Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel 'Project Orion' Development Update

Cyberpunk 2077's sequel, Project Orion, has been in the conceptual stage at CD Projekt RED for some time now. Since CDPR is actively working on The Witcher 4's new combat mechanics, 64% of its development team is involved, and Project Orion will use the remaining resources for development.

According to a report, Project Orion will have a more American feel because a new CDPR studio in Boston has been set up to help with the game's development. Project Orion Executive Producer Dan Hernberg shared that the North American studio is critical to the project because many aspects of Cyberpunk 2077 didn't authentically capture American culture. Hernberg said, "I think Cyberpunk is a uniquely American story. It's got a lot of punk energy and was written by an American, so it seems right to do it in America."

Developers admitted there were shortcomings in Cyberpunk 2077's details, with some fans noting that Night City's manhole covers looked more European than American. Hernberg highlighted how even subtle elements like curbs and sign colors were slightly off, which might not break immersion but can make players feel the game wasn't created by people familiar with American culture. For Project Orion, these small but important details will be addressed.

Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, Project Orion, is also likely to take place in a new city, although fans hope it will retain the signature Cyberpunk atmosphere. Night City should inspire the design, while the new setting offers fresh elements that distinguish it as a unique place. In a previous update, Hernberg's addition to the Cyberpunk team was introduced. As an Executive Producer, he brings significant expertise from his roles at Amazon Games, Panic Button, and Blizzard Entertainment, where he contributed to notable games like New World, Apex Legends, and Diablo.

In relation to that, CDPR also hinted at its desire to include some multiplayer elements in Project Orion. In earlier press releases, Michał Nowakowski, the Joint CEO of CD Projekt RED, stated that they are exploring possibilities for attaching multiplayer capabilities. Integrating such components into single-player games can, however, be quite difficult without a specific division.

From time to time, certain games, such as Assassin's Creed, along with The Last of Us, have dabbled in multiplayer, but later, these would be forced to diverge into self-sustaining titles, such as Ghost of Tsushima: Legends. The same may happen for CDPR with Project Orion since some fans pointed out that the latest Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 2.2 left some hidden clues about this feature.

Elsewhere, CD Projekt RED is developing a multiplayer Witcher game with The Molasses Flood. The project was said to have restarted due to "challenges" related to early development, but the studio confirmed that it remains in pre-production. Fans are gushing about the direction Project Orion will take, particularly in terms of how American authenticity and potential multiplayer elements will manifest in the game.