CD Projekt RED has officially confirmed that Cyberpunk 2, the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, is already in the pre-production stage. The news was shared after the presentation of the latest financial report of the Polish company, where clues were also given about the long road that is missing before the game is available to the public.
Cyberpunk 2 officially entered pre-production
The new title, which until recently was known as project orion, thus begins its formal development. The study explained that the conceptual stage of the project has already been completed, in which the key ideas, the creative approach and the general elements of the universe to be built are defined. With this, the team gives way to a much more concrete and operational phase.
The Pre-production It is one of the most important phases in the development of a big budget video game. In this process, the studies plan the technical and artistic aspects, develop prototypes of game mechanics. In addition, they build history drafts and make up the work teams that will take care of bringing all this to reality.
In the case of AAA games like this, pre-production can last for years. It is not a rapid or superficial phase. As said by CD Projekt, work has already begun on the details that will shape this new installment of the cyberpunk universe. This promises to be even more ambitious than its predecessor.
Cyberpunk 2 launch could take up to 2030 or more
During an investor call, Michał Nowakowski, co-executive director of CD Projekt, was consulted about the possible release date of the game. Although he avoided giving a definitive answer, he recognized that an estimated four to five-year term between pre-production and launch is reasonable for this type of project.
That means that Cyberpunk 2 might not see the light until the end of 2030 or even early 2031. Although CD Projekt clarified that each game is unique and can present unforeseen challenges, the panorama points to a fairly long wait.
For now, the official name of the project has become Cyberpunk 2, which marks a change from the initial tentative title, Project Orion.
Few details, but a great ambition
Despite the secrecy, little by little some details of what this sequel will include will be known. One of the most talked about moments occurred during the conference Digital Dragons 2025, where Mike Pondsmith, creator of the original Cyberpunk universe, shared some impressions of his recent visit to CD Projekt offices.
Although this time he got less involved than in Cyberpunk 2077, Pondsmith said he checked out scripts and shares observations with the team. He commented that the new installment will include a completely different city from NIGHT CITY, but that both cities will coexist within the game.
Pondsmith described this new city as a place that “feels like Chicago would have gone wrong“. According to his words, the atmosphere that is being built is dark, decadent and has a different vibe from what was seen in the first game.
A new city, in addition to Night City
Although it has not been confirmed that this is literally Chicago, the description suggests a city with aesthetic inspiration in this American city, but taken to a context dystopian and futuristic, in the classic cyberpunk style. This could imply the inclusion of two playable cities in the same title, which would mark a great evolution compared to the previous game.
In the words of Pondsmith, the environmental design team showed him scenarios and environments are already in development. He mentioned that the feeling that the new spaces convey is different from that of Night City and that, far from resembling Blade Runner, They have a cruder identity, similar to a collapsed North American city for time and abandonment.
CD Projekt Red is in an expansion stage
The Cyberpunk 2 announcement comes at a time of much movement within the studio. After the success of the animated series Cyberpunk: EdgerUnners, which was broadcast on Netflix and revitalized interest in the franchise, CD Projekt works together with Netflix on a new animated production based on this universe.
On the other hand, the original game Cyberpunk 2077 will be relaunched soon on the Nintendo Switch 2 console, which will allow new players to discover the story of V and Night City on a next-generation portable platform.
In addition to all this, The study continues with the development of The Witcher 4, another of the most anticipated projects by the gamer community. The company is clearly focused on expanding and consolidating its two most popular franchises.
