Cyberpunk 2077’s Future May Be Stuck in Night City Forever

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As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but share my excitement as whispers about the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 are gradually seeping out. The most recent hint regarding the sequel, internally known as Project Orion, comes from Mike Pondsmith, the mastermind behind the original Cyberpunk tabletop series. He subtly suggests that the sequel will delve into another city apart from Night City. Although the specifics about how Project Orion will distribute the story between these two cities remain unclear, it appears that Night City is still the primary draw for the Cyberpunk franchise in the long run.

Based on Pondsmith’s remarks, Project Orion might be set in Chicago or a city much like it within the Cyberpunk universe. Although the prospect of exploring more of the world beyond Night City and its surrounding wastelands is intriguing, moving too far away from the iconic location could potentially be risky. CD Projekt Red has worked diligently to make Night City the centerpiece of their Cyberpunk universe since games like Cyberpunk 2077, Phantom Liberty DLC, and the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime. Abandoning such a richly developed setting could be squandering its full potential.

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 standout feature of “Cyberpunk 2077” is its expansive map of Night City, a sprawling open world set in a futuristic cityscape where gritty underworld elements contrast with sleek corporate structures. As players embark on the journey to make V a Night City legend, they’ll encounter a variety of unique characters, factions, and settings that contribute to the game’s “Cyberpunk” atmosphere. From neighborhoods like Watson, Westbrook, Santo Domingo, Heywood, Pacifica, Dogtown, and the City Center, each district offers distinct cultural and political differences that enrich the game’s storyline.

In a potential future installment of Cyberpunk 2077, leaving Night City entirely might cut ties to significant elements of its universe, which seems unnecessary given the effort put into creating these vibrant aspects. A nomadic group like the Aldecaldos could potentially bridge the gap between Cyberpunk 2077 and its upcoming sequels, as they can traverse between Night City and other nearby locations. Nevertheless, this would only preserve a fragment of Night City, with the remaining parts likely to change as the series progresses.

Cyberpunk’s Future Entries Could Follow the Like a Dragon Franchise’s Approach to Maps

The strong impulse to introduce gamers to a completely novel city within the Cyberpunk universe might stem from a need for fresh encounters compared to previous games. Yet, it’s feasible to achieve this sense of novelty while remaining in Night City itself, as demonstrated by the Like a Dragon series that repeatedly uses the same maps but manages to keep them engaging through multiple playthroughs. Embracing this method avoids discarding the existing content, and potential future titles like Project Orion could expand upon Night City to reveal how it has evolved over time by incorporating new locations, similar to the addition of Dogtown in the Phantom Liberty DLC.

Future installments of the franchise could adopt a similar structure as “Yakuza: Like a Dragon,” with most of the game set in a newly designed city (akin to Chicago), and the final act transitioning back to the traditional map, which is Night City in this case. This setup would enable Project Orion to primarily unfold within its urban setting, while still offering a return to Night City during the climax. Since Night City in Project Orion might not encompass the full scale of its Cyberpunk 2077 counterpart, introducing players to a piece of Night City’s lively atmosphere in the sequel would help maintain the consistency and richness of the world-building initially established in 2077.

It appears that the launch of Project Orion is yet to occur, as CD Projekt Red has officially confirmed their upcoming title as “The Witcher 4”.

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2025-05-24 18:39