CD Projekt Red has been developing a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, which was first released in 2022. The Polish company set up a new studio in Boston, Massachusetts, to work on the action-RPG alongside its existing Vancouver team. Although CDPR announced The Witcher 4 in December, the developer has remained tight-lipped about the Cyberpunk sequel. However, new details about the game have finally surfaced, providing some clues as to one of the game’s planned open-world features.
“Cyberpunk 2077” sequel details
According to a job description for an open position at CD Projekt Red’s Boston studio, the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel will feature “the most realistic and reactive crowd system of any game to date.”
The studio is hiring a lead encounter designer for the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, codenamed Orion. According to the job description, the role requires the person to “help develop solutions and help create memorable gaming experiences that excite our players.”
Further day-to-day responsibilities for the role require the individual to “work closely with the systems design team to create the most realistic and reactive crowd system of any game to date.”
While the job listing only provides a first look at the development team’s intentions for the project, the description suggests that CD Projekt Red has set high expectations for the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel.
‘Cyberpunk 2077’ sequel may make audiences more reactive and realistic
Photo credit: CD Projekt Red
What we know about Orion
The developer announced Project Orion in October 2022, saying at the time that the game would “further advance the Cyberpunk series and continue to harness the potential of this dark future universe.”
CD Projekt Red has established a Boston studio to develop the game alongside its existing Vancouver team as part of its North American division.
Like The Witcher 4 and other Witcher games the studio is developing, Orion is being developed in Unreal Engine 5. In a 2023 interview, Cyberpunk 2077 director Gabe Amatangelo said that switching from the in-house REDengine to Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5 didn’t feel like “starting from scratch.”
CD Projekt Red has yet to reveal any details about the story and setting of the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel. There’s also no confirmation on a release timeline, but the RPG is likely still years away from release.
