CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 sequel is ditching Night City’s neon for a grimy, ruined Chicago, ruled by megacorporations and loaded with dystopian chaos. Imagine fewer jazz bars, more shady deals in rain-soaked alleys, and, honestly, not a slice of deep-dish pizza in sight—unless it’s cybernetic. The story unfolds several years after Cyberpunk 2077, with old faces possibly returning and new gameplay features lined up. Want to see what this “Chicago gone wrong” really looks like next?
Even though fans might still be recovering from their last trip to Night City, CD Projekt Red is already mapping out the future with a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, currently running under the mysterious codename Project Orion.
Right now, the project is in early development, meaning it’s more scribbles on whiteboards than cyberware shootouts. The Boston studio is leading the charge, with about 84 developers tinkering away—probably alternating between brainstorming sessions and coffee breaks. Cyberpunk 2077 is currently available on Amazon India at a 27% discount, making it easy for newcomers to catch up before the sequel arrives. The team has confirmed that Night City will still be included in the sequel, letting players revisit familiar streets alongside new territory.
Project Orion is still all brainstorms and coffee breaks, with Boston’s team sketching out the next cyberpunk adventure.
Still, don’t expect to jack in anytime soon; CD Projekt Red is giving priority to The Witcher 4, so the sequel won’t show up until late 2027 at the earliest.
What’s new this time around? For starters, players won’t be stuck in just Night City. The sequel keeps the neon-drenched chaos of Night City but also adds a whole new playground: a city reminiscent of “Chicago gone wrong.”
Picture a dystopian metropolis, grittier and more corrupt than even the worst Night City alley. While it draws inspiration from Chicago, it isn’t exactly the Windy City of the future—think of it as a thematic remix, not a Google Maps update.
This new city is a significant expansion for the Cyberpunk universe, promising more than just a change of scenery. Players will be able to explore both cities, experiencing not only new stories but also different cultural vibes, urban layouts, and, let’s be honest, probably a lot of shady deals and rampant cybernetic mayhem.
The contrast between Night City’s Blade Runner glow and the ruined, corporate-choked Chicago should offer plenty of surprises.
Lore fans might appreciate that the ruined Chicago has roots in existing cyberpunk history, having survived the Collapse and now firmly under megacorporate thumbs. The timeline is rumored to pick up a few years post-Cyberpunk 2077, maybe around 2080, with familiar faces possibly making a return.
With new cyberware, gameplay mechanics, and an even more ambitious open world, Project Orion aims to push the franchise forward.
Will it deliver the dystopian fever dream fans want? Only time—and maybe a few more developer coffee runs—will tell.