The sequel to CD Projekt’s action role-playing game, Cyberpunk 2077, will feature a Chicago inspired city that took a turn for the worse.
During an interview at Digital Dragons 2025 in Krakow, Poland, Cyberpunk universe creator Mike Pondsmith revealed that the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, Project Orion, will feature a new Chicago inspired city in addition to Night City.
Pondsmith mentioned that the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 will take players to a new city in addition to Night City that doesn’t feel like Blade Runner and instead is a version of Chicago that’s gone wrong. Upon seeing concept footage of the city, he told the development team that he understood the vibe that it is going for and approved of it. The Cyberpunk universe creator jokingly ended the interview by saying, “I don’t know when to shut up.” This all but confirms fan theories regarding the next entry in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe taking players to Chicago.
Previously, a job listing for the position of Senior Gameplay Animator at CD Projekt Red had hinted that the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel will be playable only from the first person perspective, excluding vehicular sections that will likely allow the switch to third person view, like in the original. Additionally, the list of job qualifications included mention of experience with motion matching as a plus, suggesting that the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel will take advantage of the advanced animation technology to implement more realistic and seamless animations. This was supported by the job listing for the position of Lead Encounter Designer at CD Projekt Red, which stated that the studio is looking to create the “most realistic and reactive crowd system in any game to date.”
During an interview, CD Projekt’s Pawel Sasko had shared that, after the Cyberpunk 2077 debacle, CD Projekt is hoping to win back some of its fans through its sequel. Read about it here.
