- The Cyberpunk 2077 sequel can make improvements to a number of key areas.
- From better optimization at launch to improved branched narratives, Project Orion has a lot of potential.
- The game should also consider an optional third-person mode.
Cyberpunk 2077 celebrated its third anniversary in December 2023. Initially announced in 2012, this RPG promised a ground-breaking experience for the genre. It was one of the most heavily anticipated releases in the industry but became a massive letdown in no time.
From game-breaking bugs to poor optimizations, nearly everything went wrong with Cyberpunk 2077 at release. However, CDPR stood by the title and turned the tables around. Three years later, it is one of the best modern RPGs you can play.
Following the release of Phantom Liberty and the last update, the focus has shifted over to ‘Project Orion.’ According to CDPR, Cyberpunk 2077 was just a warm-up, teasing an ambitious sequel.
With the sequel now in pre-production, here are a few things we would like to see in CDPR’s next major outing in this universe.
Why it matters: This release has sold over 25 million units, becoming a success comparable to The Witcher 3. Therefore, the second entry should receive even more attention.
1. Optimized Launch
This one is quite obvious. In its current state, the title has the potential to qualify for multiple Game of the Year nominations.
However, it’s a shame that it ran poorly at release. Across all platforms, uncountable bugs, poor performance, and crashing issues marred Cyberpunk 2077 at launch.
Today, CD Projekt RED has become famous for integrating new technologies into the PC port. The team also supports 60FPS on consoles and offers a great experience supporting a range of hardware.
We hope to see something along these lines in Project Orion at release, if not better.
2. Improved Story Branching
Story branching is a very important aspect of RPGs. While CDPR’s latest RPG allows the option to play as a Nomad, Street Kid, or Corpo, the outcomes of this choice are generally similar.
Therefore, your interactions throughout the game have little to no impact on the narrative. Still, CDPR is well aware of this issue and is addressing it in the sequel. A narrative director at the studio, Philipp Weber, revealed in the AnsweRED podcast that they are indeed looking to explore more branching stories with Project Orion.
Following the release of Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios has raised the bar for branching narratives in RPGs, so we hope to see CDPR taking some inspiration from this CRPG.
3. Third-Person Perspective
This depends on whether you prefer the third-person or first-person view. However, in segments like cutscenes, seeing your character is a lot more fun and engaging.
Project Orion should add an option to choose between the two. Much like Rockstar’s work in Red Dead Redemption, the ability to switch between first-person and third-person could add more diversity to the gameplay.
It could also become a massive selling point of Project Orion, setting it apart from Cyberpunk 2077. With the game’s strong emphasis on character customization, we have always found the lack of a third-person perspective a huge missed opportunity.
Since CDPR is more ambitious than ever with its sequel, this is one option we believe should not be left out.
4. Explore Beyond Night City
Night City is the central location for Cyberpunk 2077.
Throughout the game, you get to explore it in depth with the surrounding desert-like setting, Badlands. Phantom Liberty unlocks another massive area of the map, Dog City, but ultimately, it is still a part of Night City.
We would love to see Project Orion have a much bigger map with multiple cities and terrains. And maybe even extend beyond the locations outside the United States. Japan or Mexico could be ideal models for those cities.
5. Better Gangs and Morality Systems
Gangs and other dangerous groups are crucial to the threatening atmosphere of Night City.
However, these gangs seem bland and spread around the map without much reason. The sequel could improve upon this by introducing more distinct and varied groups, bringing more personality to this part of Night City.
We would love to see gangs being more true to life. For example, if you attack a group, you’ll have a bounty from that very group. In addition, a morality system could make the experience even better and help with the branching aspect of the game.
Pushing RPG Boundaries
Night City is full of places to explore. It features towering skyscrapers, massive roads, catacombs, badlands, and more. While Cyberpunk 2077 is already rich in terms of the open world, more is always welcome.
Project Orion could expand explorable buildings, introduce more detailed underground tunnels, and more. With the switch to Unreal Engine 5 and Project Orion likely to be released on the next-gen consoles, we expect more lifelike visuals in general.
CD Projekt RED has a good reputation for listening to its fans, so we wouldn’t be surprised if these features made it into the game. However, it is better to keep expectations low to avoid another situation like the first game.
Additionally, the studio is also working on The Witcher 4. With the developer’s team stretched across both titles, we look forward to what lies in store for us. We hope to learn about these games soon.
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