 |
| CD Projekt Red studio is shown |
A new financial analysis has provided the most specific forecast yet for the highly anticipated sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, suggesting fans may need to wait until the original game's tenth anniversary in 2030 to return to Night City. According to a report from Polish brokerage firm Noble Securities, the integration of a multiplayer mode is a primary reason for the extended development timeline.
The analysis, which was first reported by Polish outlet Strefa Inwestorów and discussed on gaming forums like Reddit, indicates that developer CD Projekt Red (CDPR) is planning a massive expansion for the project, codenamed Project Orion.
A Growing Project: Budget, Team, and Timeline
The Noble Securities report, penned by analyst Mateusz Chrzanowski, outlines significant scaling up for the sequel's development. The project's budget is reportedly expected to grow to approximately 1.5 billion Polish złoty (roughly $375 million USD).
Crucially, the development team is also set to expand dramatically. The report notes that 135 people are currently working on the sequel, a number expected to double over the next two years as production intensifies. This aligns with CD Projekt's own official communication from July 2025, which stated that the Cyberpunk 2 team had progressed to the "preproduction phase".
The table below summarizes the key development metrics based on the analyst report:
The Multiplayer Question: Innovation or Distraction?
The most discussed element of the report is its claim that the "desire to integrate multiplayer mode" has directly extended the production time. The analyst states this decision pushed the timeline "beyond the state resulting from the progress of work".
This has ignited a familiar debate within the Cyberpunk community. CD Projekt Red built its reputation on rich, story-driven single-player adventures like The Witcher 3 and the resurrected Cyberpunk 2077. Many fans argue the studio should focus solely on perfecting that core experience.
On the official CD Projekt Red forums, discussions reveal a split in player opinion. Some users express strong opposition, with one stating, "Personally I think it's a horrible idea... CDPR should focus on giving us what they are good at". Others are cautiously optimistic, suggesting a separate, standalone multiplayer mode—similar to GTA Online—could work if it doesn't compromise the single-player campaign. "It just should not affect the single player experience," one forum user emphasized.
The financial incentive for CDPR to explore multiplayer is clear. Successful online modes, like GTA Online, provide massive, recurring revenue streams through microtransactions—a potential CDPR has yet to tap into. Job listings from CDPR have previously hinted at this direction, with a Lead Network Engineer position for Project Orion mentioning the development of "multiplayer systems, including matchmaking".
What to Expect in Project Orion
While details are scarce in the early pre-production phase, a few enticing details about the sequel have emerged.
- A New City: Mike Pondsmith, the creator of the original Cyberpunk tabletop game, has teased that Project Orion will feature Night City but also include "another city we visit". He described its atmosphere as feeling "like Chicago gone wrong," suggesting a new dystopian metropolitan area for players to explore.
- The Return of Johnny Silverhand? A major draw of the first game was Keanu Reeves's performance as the rogue rockerboy Johnny Silverhand. Reeves has publicly stated his desire to return, saying, "Absolutely. I'd love to play Johnny Silverhand again". Pondsmith has playfully responded to this, telling Reeves in a livestream, "I have ways to do that, Keanu. Contact me," hinting that narrative avenues exist to bring the character back despite the events of the first game.
- Building on a Reborn Foundation: The sequel will build upon the vastly improved foundation of Cyberpunk 2077, which was transformed by the 2.0 update and the acclaimed Phantom Liberty expansion. Players can likely expect deeper narratives, more advanced NPC and enemy AI, and further refined gameplay systems.
The Road Ahead: Patience Required
If the 2030 target is accurate, it signifies a deliberate, long-term strategy from CD Projekt Red. The studio's current public focus is on The Witcher 4 (codenamed Polaris), which is expected to enter its marketing campaign around 2026. The same analyst report suggests a new paid DLC for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt could be released as soon as May 2026, potentially to reignite interest in the franchise ahead of the next mainline game.
For Cyberpunk fans, the message is clear: Project Orion is a marathon, not a sprint. The extended timeline, while daunting, suggests CDPR is committed to a ambitious vision that includes both the deep single-player experience they are known for and a venture into the uncharted territory of multiplayer.
Sources & Further Reading: The financial analysis discussed in this article was originally reported by the Polish financial news site Strefa Inwestorów . The translation and discussion among the gaming community can be found on Reddit . For more information on the fan-developed multiplayer mod for the original game, you can visit CyberMP