Turns out Night City isn’t big enough for the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel. CD Projekt Red’s sequel is going Midwest.
The Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, codenamed Project Orion, is officially in the works. CD Projekt Red, fresh off wrapping Phantom Liberty in 2023, is deep into pre-production.
The studio’s Boston office is leading development, and job listings confirm it’ll keep its first-person roots. They’re aiming for a smarter crowd system, deeper narrative, and new locations. Don’t hold your breath though; this one’s not dropping before 2028. Maybe even the 2030s. And yes, The Witcher 4 is eating most of their time right now.
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Cyberpunk 2077 sequel trades Night City glam for Chicago grime
Now for the juicy part: creator Mike Pondsmith spilled some tea. In a new interview with Polish gaming magazine CD-Action, he teased that Orion will feature “another city,” one that reminded him of “Chicago gone wrong.” He made it clear that Night City isn’t going anywhere either.
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So buckle up, and maybe start listening to Joe Keery’s End of Beginning again, because the next Cyberpunk playground could be broader, meaner, and windier.
CD Project Red
Mike Pondsmith is the guy who made the Cyberpunk 2020 tabletop RPG, the blueprint for Cyberpunk 2077. He didn’t just sign off on the game; he consulted closely on its world and tone. He’s the reason Night City feels like a gritty fever dream of future California. So when he drops clues, you should probably listen.
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“There’s another city we visit,” he said during the interview. “Night City is still there… it doesn’t feel like Blade Runner, it’s more like Chicago gone wrong.” His comments align with long-standing fan theories about Orion being set in 2080s Chicago. He even ended the chat with a wink: “I don’t know when to shut up.”
With CDPR’s Boston studio steering the ship and plenty of hard lessons from 2077, Project Orion could be massive. Just don’t expect to jack in anytime soon.
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