Project Orion, the codename for the Sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, still remains relatively unknown at this point in time. Thankfully, Mike Pondsmith, the creator of Cyberpunk, has let slip some details for the game that should wet players’ appetites. Pondsmith, who developed the Cyberpunk 2020 Tabletop RPG, worked closely on the CD Projekt Red game that was released in 2020 and has sold over 30 million units since its release.
During the Digital Dragons 2025 Conference, Mike was asked about the scope of his involvement this time around, with Project Orion. Responding to the question, he stated he wasn’t involved creatively this time around but instead reviewed scripts, as well as having traveled to the studio to review ongoing work.
He stated:
Last week I was wandering around talking to different departments, and seeing what they had, ‘Oh look, this is the new cyberware, what do you think?’ ‘Oh yeah, that’s pretty good, that works here.’
After this minor information, he dropped the biggest detail we have gotten so far. Night City is set to return in the sequel, a setting that has been present across most of the material throughout the series. We will also be seeing a new city that Pondscript has described as “like Chicago gone wrong.” Speaking about the setting, he stated:
I spent a lot of time talking to one of the environment guys, and he was explaining how the new place in Orion, because there’s another city we visit — I’m not telling you any more than that but there’s another city we visit. And Night City is still there. But I remember looking at it and going, yeah I understand the feel you’re going for this, and this really does work. And it doesn’t feel like Blade Runner, it feels more like Chicago gone wrong. I said, ‘Yeah, I can see this working.
Night City, while not a real city, is set in southern California and draws some noticeable inspiration from cities like Los Angeles. Pondsmith’s statement makes it sound like this new city will itself draw inspiration from cities rather than be a direct translation, though whether this new city will exist on a separate map or will be reachable from Night City.
There is some additional debate on whether we can expect Night City to return as we remember it or if it will see some alteration in the Project Orion. There are a lot of viable options here that still need to be filled out, but there is additionally no word on if the Cyberpunk 2077 follow-up will be titled 78, or potentially 99. I imagine once we learn what year the game will be set, we can begin piecing together how much might shift.
Project Orion is being developed by a new studio under CD Projekt, which was established in Boston. Currently, CD Projekt RED is hard at work on The Witcher 4, which was announced during the VGA awards at the end of 2024, with only 84 of the 707 employees at the studio assigned to Project Orion, with the rest working on the newest Witcher title. The newest Cyberpunk is described to be in the concept stage, so much could be subject to change. Cyberpunk 2077 is slated to make its debut on a Nintendo platform, releasing alongside the Nintendo Switch 2. There is also a follow-up to the critically acclaimed Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime in the works, though if it will tie into the sequel remains to be known. A Live-Action project set in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe was also announced, though it has remained quiet since.
Remember to follow us on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date on everything we have going on!
