Cyberpunk 2 Enters Pre-Production at CD Projekt

CD Projekt Red has officially confirmed that Cyberpunk 2, the highly anticipated sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, is now in pre-production. The announcement came during the studio's latest financial results presentation, which also revealed that the Phantom Liberty expansion surpassed 10 million copies sold.

Development Teams Shaping CDPR's Future

Currently, 96 of CD Projekt's 730 developers are focused on Cyberpunk 2, while the majority (422 team members) are hard at work on The Witcher 4. This allocation suggests both projects remain distant from release, though we now know the Cyberpunk sequel's official codename: Orion.

Insider Glimpses Into Cyberpunk 2's Development

Cyberpunk creator Mike Pondsmith recently shared intriguing details about Orion at Digital Dragons 2025. While noting his reduced direct involvement compared to the original game, Pondsmith revealed he reviews scripts and provides feedback during studio visits.

"During my last visit," Pondsmith recounted, "I explored various departments seeing their progress. The team would show me designs like new cyberware prototypes, asking 'What do you think?' I'd offer feedback like 'That works well here.'"

A Dystopian Urban Expansion

The most tantalizing revelation concerns Cyberpunk 2's setting. While Night City will return, Orion will introduce a completely new metropolitan area that Pondsmith describes as "Chicago gone wrong."

"The environment team explained their vision for this new location," Pondsmith continued. "It captures a distinct dystopian aesthetic - not Blade Runner-esque, but rather evoking a corrupted version of Chicago's urban landscape."

Important clarification: Pondsmith's description refers to thematic inspiration rather than confirming Chicago as the actual setting. This new city may simply embody similar dystopian qualities.

CD Projekt's Expansive Development Pipeline

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Debates are emerging about whether Cyberpunk 2 will expand Night City or feature a completely rebuilt version. While many details remain speculative, the confirmation of a second major urban environment suggests substantial scope expansion.

The studio maintains a packed schedule beyond game development. A new Cyberpunk animated project follows the acclaimed Edgerunners series on Netflix, while Cyberpunk 2077 prepares for its Nintendo Switch 2 launch next month.