CD Projekt Red is actively developing the follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077, a project that was initially announced in 2022. To facilitate this effort, the Polish game developer established a new studio in Boston, Massachusetts, which is set to collaborate with its Vancouver team on the action role-playing game. While the studio disclosed plans for The Witcher 4 in December, information regarding the Cyberpunk sequel has been scarce. Recent job listings have unveiled new insights about one of the anticipated enhancements in the game’s open world.
Insights into the Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel
Recent role descriptions for an open position at the Boston studio indicate that the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel aims to incorporate “the most realistic and reactive crowd system in any game to date.”
The studio is currently seeking a Lead Encounter Designer for the sequel, codenamed Orion. In the job description, potential candidates are tasked with “formulating solutions for and creating memorable gameplay encounters that will thrill and excite our players.”
Among the daily responsibilities, the new hire is expected to “work closely with the systems design team to develop the most realistic and reactive crowd system in any game to date.”
While job listings generally offer a preliminary glimpse into a development team’s aims, this description signals that CD Projekt Red is setting ambitious standards for the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077.
Cyberpunk 2077 sequel could enhance crowd interactions and realism
Photo Credit: CD Projekt Red
Overview of Orion
The developer unveiled Project Orion in October 2022, indicating that the game would extend the Cyberpunk franchise and further explore the potential of its dystopian universe.
The newly established Boston studio is complementing the efforts of the Vancouver team as part of CD Projekt Red’s North American operations.
Like The Witcher 4 and other forthcoming titles in the series, Orion is being built using Unreal Engine 5. In a 2023 interview, Cyberpunk 2077 director Gabe Amatangelo remarked that the transition from the in-house REDengine to Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5 didn’t feel like “starting from scratch.”
As of now, CD Projekt Red has not disclosed specific information regarding the narrative or setting of the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel. Additionally, no timeline has been confirmed for its release, suggesting that the RPG is still several years from completion.
