Metropolis Software
Metropolis Software was founded in 1992 by Grzegorz Miechowski (CEO|Co-owner) and Adrian Chmielarz (Lead Game Designer|Co-owner) with Przemysław Marszał (Art Director) and released games like Gorky 17 (1999) and Infernal (2007). In 1997 the studio acquired the license of “The Witcher” from Andrzej Sapkowski, however, they ceded it around 2000 to CD Project as they were already worked on 3 games at the same time (one of them being the cult-following turn-based rpg game “Gorky 17“). In February 2008, Metropolis Software was bought by CD Projekt Investment. On October 26, 2009, information appeared that Metropolis Software was closed, its employees were disbanded, and the development of the They shooter , the company's current project, was stopped. Przemysław Marszał (CEO) and Grzegorz Miechowski (COO) are currently working for 11-bit studios S.A. and Adrian Chmielarz (Creative Director|Co-owner) for The Astronauts.
Metropolis Software at a Glance
If you are browsing PlayPile to understand the history of Polish game development, Metropolis Software offers a case study in both ambition and volatility. Founded in Warsaw in 1992 by Grzegorz Miechowski and Adrian Chmielarz, this studio operated for fifteen years before dissolving in 2009. They developed eleven titles between 1993 and 2007, with most of their work landing on PC or DOS systems. Their portfolio covers a wide range of genres including adventure, shooter, point-and-click, puzzle, role-playing, strategy, tactical, racing, arcade, and platform games. The quality of their output is inconsistent. Out of the four titles with ratings available on PlayPile, none reached the great category above 80 points. The studio managed two good scores with Teenagent from 1994 at 74 points and Gorky 17 from 1999 at 79.2 points. However, their later years saw a sharp decline in reception. Soldier Elite released in May 2006 received a score of 30, while their final game Infernal from February 2007 dropped to 23.9. This trend suggests that while they could produce cult favorites in the late 90s, their recent work struggled to meet player expectations. The company saw its peak activity in the 1990s with six releases compared to only four games in the 2000s. Their most notable project involved securing the license for The Witcher in 1997, but they eventually handed it over to CD Projekt around the year 2000 because they were already juggling three projects simultaneously. Gorky 17 remained their standout achievement during this period. By 2008, Metropolis Software was acquired by CD Projekt Investment, yet the studio did not survive long under new management. Reports in late 2009 confirmed that the company closed and all employees were disbanded while a shooter project named They was cancelled. The founders moved on to other ventures after the closure. Adrian Chmielarz joined The Astronauts, while Przemysław Marszał and Grzegorz Miechowski took roles at 11-bit studios. For players looking at their catalog today, the experience is defined by a few high points from the late 90s followed by a long stretch of lower-rated releases before the studio ceased to exist.
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