I don’t remember him saying the games butchered his work. From what I remember je doesn’t care for them beyond the payout they “owed” him. He doesn’t understand the medium at all and afaik doesn’t know much about the story in them. And even if he did, it’s all on the level of fan fiction to him (which is fair - he is reportedly writing another book from the universe and I understandnhe doesn’t want to be tied down by things someone else wrote in his universe)
I think you’re giving him too much credit. He absolutely does understand the medium, he just trash talks it. CDPR wanted to give him a percentage royalty, but he demanded a lump fee up front. Then the game was successful and he had egg on his face. Ever since, he’s claimed that the games had nothing to do with the success of the franchise.
I don’t remember him saying the games butchered his work. From what I remember je doesn’t care for them beyond the payout they “owed” him. He doesn’t understand the medium at all and afaik doesn’t know much about the story in them. And even if he did, it’s all on the level of fan fiction to him (which is fair - he is reportedly writing another book from the universe and I understandnhe doesn’t want to be tied down by things someone else wrote in his universe)
I think you’re giving him too much credit. He absolutely does understand the medium, he just trash talks it. CDPR wanted to give him a percentage royalty, but he demanded a lump fee up front. Then the game was successful and he had egg on his face. Ever since, he’s claimed that the games had nothing to do with the success of the franchise.
Which is hilarious, because when 99% of people are talking about the Witcher, they do not connect him or his novels with it at all.