Cyberpunk 2 Is Official, And It's Leaving Night City Behind

After years of speculation, anticipation, and cautious optimism, CD Projekt Red has officially moved the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 into active pre-production. Known during early development under the codename Project Orion, the upcoming title—currently referred to as Cyberpunk 2—is no longer just a distant idea or an internal dream. 

The latest financial report from the studio shows that the project has moved from the early conceptual stage to full pre-production. This means that the idea for the next Cyberpunk game is now firmly underway. This marks a significant turning point for both CD Projekt Red and the Cyberpunk IP, especially after the rollercoaster reception of Cyberpunk 2077, which launched in December 2020.

While that game experienced a famously rocky debut due to bugs, performance issues, and unfulfilled expectations, CDPR has spent years rebuilding its reputation. Through relentless updates, a successful relaunch, and the critically acclaimed Phantom Liberty expansion, the studio has regained much of the trust it initially lost. In many ways, Cyberpunk 2 is a second chance to deliver a definitive, polished experience in this universe—a chance the developers seem to be taking very seriously.

According to CD Projekt Red, the sequel has now passed the "conceptual" milestone, meaning core gameplay pillars, world design ideas, and narrative foundations have been established. The studio is now actively building out the actual systems, mechanics, and content that will shape the player experience. While the game is still years away from completion, this transition to pre-production is the clearest sign yet that the next journey into Night City—or perhaps somewhere entirely new—is truly happening.

Indeed, Mike Pondsmith, who made the original Cyberpunk tabletop universe, has given us one of the most interesting facts we've heard so far. He recently gave hints that the sequel will go beyond Night City and take place in a whole new part of the Cyberpunk world. Specifics are still being kept secret, but that one hint has caused a lot of people to wonder.

Will the next setting be a high-tech city-state on the coast? A dystopian mega-metropolis in Asia or Europe? A corporate-controlled floating habitat? The possibilities are wide open, and the change in setting suggests that CD Projekt Red aims to push the franchise's boundaries in bold new directions.

Technically speaking, Cyberpunk 2 is being designed with next-generation hardware in mind. Industry experts widely believe the game will launch in the era of the PlayStation 6 and next-generation Xbox platforms. That said, it is likely to be a cross-generational release—at least initially—supporting high-end versions of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. CDPR has not officially announced its platforms, but judging by current development timelines, a realistic launch window would be around 2028 or later.

To support this ambitious project, CD Projekt Red has been restructuring its development process. The business has hired more people in North America and Europe and is focusing on a more flexible and distributed model. This vision is centered on their brand-new studio in Boston, which will lead the creation of Cyberpunk 2. The studio is said to be comprised of experienced coders from both CDPR and the broader industry, resulting in a blend of old and new ideas.

Also, Phantom Liberty, the add-on for Cyberpunk 2077 that came out in September 2023, is still doing very well. CD Projekt Red recently confirmed that more than 10 million copies of the expansion have been sold, making it even more of a hit as one of the most popular DLCs of this age. 

That success isn't just financial—Phantom Liberty was hailed by critics as a redemption arc for the franchise, introducing an entirely new district, fresh characters, a thrilling espionage storyline, and sweeping overhauls to core systems. The studio's ability to listen to feedback and change its plans was shown by the expansion, which has successfully sparked interest around the world in the future of the Cyberpunk brand.

Cyberpunk 2077 and Phantom Liberty are both apparently being prepared for release on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, which is making things even more exciting. While not officially confirmed by CD Projekt Red at the time of writing, industry insiders have hinted that optimized versions of both titles are planned for Nintendo's next-gen platform, which is expected to launch in 2025. If true, this would mark a major technological feat and introduce the Cyberpunk world to a wider, more mobile audience.

Though the wait for Cyberpunk 2 will be long, fans can take solace in the fact that CD Projekt Red is no longer rushing anything. Following the hard lessons learned from the original game's launch, the studio has adopted a more deliberate and transparent development philosophy. They've already stated that the game won't be shown to the public until they're sure it meets their standards. This is a change in strategy that puts quality and finish ahead of early hype.

While we wait for Cyberpunk 2 to come out, there will be a lot of talk, hints, and hopefully regular updates over the years. But this big step—starting full pre-production—is the start of the next big part of one of the biggest stories in video games. The series might not only be saved by Cyberpunk 2, but it might also be changed it. There is a new setting, cutting-edge technology, and a research team that wants to do even more. 

It's not just a follow-up; it's a reason for being. There are only a few steps left until the cyber-future. It is being built by a group of people who know how important it is. And when Cyberpunk 2 does come out, it might be the result of years of change, improvement, and bold writing. It could set a new standard for sci-fi role-playing games in the years to come.