CD Projekt Red has officially moved the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 into pre-production. Formerly referred to as Project Orion, the game is now simply called Cyberpunk 2.

The next chapter in the Cyberpunk universe is being developed by CDPR’s North American studios in Boston and Vancouver, with 96 team members currently working on it. According to CDPR’s Q1 2025 financial report, the project recently completed its conceptual phase.

“Several weeks ago, the CD Projekt Red team responsible for the next big game set in the Cyberpunk universe completed the project’s conceptual phase,” the company said. “As a result, Cyberpunk 2 has progressed to preproduction.”

The new game will return to Night City, but it will also introduce a second, unnamed location. Cyberpunk creator Mike Pondsmith hinted at this new city, calling it “Chicago gone wrong.” While he’s not as hands-on this time, Pondsmith is keeping a close eye on development and has offered feedback on scripts and environmental design.

Cyberpunk 2 is being developed in Unreal Engine 5, a change from the REDengine used for Cyberpunk 2077. This change, along with the expanded studio presence in North America, could help avoid the missteps that plagued the launch of the original game. While Cyberpunk 2077 had a rocky start in 2020, CDPR’s consistent updates and the Phantom Liberty expansion helped turn things around. Phantom Liberty has now sold more than 10 million copies, with an Ultimate Edition including the expansion set to release on the Nintendo Switch 2.

Cyberpunk 2077 (Photo: CD Projekt Red)

CDPR co-CEO Michał Nowakowski said the team is pleased with how Phantom Liberty has performed, stating it will be the studio’s first game to launch alongside a new Nintendo platform. CDPR also revealed that The Witcher 3 has sold more than 60 million copies, with 10 million sold in the past five years alone. CDPR has several projects in the works, including The Witcher 4, a remake of the original Witcher, a Witcher multiplayer title, and a new IP.

As for when Cyberpunk 2 might release, CDPR remains cautious. Nowakowski declined to give a specific timeline, reminding investors that each game follows its own development path.

“Our journey from pre-production to the final release date takes four to five years on average,” said Nowakowski.

That said, comparing it to the timeline of The Witcher 4, which entered pre-production in 2022 and is expected in 2027, it is possible Cyberpunk 2 may not arrive until 2030 or later. For now, fans of Cyberpunk will have to wait patiently as the next entry takes shape.

READ MORE: The Most Anticipated Video Games of 2025