How Cyberpunk 2077: Project Orion Could Cut Against the Grain of the First Game’s Endings

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Initially unveiled as “Project Orion” in October 2022 and more casually referred to as “Cyberpunk 2“, the upcoming title from CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 series finds itself with a challenging mission. A game once criticized for one of the most underwhelming debuts in video game history is now lauded as one of the best Role-Playing Games (RPG) currently available, placing immense pressure on “Project Orion” to not only recreate its redemption storyline but also innovate and advance the series further.

Project Orion should strongly consider examining the various endings from Cyberpunk 2077’s predecessor as a way to enhance and surpass the original game. While Cyberpunk 2077’s endings maintain a consistent somber, bitter-sweet or melancholic tone reflecting the genre’s intensity, some players feel that this lack of positive outcomes undermines the impact of player choices, as their actions seem to ultimately amount to nothing. Project Orion can break free from this pattern by introducing more varied tones in its conclusions, thereby offering a more rewarding experience to players, regardless of any genre conventions.

Project Orion’s Endings Could Shift the Tone of Cyberpunk 2077’s Legacy

Why Cyberpunk 2077’s Endings Felt So Bleak

In essence, it’s important to acknowledge that the endings in Cyberpunk 2077 align well with the genre’s typical grim and pessimistic tone. This genre, recognized for its “high tech, low life” premise, provides a dystopian backdrop where technology flourishes but society crumbles. The gloominess stems from the cynical perspective of a future dominated by powerful corporations, leaving ordinary people in a marginalized state. Given such thematic constraints, it’s challenging for a game like Cyberpunk 2077 to present any ray of hope or optimism.

A significant part revolves around a pervasive and broad decline of human essence, which the game Cyberpunk 2077 delves deeply into. In this universe, humanity seems to have forfeited its essence, replacing qualities such as empathy and kindness with greed and ambition for power. Consequently, it’s no wonder why the game’s conclusions would never instill any sense of optimism in players. It’s not merely the somber tone of Cyberpunk 2077’s endings that leaves a bitter taste, but also how it establishes barriers that the choices made during the storyline are unable to surmount.

How Project Orion Could Defy Those Expectations

Instead of ensuring players experience a joyful or ideal conclusion directly, it’s more about providing them with a satisfying ending – one that breaks the norms and conventions typical in Cyberpunk subgenre. By incorporating such an ending, Project Orion could solidify itself as the next step forward from Cyberpunk 2077, offering players ample room to influence their narrative, since the significance of their choices lies in their effects on the resolution. While it’s true that a positive conclusion may be uncommon in the Cyberpunk universe, stories that let their characters carve their own path require endings that mirror this design.

For a game like Project Orion to truly engage players, it should aim to provide at least one ending that leaves players hopeful about the future, making them believe their choices throughout the story have significance. In contrast, some players may find it tedious to explore all endings in Cyberpunk 2077 because, although they vary, they don’t significantly impact the player’s emotional response. What Project Orion needs to focus on is not just the specific outcomes of each ending but how those conclusions resonate with players.

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2025-08-28 18:35