Will the Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel be Worth the Wait?

There’s a strong sense of anticipation in the gaming world, and it’s all focused on the upcoming follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077, which many are calling “Project Orion.” The original Cyberpunk 2077 didn’t have the smoothest launch when it arrived in 2020, but it’s come a long way since then. Not only did it receive a major overhaul through patches and updates, but its expansion, Phantom Liberty, further cemented its position as a world-class role-playing experience. Now, the question everyone’s asking is whether this sequel will rise above its predecessor’s early struggles and deliver something truly special.

A Fresh Start for a Futuristic World

Project Orion is currently being developed by CD Projekt Red’s North American division, involving teams in both Vancouver and Boston. Some of the original talent behind Cyberpunk 2077 has even relocated to Boston, which shows the studio’s commitment to bringing forward the best minds for this new instalment. Gabe Amatangelo, best known for his role in directing Phantom Liberty, is leading development and seems eager to build on the good aspects of Cyberpunk 2077 while tackling some of the negatives that were so widely reported.

One of the biggest promises is the decision to stick with a first-person perspective. Some fans were worried they might shift to third-person, but it looks like they’re staying true to the original feel of Night City. It’s a smart move, considering that many players found the first-person viewpoint made every neon-lit street and high-tech hideout more personal and intense. This sense of immersion was one of Cyberpunk 2077’s strong points, so it’s good to see it retained rather than scrapped for a different style.

An Ambitious Development Path

CD Projekt Red hasn’t revealed much about Project Orion, but there’s a lot to suggest they’re aiming high. The development team is using Unreal Engine 5, which is known for its capacity to produce extremely detailed graphics and lifelike environments. This engine upgrade might help eliminate some of the technical pitfalls that plagued Cyberpunk 2077 upon release. Early talk about the game says that visuals will be pushed to a whole new level, especially when it comes to lighting and character detail.

One of the major features in the works is a more realistic and responsive crowd system. The original game received criticism for having non-player characters who didn’t feel all that dynamic. This time around, the goal is to give the streets an energy that reflects a living, breathing city of the future. They’ve hired a lead encounter designer to concentrate on creating interactive crowds and layered city life. If they pull this off, it could redefine what we expect from open-world games, making every alley and rooftop feel loaded with its own stories waiting to unfold.

Financially, CD Projekt Red seems to be in a good place to fund these ambitious ideas. During the third quarter of 2024, the company recorded significant profits without launching any new title, relying instead on continued sales of Cyberpunk 2077 and its expansion. That solid financial footing means Project Orion can benefit from a well-resourced development cycle, hopefully avoiding the kind of rush or compromise that led to the original game’s bumpy debut.

A Ripple Across Entertainment

Despite the troubles, Cyberpunk 2077 faced when it first appeared, its eventual success left a mark far beyond the confines of traditional gaming. It’s not just that it found a loyal fanbase and soared in popularity once patches and updates were released—its futuristic, neon-drenched aesthetic spurred other media creators to take notice. Films, TV shows and even comic books leaned more heavily on dystopian science fiction elements, often citing Cyberpunk 2077 as part of the inspiration.

Interestingly, the influence didn’t stop with movies and streaming series. Online casinos picked up on the hype, releasing slot titles like Cyberpunk City and Cyberpunk War, which have made quite a splash with gamblers. These casino games use the same edgy style and techno-driven ideas that Cyberpunk 2077 popularised. The fact that the neon urban world of Cyberpunk could make such a smooth leap into the sister casinos space shows how powerful the theme’s become. It’s rare for a single game to pave the way for so many spin-offs in entertainment. Yet here we are, with a whole ecosystem of cyberpunk-inspired attractions, and Project Orion stands to push this trend even further.

Is It All Worth the Wait?

That’s the big question. Enthusiasm for the sequel is high, but it’s tempered by memories of the difficulties the original had right out of the gate. Still, many players are excited because CD Projekt Red demonstrated with Phantom Liberty that it can learn, adapt and produce strong expansions. The company’s open communication about Project Orion so far—highlighting its shift to Unreal Engine 5, the improved crowd systems, and a continued first-person perspective—suggests they’re listening to what people really want from a Cyberpunk game.

Sceptics might argue that no matter how good a sequel is, it can never truly wipe away the memory of that rocky launch. However, the gaming industry is full of comeback stories. No Man’s Sky, for instance, turned around its fortunes with consistent updates and expansions. Cyberpunk 2077 did much the same over time. If CD Projekt Red applies the lessons learned—particularly in quality control, performance optimisation and open communication—they could end up delivering the cyberpunk dream fans hoped for from day one.

Of course, nobody should expect Project Orion to land in the near future. The scale of what CDPR is aiming for, plus the fact they’re still building up the team (currently at around 64 developers), points to a lengthy timeline. They’ve made it clear that they want to take the time they need, presumably to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Patience might be hard, especially when players are keen to dive back into that neon world of corporate conspiracies and cybernetic implants, but a later release could mean a better game from day one.

In the end, whether the sequel is worth the wait depends on how much you love the cyberpunk genre, how invested you are in Night City’s vision of the future and whether you trust CD Projekt Red to deliver on its promises. The signs are encouraging: a stable financial backing, a proven director at the helm, a high-powered engine, a refined development process and a passionate community eager to see how the story continues. That alone might be enough to justify keeping an eye on this ambitious project.

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