Cyberpunk 2, also known as Project Orion, is being developed by a new North American team with experienced veterans and will feature a multiplayer component, a new city inspired by places like Chongqing and possibly Chicago, and will utilize Unreal Engine 5 to enhance gameplay. The game is expected to release around 2029-2030, following The Witcher 4, with a focus on delivering a fresh, complex cyberpunk experience despite a lengthy development timeline.
The video begins with the creator revisiting Cyberpunk 2077 during a slow gaming season and reflecting on the anticipation surrounding its sequel, Cyberpunk 2, also known as Project Orion. While much attention has been given to The Witcher 4, information about Cyberpunk 2 has been relatively scarce. However, after digging deeper, the creator reveals that more is known than expected, including insights from developer social media and their travels to places like Chongqing, China, for inspiration—an extraordinary city known for its complex, cyberpunk-esque architecture.
Cyberpunk 2’s development has shifted significantly since its announcement in October 2022. The production moved from CD Projekt Red’s European studios to a dedicated North American team based in Boston, with satellite studios in Canada. This move aims to better capture the Americana and dystopian US vibe intrinsic to Cyberpunk’s setting. The team includes experienced veterans from previous Cyberpunk and Witcher projects, such as Pavle Saskco (associate game director), Gabriel Ematangelo (game director of Phantom Liberty), and Igor Sarjinski (creative director and senior cinematics expert). Additionally, several high-profile industry hires bring expertise from major Western franchises, enhancing the project’s scope and quality.
A significant development is the confirmed inclusion of a multiplayer component in Cyberpunk 2, which was originally planned but abandoned for Cyberpunk 2077 due to the game’s troubled launch. Job postings reveal the team is actively building online systems, suggesting gameplay will include multiplayer features, potentially similar to GTA Online or PvP modes. This marks a major expansion from the original game’s single-player focus and aligns with modern open-world multiplayer trends, leveraging Unreal Engine 5 to hopefully avoid past technical issues.
Regarding the game’s setting, Cyberpunk 2 is expected to feature a new city alongside or instead of Night City, with hints pointing to a dystopian version of Chicago. Developer travels to Chongqing, China, provide architectural inspiration, showcasing the city’s dense, multi-layered urban design, including the famous metro running through apartment buildings. This “8D city” concept reflects the complex, vertical, and interconnected environments that could define the game’s world, offering a fresh and visually striking cyberpunk atmosphere.
Finally, the video outlines the projected timeline for Cyberpunk 2’s release, estimating a 2029-2030 launch based on CD Projekt Red’s typical four to five-year development cycles. This places it after The Witcher 4, expected around 2027, and the Witcher 1 remake and multiplayer spin-offs scheduled in the late 2020s. Despite the long wait, the involvement of seasoned developers and Epic Games’ support with Unreal Engine 5 suggest a promising future for the franchise. The creator remains hopeful for an early reveal, possibly at major gaming events, but tempers expectations given the lengthy production schedule.