Summary
Few games have successfully bounced back from negative reception in the way thatCyberpunk 2077has. Since its initial rocky launch, CD Projekt Red has worked tirelessly to see its original vision forCyberpunk 2077come to fruition, culminating in 2023’s incredibly ambitious 2.1 update and the launch of the Phantom Liberty DLC expansion. Now, the game continually lands at or near the top of bestseller lists on digital storefronts and has a respectable concurrent Steam player count of roughly 60,000 on average. CD Projekt Red has successfully restored goodwill from fans thanks to its efforts to bringCyberpunk 2077into the state it was meant to ship in, but it’s also set a high bar for the in-development sequel.
First announced in October 2022 along with several other in-development titles at CD Projekt Red, “Project Orion” is the working codename for the sequel toCyberpunk 2077. Little is known about the project at this point save for the staff involved, which includes Phantom Liberty director Gabe Amatangelo reprising his directorial duties on the propersequel toCyberpunk 2077. Considering the overwhelmingly positive response to the 2.1 update and Phantom Liberty, it’s safe to say that Project Orion has some big shoes to fill in the narrative and gameplay departments.
Between the base game and Phantom Liberty, there’s actually not much traditional cyberpunk space left untouched by CD Project Red for a future game. All the major themes of cyberpunk science fiction are to be found inthe best quests fromCyberpunk 2077. The relationship between man and machine, what happens when those lines are blurred, the power dynamics between governments and corporations, and the merging of disparate cultures and classes in society get explored in depth and from various angles thanks toCyberpunk 2077’s flexible life-path system.
That’s not to say that the writers and director behind Project Orion won’t find ways to surprise fans, but they may need to venture into foreign territory in order to do so. One area that is rife for further exploration in the nextCyberpunkgame is that of body horror, opening up the potential for the game to delve deeper into the psychological and physiological dilemmas that arise when the machine parts merged with organic tissue begin to betray the bodies they’re supposed to enhance.BothCyberpunk 2077and Phantom Libertytouch on these body horror elements, but the full sequel could embrace the concept as part of its main narrative.
In terms of gameplay, there’s definitely some paths that Project Orion could venture down to see it surpass its predecessor, with an expanded and revised version of the RPG progression systems sticking out as a primary candidate. CD Project Red has gone to great lengths to improve the formerly clunky RPG progression ofCyberpunk 2077. The current state of these systems is much easier to understand and featuresCyberpunkperks and stat bonusesthat provide a tangible impact on how characters perform in combat.
The additions to the base game that have arrived courtesy of continual patches andthe 2.1Cyberpunk 2077Updatethat significantly overhauls the core experience have had the cumulative effect of makingCyberpunk 2077closer than it ever has been to the promise of its initial reveal.Cyberpunk 2077used to seem like a game that was too good to be true, and that same hype has both negatively and positively impacted the game throughout its redemption arc. If Project Orion is going to avoid the same initial missteps and truly stick the landing, CD Project Red has its work cut out for it.
Cyberpunk 2077
WHERE TO PLAY
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades.The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?
