The neon-lit streets of Night City might still echo in the minds of players, but CD Projekt Red has its sights firmly set on the future. The studio has officially confirmed that “Project Orion,” the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, has entered pre-production. Backed by a growing development team and a bold technological shift, “Project Orion” aims to push the boundaries of what players expect from open-world sci-fi RPGs.
A New Chapter Begins: Pre-Production in Full Swing
Pre-production is a critical phase where the vision of a game is solidified. For Project Orion, this involves:
- Extensive narrative planning
- Technology exploration
- Prototyping of gameplay systems
- Early world-building efforts
In their March 2025 earnings call, CD Projekt Red confirmed the transition to this phase, emphasizing a more transparent communication strategy—an evolution influenced by the lessons learned during Cyberpunk 2077’s turbulent launch and eventual redemption.
Development leadership for Project Orion rests with Gabe Amatangelo, the creative force behind the Phantom Liberty expansion, a project widely praised for its narrative depth and technical polish. His leadership is expected to anchor the new Cyberpunk game on a more stable and visionary path.
Building a Powerhouse Team Across Continents
The sequel’s development is led primarily by CD Projekt Red North America (Boston and Vancouver), supported by teams from the Warsaw HQ. As of March 2025:
- The team has grown from 60 to 84 members
- CDPR plans to double the staff by the end of 2025
This aggressive scaling highlights their intent to prioritize Project Orion as a major next-generation IP investment. The move mirrors industry trends where AAA RPGs like Starfield and The Witcher 4 require massive global collaboration from day one.
Technology Leap: Goodbye REDengine, Hello Unreal Engine 5
One of the most transformative decisions is CD Projekt Red’s switch to Unreal Engine 5. After years of developing on their proprietary REDengine (which powered both The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077), the studio is embracing Epic Games’ cutting-edge technology for greater flexibility, faster iteration, and higher visual fidelity.
Unreal Engine 5 brings:
- Nanite and Lumen tech for hyper-realistic environments and dynamic lighting
- More efficient world streaming for vast open-worlds
- Easier collaboration across studios
- A wider talent pool familiar with the engine
This change could drastically improve both game stability and production efficiency, two factors that were heavily scrutinized during Cyberpunk 2077’s original release window.
Hints About Gameplay and Setting
Recent job listings have provided some fascinating hints:
- A Senior Gameplay Animator posting highlights a continued emphasis on first-person immersion, suggesting that Project Orion will maintain the player intimacy and role-playing depth seen in Cyberpunk 2077.
- A Lead Encounter Designer role describes the ambition to create the most realistic and reactive crowd AI ever seen in gaming.
This suggests a future Cyberpunk world that is not just visually breathtaking, but also socially dynamic—where citizens and environments react intelligently to the player’s actions in ways that exceed the original.
Will Multiplayer Finally Make Its Debut?
One of Cyberpunk 2077’s missing promises was multiplayer. While it was quietly shelved post-launch in favor of stabilizing the main game, rumors and insider reports suggest that Project Orion may revisit the concept.
Although no official announcement has been made, the idea of a shared-world cyberpunk RPG—inspired perhaps by games like Destiny 2 or GTA Online—has excited the fanbase. If multiplayer features are added, they could offer co-op missions, dynamic heists, or even full-scale urban turf wars in sprawling neon metropolises.
Timeline: When Could We Play It?
Project Orion is still years away. Analysts estimate:
- Full production likely beginning in 2026
- Release window targeted for 2028–2030
- Potential optimization for next-generation consoles beyond PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
Considering CD Projekt Red’s commitment to polishing their future projects, a longer timeline could be a positive sign rather than a concern.
Setting Speculations: Night City or New Horizons?
It remains uncertain whether Orion will revisit Night City or introduce a brand-new setting within the Cyberpunk universe. Given the immense lore in Cyberpunk 2020 and Cyberpunk RED (the tabletop predecessors), CD Projekt has vast worlds to draw from—including:
- Pacifica’s unfinished expansion zones
- New corporate-dominated cities elsewhere in the world
- Post-collapse wastelands ripe for scavenging narratives
Expanding beyond Night City would give the franchise new environmental palettes, cultures, and political landscapes to explore.
Why Project Orion Matters
Cyberpunk 2077 became a case study in redemption. After a rocky launch, patches, updates, and the Phantom Liberty expansion helped reframe it as a standout RPG. Project Orion represents more than just a sequel—it’s a chance for CD Projekt Red to redefine the cyberpunk genre on their own terms, with lessons learned, technology embraced, and ambition unchained.
If they succeed, Project Orion could sit among the likes of Mass Effect 2, The Witcher 3, and Red Dead Redemption 2 as one of the defining RPG experiences of a generation.
No New Game Plus Mode (Yet) On Cyberpunk 2077
While Cyberpunk 2077 officially lacks a NG+ (New Game Plus) mode, the modding community has developed alternatives that allow players to experience Night City with enhanced capabilities. These unofficial solutions aim to address what many players consider a missing feature in CD Projekt Red’s RPG.
Enhanced Gameplay Mechanics
The unofficial New Game Plus mods for Cyberpunk 2077 allow players to carry over character progression elements when starting a new playthrough. Players can retain their earned abilities, weapons, and cyberware from previous playthroughs. This retention of power creates a different gameplay experience when revisiting early missions.
The mod versions typically preserve character level, attribute points, and perk investments. This means V enters the second playthrough with significantly more combat options and dialog choices tied to attribute thresholds.
Some implementations include rebalanced enemy scaling to maintain challenge despite the player’s increased power. Without this adjustment, early game encounters would become trivially easy with end-game gear and abilities.
Added Content and DLC Integration
The community-created New Game Plus options attempt to integrate Phantom Liberty DLC content with the base game experience. Players can access Dogtown earlier in the storyline through certain mod configurations.
These mods sometimes add exclusive rewards for second playthroughs, such as:
- Unique weapons variants
- Special cyberware options
- Additional cosmetic items
- Alternative dialog paths
Integration with existing content remains somewhat limited, as the game wasn’t designed with New Game Plus in mind. The lead quest designer explained that the narrative structure doesn’t naturally support the mode, making full integration challenging.
Mod creators have had to work around these limitations to provide a cohesive experience that honors both player progression and narrative consistency.
Difficulty and Balance Adjustments
Unofficial New Game Plus implementations address the balance issues that concerned the developers. These mods typically include scaling mechanisms that increase enemy difficulty proportionally with player power.
Some modifications add new challenge tiers beyond the base game’s “Very Hard” setting. These enhanced difficulties feature:
- Smarter enemy AI behaviors
- Increased damage multipliers
- Reduced healing effectiveness
- Limited ammunition availability
The balance changes aim to maintain tension throughout the second playthrough. Without these adjustments, players with maxed-out attributes and legendary gear would face little opposition.
Many mods offer customization options to fine-tune the experience based on player preference. This allows for personalized difficulty that provides the right level of challenge while still benefiting from carried-over progression.
Technical Enhancements and Community Mods
Cyberpunk 2077’s technical landscape has evolved dramatically since launch, with both official updates and community-created modifications filling gaps in the game experience. The modding community has been particularly active in implementing features players have requested but haven’t yet been officially included.
Graphics and Performance Upgrades
The 2.0 Update for Cyberpunk 2077 brought significant visual and performance improvements across all platforms. On PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, players now enjoy ray tracing options previously only available on high-end PCs.
Frame rates have been stabilized, with fewer drops during intense action sequences and vehicle combat. The lighting system received a complete overhaul, making Night City feel more alive with realistic neon reflections and dynamic shadows.
The Photo Mode also benefited from these upgrades, with additional filters and pose options for capturing the perfect screenshot. PC players with newer hardware can push visual fidelity even further with DLSS 3.0 support and improved texture streaming.
Mod Support and New Game Plus Mods
While CD Projekt RED hasn’t implemented an official New Game Plus mode, the modding community has created several alternatives. The most popular New Game Plus mod avoids modifying original game files and only changes certain scenes when necessary.
This mod allows players to:
- Keep all weapons and gear
- Retain skill progression
- Maintain vehicle collection
- Access previously completed areas
The mod works by creating a new save state that tricks the game into thinking certain content has already been completed. Some mods require additional files to activate with New Game Plus, especially those that add new weapons or gameplay features.
Community apps have emerged to help players manage their mod collections efficiently. These tools scan for conflicts and help optimize load orders for the best experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Players have many questions about Cyberpunk 2077’s potential New Game Plus mode and the upcoming Sequel:
Does Cyberpunk 2077 Have A New Game Plus mode?
Cyberpunk 2077 does not have an official New Game Plus mode. The lead quest designer has previously suggested that NG+ would potentially “break” the core story experience of the game.
CD Projekt Red has indicated that if implemented, NG+ would be considered a bonus mode where players could enjoy their accumulated gear and skills in a new playthrough.
What is the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel called?
The sequel is currently codenamed “Project Orion.” The official title will likely be revealed closer to release.
Who is developing Project Orion?
Project Orion is being developed by CD Projekt Red North America, based in Boston and Vancouver, with additional support from CD Projekt Red’s headquarters in Warsaw, Poland.
What stage of development is Project Orion in?
As of early 2025, Project Orion is in the pre-production phase, where the team is building core gameplay systems, story foundations, and early prototypes.
When is Project Orion expected to release?
There is no official release date yet. Based on the current development timeline, the game is likely to launch between 2028 and 2030.
Will Project Orion use the REDengine like Cyberpunk 2077?
No. Project Orion is being built using Unreal Engine 5, which should enable higher graphical fidelity, improved performance, and faster development workflows.
Will Project Orion continue using a first-person perspective?
Yes, based on job listings and design descriptions, first-person immersion will remain a key feature of the sequel, similar to Cyberpunk 2077.
Will Project Orion include multiplayer?
Multiplayer features are rumored but not officially confirmed. CD Projekt Red has suggested that multiplayer may play a larger role in their future games, and Project Orion is a likely candidate for these experiments.
Will the sequel be set in Night City again?
The setting has not been confirmed. While it’s possible we’ll revisit Night City, there’s also speculation that Project Orion could explore new locations within the broader Cyberpunk universe.
Who is directing Project Orion?
Gabe Amatangelo, who directed the Phantom Liberty expansion for Cyberpunk 2077, is leading the development of Project Orion.
What improvements can players expect in Project Orion?
- More reactive crowds and AI systems
- Higher graphical fidelity with Unreal Engine 5
- Expanded role-playing and immersion features
- Potential multiplayer modes
- A stronger, more polished launch based on lessons learned from Cyberpunk 2077
