Your cyberpunk desires simply obtained an improve. CD Projekt Red’s Project Orion isn’t content material with simply sharpening Evening Metropolis’s neon-soaked streets—they’re constructing a completely new city hellscape so that you can discover. Mike Pondsmith, the tabletop legend who created the Cyberpunk universe, dropped intel at Digital Dragons 2025 a couple of second metropolis that seems like “Chicago gone mistaken.”
Whereas taking a backseat function in comparison with the unique sport, Pondsmith nonetheless opinions scripts and checks out cyberware designs. The environmental design workforce confirmed him their second metropolis, and his reaction was telling: “It doesn’t really feel like Blade Runner, it feels extra like Chicago gone mistaken.”
Past the Neon: A Grittier City Expertise
That’s not company communicate—that’s a elementary shift in ambiance. Evening Metropolis gave you that slick, tech-noir fantasy with towering megabuildings and holographic ads. This new location sounds rawer, extra industrial. Suppose much less shiny company dystopia, extra rust-belt apocalypse.
You received’t simply be getting Evening Metropolis 2.0 with completely different avenue names. This seems like they’re constructing distinct cultures, economies, and social buildings for every location. It’s giving primary character power to each cities as an alternative of 1 being the plain DLC afterthought.
After Cyberpunk 2077’s rocky launch and eventual redemption arc, CD Projekt must show they’ll ship one thing genuinely formidable with out breaking your console. The timing is smart for this expanded scope.
The Actuality Test
Right here’s the place expectations meet improvement schedules. Solely 84 individuals out of CD Projekt’s 707-person workforce are engaged on Orion proper now. The Witcher 4 is sucking up most assets, which implies you’re ready years, not months.
Venture Orion remains to be in idea improvement. Elementary design selections are nonetheless being made. Your endurance might be examined, however they’re taking time as an alternative of dashing one other catastrophe launch.
The Nintendo Switch 2 port dropping alongside the brand new console exhibits CD Projekt is considering strategically about platform attain. Good transfer—get the franchise in entrance of extra gamers whereas the sequel cooks.
What This Really Means for You
Two cities means extra selection in your gameplay expertise. Totally different environments ought to translate to completely different mission varieties, story branches, and cultural dynamics. You’re getting completely different content material, not simply extra content material.
The “Chicago gone mistaken” description hints at financial collapse themes that would make compelling storytelling. Actual-world city decay by way of a cyberpunk lens has severe narrative potential if executed proper.
Your greatest query must be whether or not CD Projekt can handle the scope with out compromising high quality. Constructing one convincing futuristic metropolis is tough sufficient. Two distinct places with their very own identities? That’s exponentially extra complicated.
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