It will be quite a while before gaming audiences see hair or hide of Project Orion, the enigmatic sequel to Cyberpunk 2077. Though it's shrouded in mystery, and will likely remain so for some time, Project Orion has a lot riding on it, both in terms of CD Projekt Red's reputation and Cyberpunk 2077's ongoing identity.
It will also be going toe-to-toe with other urban open-world games, which are decidedly few and far between. They used to be more prominent, but it would seem that, at some point during the last decade, developers chose to back away from such settings, perhaps worried about playing second fiddle to Grand Theft Auto—a series that has reigned supreme in the urban open-world space despite being dormant since 2013. And GTA is definitely still the undisputed king of the urban sandbox, with many gamers anticipating a reprisal of Rockstar's signature world design come GTA 6. But it looks like Cyberpunk 2077's successor could be looking to compete with Rockstar's meticulous design, at least on one front.
Although Unlikely, Cyberpunk 2077 Deserves More DLC After Phantom Liberty
Phantom Liberty proves Cyberpunk 2077 still has untapped potential, and Project Orion should build on its success with multiple expansions.
CD Projekt Red Wants Project Orion To Have the 'Most Realistic' Crowds of any Game
According to a recent Project Orion job listing, CD Projekt Red is seeking an experienced encounter designer who can help "create the most realistic and reactive crowd system in any game to date." Now, this is obviously a rather lofty claim, and it's possible that the developer is being a bit theatrical. After all, it's often viewed as beneficial to position a big-budget game as "the best ever," as this generates hype and attracts investors.
But assuming that CDPR is being earnest with its ambitions here, there are a lot of potential variables that would factor into achieving the cited goal. Terms like "realistic" and "reactive" are broad, but it can be reasonably inferred that the developer wants its NPCs to engage with both player behavior and dynamic world events in a believable and flexible manner. For instance, it's not exactly complicated to make innocent NPCs run away from a player brandishing a weapon, but it's considerably more difficult to program these NPCs to identify the safest or most expedient routes to safety. As far as how crowds will specifically function in Project Orion, it's hard to say without knowing more about the game. CDPR could give every NPC unique dialog responses or personalities, for example.
Unrealistic, immersion-shattering NPC AI was among the most common criticisms of Cyberpunk 2077 at launch, so it's possible that this renewed focus on crowd design is a response to that.
Project Orion Could Be Going Up Against GTA 6's Crowd Systems
In the wake of the granularly designed Red Dead Redemption 2, there's an expectation that GTA 6 will feature a similar degree of realism and attention to detail. Red Dead Redemption 2's NPCs, somewhat famously, all follow a unique schedule, with Rockstar's designers factoring in things like work, hobbies, and whether the character has a family. All of this is to say that, if one were looking to identify "the most realistic and reactive crowd system" in gaming, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a strong candidate.
Assuming GTA 6 builds upon this widely lauded feature, then there's a good chance it could set a new gold standard, thereby putting it in direct competition with Project Orion. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that Project Orion is putting itself in direct competition with GTA 6, as it is seemingly trying to beat GTA at its own game, as it were. One thing is certain: CD Projekt Red and Rockstar are both incredibly ambitious studios, so they're unlikely to pull any punches, either with crowd design or across any other vector.
Cyberpunk 2077
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 76 /100 Critics Rec: 66%
- Released
- December 10, 2020
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Publisher(s)
- CD Projekt Red
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?
- Engine
- REDengine 4
- Cross-Platform Play
- ps, xbox, pc
- Cross Save
- yes
- Franchise
- Cyberpunk
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- How Long To Beat
- 25 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
