Cyberpunk 2 is Real - And it’s Leaving Night City Behind

Cyberpunk 2 is going to happen, and CD Projekt Red has revealed what everyone has been waiting for. The title is still just a guess, but don't let that fool you—the follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077 is now in pre-production and being made. The neon-lit streets of Night City won't be the main show this time either. Instead, every sign—even the person who made Cyberpunk—points to a new future playground: Chicago gone wrong.

The sequel, which is being worked on under the code name Project Orion, is a full remake of the series. Not any more REDengine. CDPR is moving the whole project to Unreal Engine 5, which should make work go more smoothly and give the experience a whole new level of immersion. With cutting-edge graphics and a crowd system that moves and reacts, the studio is trying for the most responsive cityscape in video games.

A new leadership system for the studio is also part of the change. Cyberpunk 2 is being driven from Boston and Vancouver, while CDPR Poland works on The Witcher 4. Not to worry, though—this isn't a new start with a green team. A lot of the key leads from Cyberpunk 2077 and Phantom Liberty have already joined. The story is being told by Igor Sarzyński, Gabe Amatangelo, quest designer, Sasko, a senior lead, and new employees from Blizzard and Ubisoft.

Mike Pondsmith, who created Cyberpunk in the first place, recently dropped a bombshell: the sequel won't just take place in Night City. The main scene of the game will instead feel like Chicago that went wrong. Imagine a city full of rusty skyscrapers, abandoned factories, corporate outposts trying to hide decades of decay, and criminal empires doing well in the dark. A city that is both getting better and getting worse at the same time. It would be great for a cyberpunk story.

This was kind of already given away. In 2077, a maglev train left Chicago as a hint that it could become a hub. According to the timeline, a lot of the city was left empty in the 2020s and only partly taken back by 2077. It is possible that the sequel will take place in the year 2080, when Chicago is ready for change and chaos.

Who are you going to play? Will V come back? Still not sure about Johnny Silverhand?

So far, this is what we know: CDPR has not confirmed any story specifics. But because Phantom Liberty has more than one ending, V's fate is very uncertain. V is healed in one reality but is cut off from everyone else; in another, V turns into a digital ghost in Mikoshi. There is still a chance for CDPR to add a new main character and bring V back into the world as an AI creation, like Johnny did in 2077.

So what about Johnny himself? It's not likely that CDPR won't be able to bring him back, even if it's just as an appearance, memory, or ghost in the machine. Other well-known names, like Rogue, Solomon Reed, or Mr. Blue Eyes, could still be used, based on when CDPR decides to lock them in. But don't get it wrong—this is a brand-new story set in a brand-new city.

People who didn't like Cyberpunk 2077 said that decisions didn't always matter. CDPR has heard what you have to say. The story in the sequel will be more dynamic, and the choices you make will have real effects on the world. The life path system wasn't used much in 2077, but it's likely to come back in a stronger form.

Also, yes, multiplayer may finally be possible. Cyberpunk Online was canceled by CDPR, but the CEO has stated that multiplayer features are being "carefully considered" for the next game. Not ruling out the idea of co-op tasks or a light social layer is something you shouldn't do.

The truth is that Cyberpunk 2 started planning in 2025. From this point on, CDPR games take four to five years to come out. That means the most likely time is 2029 or 2030. Witcher 4 has a chance of coming out around 2027, but still, the timing might change, and CDPR will not mix their two most popular series.

That being said, this is good. Cyberpunk 2077's launch mess showed what can happen when you're in a hurry. But this time, CDPR is going to let it cook. This could give Cyberpunk fans the real experience they've always wanted.

Cyberpunk 2 is going to happen. It's true. It's living. It's also leaving Night City for a rougher, darker territory. This follow-up is worth watching thanks to what we learned from 2077, the power of Unreal Engine 5, and the creative work of Pondsmith and other experienced developers.