While information about the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 is still quite scarce, some leaks are starting to slip through the cracks. The latest tease for Cyberpunk 2077's sequel, codenamed Project Orion, comes from the creator of the original Cyberpunk tabletop franchise, Mike Pondsmith, who hints that the sequel will visit another city alongside Night City. While it's unclear how Project Orion will divide up the story between two cities, this divide makes it seem like the Cyberpunk franchise is still hitching its trailer to Night City for the long haul.
According to the comments made by Pondsmith, Project Orion could be headed to Chicago or a similar city within the Cyberpunk universe. While it would be exciting to see more of the world beyond the buildings of Night City and its surrounding badlands, moving away from the iconic location entirely could be a risky move. CD Projekt Red has gone through great lengths to establish Night City as the heart of its version of the Cyberpunk universe between releases like Cyberpunk 2077, its Phantom Liberty DLC, and the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime, and casting that aside would be wasted potential.
Cyberpunk 2077's Sequel Has a High Bar to Clear with One Peculiar Weapon
In Cyberpunk 2077, Skippy is an iconic Smart Gun unlike any other, and CD Projekt RED would be remiss not to include it in Project Orion.
Cyberpunk 2077's Night City is Rooted Too Deep to Fall By the Wayside
Night City Will Always Remain the Heart of the Franchise
One of the most striking aspects of Cyberpunk 2077 is its map of Night City, a vast open world set in a futuristic urban environment that balances its seedy underworld with a corporate facade. As players live out the experiences of V and their quest to become a Night City legend, it's clear that the metropolis contains an array of unique NPCs, factions, and environments that aid in building the Cyberpunk aesthetic of the game. Between the districts of Watson, Westbrook, Santo Domingo, Heywood, Pacifica, Dogtown, and the City Center, there are distinct cultural and political differences that serve as a flavorful backdrop for the game's main narrative.
Abandoning Night City completely in a future game would likely sever ties to these important aspects of the C yberpunk 2077 universe, which would feel like a waste given all the time spent establishing these living elements of Cyberpunk's world. It's possible that a nomadic faction like the Aldecaldos could serve as a link between Cyberpunk 2077's and its future sequels, given that they could feasibly travel between Night City and any other nearby location. However, this would still be only salvaging a small slice of the whole Night City pie that can't crumble as the series moves forward.
Cyberpunk's Future Entries Could Follow the Like a Dragon Franchise's Approach to Maps
The urge to unleash players onto a brand-new city in the Cyberpunk universe could stem from a desire to make new entries feel like a fresh experience from their predecessors. However, this could still be possible even within the limits of Night City, as the Like a Dragon series is notorious for reusing its maps while making them feel worth exploring again. Taking this approach doesn't throw the baby out with the bathwater, and future titles like Project Orion could instead build upon Night City to show how it has changed between games, like including new areas similar to the addition of Dogtown in the Phantom Liberty DLC.
New games in the franchise could take the same approach as a game like Yakuza: Like a Dragon, where the majority of the game takes place in a new map before returning to the classic map during the final act of the game. This could allow a game like Project Orion to be largely set within this "Chicago-like" city, with a return to Night City for the game's climax. Even if Night City in Project Orion is only a fraction of its Cyberpunk 2077 version in scope, giving players a slice of Night City's vibrant environment in the sequel would go a long way to ensure that the world-building of 2077 doesn't go to waste.
Project Orion is still likely several years away from release, with CD Projekt Red's next game confirmed to be The Witcher 4.
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
