Cyberpunk 2077's highly anticipated sequel has officially moved into pre-production, as confirmed by developer CD Projekt Red. While the original game's 2020 launch was marred by technical issues, CDPR's extensive patches and the acclaimed Phantom Liberty DLC transformed it into a critical success. This redemption arc has left fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the Cyberpunk universe.

CD Projekt Red first announced the sequel, tentatively titled "Project Orion," in October 2022. While details remain scarce, we know the game will utilize Unreal Engine 5 instead of the REDengine used for the original. Interestingly, Mike Pondsmith, creator of the Cyberpunk tabletop series, has hinted at a potential setting shift from Night City to a dystopian version of Chicago he describes as "Chicago gone wrong."

According to IGN's report based on CDPR's financial statements, Project Orion (now internally referred to as Cyberpunk 2) has completed its conceptual phase and moved into pre-production. This crucial development stage involves fleshing out game concepts, building prototypes, and assembling the core team. With 96 developers currently assigned to the project from CDPR's 730-person workforce, the studio is clearly prioritizing this sequel alongside other major titles like The Witcher 4.

While pre-production marks significant progress, fans should temper expectations as this early phase typically lasts several years before full production begins. CD Projekt Red currently has multiple projects in development, including a Witcher remake, a Witcher multiplayer game, and a brand new IP, which means resources are spread across various teams.

As we await more concrete details about Cyberpunk 2, the original Cyberpunk 2077 continues its journey with a planned Nintendo Switch 2 port. Additionally, Netflix is developing another Cyberpunk animated project following the massive success of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners in 2022.