Edgerunners Season 2 is Cyberpunk's Saddest, Bloodiest Anime with a Whole New Story

At Anime Expo 2025, CD Projekt Red and Studio Trigger finally told fans what they had been waiting for: Cyberpunk: Edgerunners will be back for a second season. The new anime that comes after the highly acclaimed one will have a brand-new 10-episode plot set in Cyberpunk 2077, a dark and chaotic world. But this won't be the next part of David Martinez's sad story. Instead, Season 2 promises a fresh narrative—one that aims to expand the dystopian mythos in new, emotionally resonant directions.

Season 2 will be helmed by Kai Ikarashi, the director of episode six from the original series—widely regarded as the standout non-finale entry. Hiroyuki Imaishi, who created the show, isn't in charge of directing this time, but Ikarashi's promotion means that the fast-paced style and emotional depth that made the first season stand out will continue. Studio Trigger's return guarantees great visuals, but their careful drawing process means the production cycle will take a long time. Based on the past, fans may have to wait until late 2026 or early 2027 to see the movie come out.

Perhaps most notably, the original writer and showrunner is also returning. That continuity in creative leadership suggests a series that remains tonally consistent while daring to explore new corners of Night City. CD Projekt Red has described the new season as a "raw, real chronicle of redemption and revenge," adding that it will offer something "unlike anything we've done before." That sentiment is reinforced by the showrunner's bleak but oddly fitting commentary: "People in Poland are born sad and die sad. I just wanted to make the world sad." The creative vision is clear—Season 2 isn't pulling its punches.

The first teaser trailer for Edgerunners Season 2 offers just 53 seconds of footage—mostly retrospective glimpses of the original series—but introduces a central figure: a child wielding a camera. This unnamed protagonist appears frequently throughout the trailer and is positioned at the emotional core of the narrative. Scenes involving media deletion and the framing of reality through a lens suggest a thematic pivot: storytelling, memory, and perhaps the danger of truth in a world governed by spectacle.

This character's role is already prompting speculation. Some believe the child may be David's offspring—especially given the trailer's fleeting but deliberate inclusion of both David and Lucy. That theory remains unconfirmed, but what is more likely is that this new narrative is a spiritual sequel, rather than a direct continuation. Expect cameos, not cast reunions. CD Projekt Red has made it clear that Edgerunners 2 will stand on its own, with new characters, new stakes, and likely a new emotional center.

The announcement also provides clarity around CD Projekt Red's previously undisclosed non-game project. When Netflix revealed plans for a new Cyberpunk anime back in October 2024, many speculated whether it would tie into Edgerunners. Now, it's clear that it always did—and that development may have been quietly underway for months. Still, judging by the timing and tone of the trailer, this appears to be a formal production kickoff rather than a sign of near completion. If Studio Trigger's timeline from the first season holds, fans are likely in for a wait of at least 18 to 24 months.

Looking back, Edgerunners Season 1 was announced in June 2020, after CDPR and Studio Trigger had already collaborated for over a year. The show premiered in September 2022, marking roughly two years of full production. If a similar schedule follows for Season 2 and production has only recently ramped up, a late 2026 or 2027 release seems most realistic. The absence of even a tentative release year only reinforces that assumption.

Still, the return of Edgerunners marks more than just an anime continuation—it signals a larger commitment from CD Projekt Red to deepen the Cyberpunk universe across media. With Cyberpunk 2077's Patch 2.3 on the horizon and long-standing rumors of additional DLC surfacing from LinkedIn leaks, the resurgence of interest around the IP feels carefully timed. If the new anime's story echoes or adds to the story of future game content, it could bring the brand's stories across all platforms even closer together.

Edgerunners 2 isn't just a follow-up; it's a whole new story. A new picture painted with the same electric blood of Night City. It features new characters and horrors, but retains the same weight of story that made the first one such a big hit. While the wait may be long, the vision is clear: Edgerunners is evolving, and it's ready to devastate once again.