and the strategic rationale from CD Projekt offer hope for the game’s development, the ongoing pre-production status suggests that fans may need to maintain patience regarding immediate, concrete news. Here at Digital Tech Explorer, we’ll continue to track the progress of Project Sirius and the evolving landscape at CD Projekt Red.