June 1, 2025 – Buckle up, choombas. The neon-soaked streets of Night City (or perhaps a brand new urban hellscape) are officially one step closer to welcoming us back. CD Projekt RED has confirmed that the highly anticipated sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, codenamed Project Orion, has formally entered the pre-production phase.
This crucial milestone follows the successful launch and critical acclaim of the Phantom Liberty expansion and the extensive overhaul of the base game via its 2.0 Update. While whispers and job listings have hinted at progress, this marks the first concrete confirmation from the studio that the sequel has moved beyond initial conceptual and research stages into active development planning.
"We're firing up the engines," a studio insider familiar with the project shared, speaking on background. "Pre-production is where the real blueprinting happens – nailing down the core narrative pillars, defining the scope of the gameplay experience, building early prototypes, and assembling the core team that will bring this next chapter to life. It's the foundation phase."
The confirmation aligns with CD Projekt RED's previously stated roadmap, prioritizing the sequel after shifting resources from Phantom Liberty and establishing new development hubs in Boston and Vancouver alongside their Warsaw headquarters. This global structure is specifically designed to support the ambitious scale of Orion.
Visual Tease Emerges:
Adding fuel to the fire of fan anticipation, CD Projekt RED's Investor Relations department recently shared a subtle but significant visual hint. Posted on their official account, the image depicts a sleek, modern workstation bathed in a cool blue light, featuring three monitors. The center screen prominently displays the Project Orion logo alongside the distinct yellow bird symbol associated with the franchise.
Embedded Visual Confirmation:
https://x.com/CDPROJEKTRED_IR/status/1927748027353010533/photo/1(Image shows a high-tech workstation with three monitors; the central monitor displays the Project Orion logo and the Cyberpunk yellow bird motif.)
This image, while not revealing gameplay or story details, serves as a clear visual marker of the project's transition into this active development phase. It signals the team is now deeply engaged in the concrete work of building the sequel's DNA.
What Pre-Production Means (and Doesn't Mean):
- Does Mean: Intensive storyboarding, concept art creation, core gameplay loop prototyping, technology assessment (likely building upon Unreal Engine 5 instead of REDengine), initial casting discussions, and detailed project planning.
- Doesn't Mean: Full-scale production, asset creation, motion capture, or a release date anywhere on the horizon. Pre-production is a vital but often lengthy process, especially for a project of this magnitude aiming to push boundaries. Fans should temper expectations; Orion is still years away.
The Road Ahead:
The journey from pre-production to the streets of whatever dystopia Orion inhabits will be long. CD Projekt RED is undoubtedly keen to avoid the pitfalls of the first game's launch, emphasizing a commitment to a more stable development cycle this time. The success of Phantom Liberty and the revitalized Cyberpunk 2077 experience has rebuilt significant goodwill, placing immense expectations on the shoulders of Project Orion.
One thing is certain: the next generation of Cyberpunk is officially moving from the realm of concept art and planning documents into tangible development. The pre-production phase has begun. Stay tuned for what promises to be a long, but hopefully electrifying, ride through the corporate-controlled future. Keep those neural interfaces ready.
What are your biggest hopes for the Cyberpunk sequel? Sound off below.
Congratulations to the team for this milestone ↙️ pic.twitter.com/Uw5EckDvAE
— CD PROJEKT IR (@CDPROJEKTRED_IR) May 28, 2025
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