Mike Pondsmith, the creator of the Cyberpunk tabletop RPG that shaped the idea of Cyberpunk 2077, has been discussing CD Projekt’s in-development sequel, saying it’s going to function second metropolis that looks like “Chicago gone flawed”.
CD Projekt confirmed a Cyberpunk 2077 sequel was in the works again in 2022, and solely a scant few particulars have been shared since then. We all know it is at the moment being referred to by the codename Challenge Orion, for example, that it is being developed by CD Projekt’s Boston and Vancouver studios, and… effectively, that is about it.
Pondsmith, although, has now offered what may simply be the primary tangible particulars of CD Projekt’s Cyberpunk 2077 sequel. Talking to TVGRY throughout this 12 months’s Digital Dragons Convention in Krakow, he explained that whereas he is “not as concerned immediately” with Challenge Orion as he was its predecessor, he nonetheless sees the scripts and has been visiting its growth studio.
“Final week,” he revealed, “I used to be wandering round speaking to totally different departments and seeing what that they had… I spent lots of time speaking to one of many setting guys, and he was explaining how the brand new place in Orion… as a result of there’s one other metropolis we go to, and I am not telling you anymore than that.”
Fortunately for everybody (besides, maybe, CD Projekt, which appears unlikely to have sanctioned any of those reveals), Pondsmith did share a little bit extra. First, he confirmed “Evening Metropolis remains to be there” alongside this second location, earlier than teasing how Challenge Orion’s two cities will differentiate themselves. “I bear in mind [the new location] and going, ‘Yeah, I perceive the texture that you are going for, and this actually does work. It does not really feel like Blade Runner, it feels extra like Chicago gone flawed’. And I mentioned, ‘Yeah, I can see this working.'”
Apparently, whereas Pondsmith solely steered Challenge Orion’s second location was like Chicago, followers have lengthy speculated the precise metropolis of Chicago will play a key position in CD Projekt’s sequel. As defined in a fairly comprehensive post on the Cyberpunk subreddit, the in-universe model of Chicago has struggled by means of each an financial collapse, a company warfare, and a bio-plague – so “gone flawed” would very a lot apply right here. Moreover, Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty growth contains a potential ending that may nudge gamers a number of years ahead within the timeline, after which the Transcontinental Maglev Community challenge referenced within the base recreation – one linking Evening Metropolis with Chicago – is revealed to be full.
It is definitely a compelling idea, particularly given Pondsmith’s newest chatter, however there’s clearly no assure any of this may make it by means of the years of growth required to show Challenge Orion – which is currently in the pre-production phase – into an entire and launched recreation. That will not occur till someday after The Witcher 4‘s still-nebulous launch window – however at the very least that leaves loads of time to wrap up the unique Cyberpunk 2077, which is able to soon be making its Nintendo debut on Switch 2.
