Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel Cyberpunk 2 Enters Pre-Production — and Yes, CD Projekt Is Officially Calling It Cyberpunk 2 Now

CD Projekt Red has officially confirmed that Cyberpunk 2 (formerly known as Orion) has entered pre-production, as revealed in the studio’s latest financial report. The announcement highlighted the massive success of the Phantom Liberty expansion for Cyberpunk 2077, which has surpassed 10 million copies sold.

Currently, 96 developers out of CD Projekt Red's total workforce of 730 are dedicated to working on Cyberpunk 2. Meanwhile, the largest team segment—422 staff members—is focused on developing The Witcher 4. Although both titles remain some distance from release, the official title Cyberpunk 2 has now replaced its previous codename.

We still know very little about Cyberpunk 2, but creator Mike Pondsmith recently shared new insights. During the Digital Dragons 2025 conference, Pondsmith—who played a key role in the original game’s development and marketing—discussed his involvement with the sequel. He noted that while he is less hands-on this time, he reviews scripts and visits the studio to observe progress.

“I spent last week wandering around talking to different departments,” Pondsmith shared. “They’d show me new cyberware and ask for my take, like ‘Oh look, what do you think?’ I’d reply, ‘Yeah, that’s pretty good, it works here.’”

Pondsmith also revealed a major addition: Cyberpunk 2 will feature an entirely new city alongside the familiar Night City. He described this setting as “like Chicago gone wrong.”

“I chatted extensively with one of our environment artists,” he explained. “He told me about another location we visit in Orion, though I won’t say more than that. Night City remains, but this new place has a distinct vibe. It doesn’t feel like Blade Runner; it feels more like Chicago gone wrong. I could really see it working.”

It is important to note that Pondsmith’s description suggests the game will capture the atmosphere of a dystopian Chicago rather than necessarily being set in future Chicago itself, though this remains unconfirmed.

Every CD Projekt Red Game In Development

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Discussions are already underway regarding whether Cyberpunk 2 will expand on the existing Night City or introduce a new iteration, as well as how much of it will be playable. While details remain scarce, reports suggest players may have access to at least two fully realized cities in the sequel.

CD Projekt Red is currently managing multiple high-profile projects. A new Cyberpunk animated series is in development for Netflix following the critical acclaim of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Additionally, Cyberpunk 2077 is scheduled to release on Nintendo Switch 2 next month.