Project Orion: Why Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel’s Animal Rumor Hints At Setting

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Project Orion: Why Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel's Animal Rumor Hints At Setting

As a dedicated fan who’s spent countless hours immersed in the gritty, neon-lit streets of Night City and beyond, I can’t help but feel a twinge of excitement at the prospect of CD Projekt Red’s Project Orion. While V’s story may have reached its conclusion, the allure of Mike Pondsmith’s sci-fi universe is as irresistible as ever.

The possible follow-up to “Cyberpunk 2077,” dubbed as Project Orion, is generating a lot of buzz despite it being potentially years away. This upcoming game aims to preserve the distinctive flavor and legacy of “Cyberpunk 2077” while learning from its flaws in hopes of improvement.

As a dedicated gamer, I’m curious if Project Orion will indeed serve as a direct sequel to Cyberpunk 2077. Frankly, the multiple endings in Cyberpunk 2077 wrapped up V and Johnny’s tale quite neatly, leaving little room for continuation. However, there’s an intriguing possibility that Orion might whisk us away from Night City’s confines, offering fresh urban landscapes or perhaps even a different timeline, diving deeper into this unsettling glimpse of humanity’s future.

Project Orion’s Ostensible Animal Focus, Explained

Animals Are a Rarity in Cyberpunk 2077, but Perhaps Less So in Project Orion

In simpler terms, a job advertisement from CD Projekt Red for the Character Artist role in ‘Project Orion’ emphasizes knowledge about both human and animal physique and anatomy. This emphasis on animal anatomy indicates that new animal designs might be introduced in ‘Project Orion’, which is typical for most games but could carry significant implications given the unique setting of ‘Cyberpunk’.

In Cyberpunk 2077, there are currently several animals present. However, the fact that CDPR appears keen on creating additional species indicates a possibility of them playing a larger role in any potential future installments.

What The Arrival of More Animals Could Mean for Project Orion

In the game Cyberpunk 2077, there’s a significant lack of both wild and domesticated animals. This scarcity is deeply rooted in the game’s backstory. A few decades prior to the events of the game, major zoonotic outbreaks occurred, leading to the widespread elimination of most animal life, especially in crowded urban areas where people were more vulnerable. Even the “Wildlife in Night City” data fragment hints at the extinction of small insects due to these diseases.

But the obvious counter to this is that animal life is likely more abundant outside of Night City—a notion that is supported by Cyberpunk 2077‘s iguana egg, which comes from the Badlands and must be smuggled into the city. Thus, if CD Projekt Red is indeed planning to introduce more animals for Project Orion, then it would be natural to assume that players will get to see more of the world beyond Night City’s walls. In other words, if animal life is more abundant in rural or untamed regions, and Project Orion is doubling down on animal life, then maybe its setting will incorporate such regions to a greater degree than its predecessor.

As a dedicated fan, I’ve always found it intriguing to ponder different perspectives. The presence of more animals might suggest that Night City is expanding, but it could equally mean more wildlife within its confines. An aspect of Night City lore that intrigued me yet remained underdeveloped in Cyberpunk 2077 is the fact that while owning animals isn’t outright illegal, it’s heavily taxed and reserved for the wealthy. This could be why CDPR is asking for animal designs – perhaps a character or side quest will revolve around this unique privilege in their game world. While intriguing, I can’t help but wonder if a broader focus on the natural world within the game would be even more captivating.

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2024-10-11 02:04