Towards the end of September 2023, the acclaimed expansion “Phantom Liberty” (as reviewed on Golem.de) for Cyberpunk 2077 was finally released by the Polish development studio. Now, the team is gearing up for “Orion” – the working title for the next installment in the series. Lead quest designer Pawel Sasko shared insights about the project in an interview with The Neon Arcade.
“When it comes to tools, there’s still a lot to be done,” mentioned Sasko. “Our RED Engine is tailored to so many specific aspects. Naturally, we have to ensure everything is structured correctly so we can make games just the way we envision.” Currently, work is ongoing on the tools, but the developer didn’t delve into specifics.
In March 2023, CD Projekt Red and Epic Games entered into an extensive collaboration lasting a minimum of 15 years. This collaboration explicitly goes beyond a mere licensing agreement, aiming for a “long-term technology partnership,” as stated by Pawel Zawodny, CD Projekt Red’s Chief Technology Officer, at the time.
Part of the Cyberpunk 2077 team seems to be set: Gabriel Amatangelo, the Game Director from the first installment, is returning, along with Narrative Director Igor Sarinski and Sarah Gruemmer as an Expert Quest Designer. Apparently, Pawel Sasko is also involved in Orion.
The team is currently in the process of relocating from Poland to Boston. While the second Cyberpunk 2077 is set to be developed in both locations, the primary leadership appears to be in Boston.
When is the second Cyberpunk 2077 coming out?
According to previous statements from CD Projekt Red, several dozen developers are slated to work on Project Orion until the end of 2024. The exact release date remains uncertain. Players will likely have to wait at least two to three years, possibly longer.
In addition to a sequel, there will also be a movie or TV series, presented in live-action – featuring real actors. CD Projekt hasn’t revealed specifics but has simply referred to it as a “project.” This project is being created in collaboration with the film production company Anonymous Content.
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