Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel’s New Setting Unveiled: A Daring Shift Sparks Excitement and Debate
CD Projekt Red (CDPR), the studio behind The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077, has sent shockwaves through the gaming world with a quiet but seismic confirmation of the setting for the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, codenamed Project Orion. Revealed in a subtle update during a 2025 investor call, the new game will move away from Night City, the neon-soaked urban sprawl of the original, to an ambitious and unexpected locale that promises to redefine the franchise’s dystopian vision. Social media platforms like X are buzzing with speculation and hype, as fans dissect the implications of this bold shift for gameplay, story, and the future of CDPR’s sci-fi epic. This exploration dives into the new setting, the context of its reveal, the fan reaction, and what this means for one of gaming’s most anticipated sequels.
The Legacy of Cyberpunk 2077
When Cyberpunk 2077 launched in December 2020, it was one of the most hyped games in history, promising an immersive open-world RPG set in Night City, a futuristic metropolis defined by corporate greed, cybernetic enhancements, and gritty street life. Based on Mike Pondsmith’s Cyberpunk tabletop RPG, the game boasted a sprawling narrative, Keanu Reeves as the digital ghost Johnny Silverhand, and unparalleled visual fidelity. However, its launch was marred by technical issues, particularly on consoles, leading to widespread criticism, refunds, and a damaged reputation for CDPR.
Over the next few years, CDPR redeemed the game through patches, updates, and the acclaimed Phantom Liberty expansion (2023), which introduced new storylines and refined mechanics. By 2025, Cyberpunk 2077 had sold over 30 million copies and earned a loyal fanbase, with its open-world design, branching quests, and cyberpunk aesthetic hailed as genre-defining. The success of Phantom Liberty and the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime on Netflix fueled demand for a sequel, with fans eager to see how CDPR would build on Night City’s legacy. The confirmation of Project Orion in 2022, developed in collaboration with CDPR’s new North American studio, set expectations sky-high, but details remained scarce until now.
The New Setting: A Radical Departure
During a May 2025 investor call, CDPR’s CEO casually mentioned that Project Orion would take players to a “new frontier” in the Cyberpunk universe, distinct from Night City’s urban chaos. While specifics were sparse, a subsequent teaser image on CDPR’s website—a barren, neon-tinged landscape with towering megastructures under a stormy sky—sparked speculation that the sequel is set in a post-apocalyptic, semi-rural “Badlands” region, possibly on the outskirts of a new corporate-controlled territory. Leaked concept art, shared on X, suggests a mix of desolate wastelands, high-tech enclaves, and nomadic communities, evoking Mad Max crossed with Blade Runner.
This shift is a daring pivot from Night City’s dense, vertical sprawl. The original game’s setting was a character in itself, with its crowded streets, towering skyscrapers, and seedy underbelly shaping every quest and interaction. The Badlands, briefly explored in Cyberpunk 2077 as a dusty, lawless fringe, offer a stark contrast: open spaces, sparse settlements, and a focus on survival rather than urban intrigue. Fans speculate the new setting could be a corporate terraforming project gone wrong, a post-collapse frontier, or even a lunar or Martian colony, aligning with Cyberpunk lore’s hints of off-world expansion. CDPR’s promise of “dynamic environmental storytelling” suggests the setting will play a central role, with weather systems, faction conflicts, and player-driven changes shaping the world.
Why the Change?
The decision to abandon Night City reflects both creative ambition and strategic pragmatism. Creatively, CDPR appears eager to avoid retreading old ground, especially after Phantom Liberty exhaustively expanded Night City’s map. A new setting allows for fresh narratives, exploring themes like environmental collapse, corporate exploitation of rural regions, or the clash between nomadic tribes and tech overlords. The Badlands’ open terrain could also enable new gameplay mechanics, such as vehicle combat, base-building, or survival elements, addressing fan feedback about Cyberpunk 2077’s limited exploration outside the city.
Strategically, the shift mitigates technical risks. Cyberpunk 2077’s launch struggles stemmed partly from Night City’s complexity, which taxed older consoles. A less dense setting, with vast landscapes punctuated by smaller hubs, could be easier to optimize, ensuring a smoother launch. The move also aligns with industry trends, as open-world games like Elden Ring and Starfield have embraced expansive, varied environments to captivate players. By leveraging Unreal Engine 5, CDPR aims to deliver a visually stunning world that pushes the boundaries of immersion, with ray-tracing and procedural generation enhancing the Badlands’ desolate beauty.
Fan Reaction: Hype and Hesitation
The setting reveal has electrified the Cyberpunk fanbase, with X posts under hashtags like #CyberpunkOrion and #NewCyberpunk trending globally. Fans are thrilled at the prospect of a bold new world, with one viral post reading, “No more Night City? CDPR’s going all-in on something wild!” Concept art breakdowns on YouTube and Reddit have fueled speculation about new factions, such as cybernetic nomads or rogue AI cults, while others dream of piloting mechs or hacking weather systems. The Edgerunners fanbase, in particular, is vocal, hoping for anime-inspired aesthetics or cameos in the sequel’s world.
However, not all reactions are positive. Some fans, deeply attached to Night City’s neon grit, fear the Badlands setting will lack the original’s urban energy. Posts on X express concern that a rural focus could dilute the Cyberpunk vibe, with one user writing, “Cyberpunk without skyscrapers and gangs feels off.” Others worry about CDPR’s ability to deliver, citing Cyberpunk 2077’s rocky launch and recent controversies, like the Witcher 4 “woke” backlash. Skeptics question whether the Badlands can sustain a 100-hour RPG, fearing repetitive landscapes or a lack of narrative density compared to Night City’s layered districts.
The Industry Context
The Cyberpunk 2077 sequel’s setting reveal comes at a pivotal moment for CDPR and the gaming industry. After redeeming Cyberpunk 2077, CDPR is under pressure to prove it can launch a major title without hiccups. The studio’s collaboration with its Boston and Vancouver teams, staffed with Mass Effect and Far Cry veterans, signals a globalized approach, but also raises expectations for polish and innovation. The Badlands setting, with its potential for dynamic open-world systems, positions Project Orion as a competitor to titles like Starfield or the upcoming GTA VI, both of which emphasize environmental storytelling.
The reveal also reflects broader trends in sci-fi gaming. Post-apocalyptic and frontier settings are gaining traction, as seen in Star Wars Outlaws’ open planets or Dune: Awakening’s desert survival. By moving beyond urban cyberpunk tropes, CDPR aims to carve a unique niche, blending dystopian tech with primal survival. However, the studio must navigate a polarized fanbase, wary of “woke” influences or corporate meddling, as seen in controversies around Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Onimusha 2. The quiet nature of the reveal—buried in an investor call—suggests CDPR is testing the waters, cautious after past PR missteps.
What’s Next for Project Orion?
With Project Orion still in early development, likely targeting a 2028 release, CDPR has time to refine its vision. The studio has promised a full reveal at a major event, possibly The Game Awards 2026, with a teaser trailer showcasing the Badlands’ scope. Gameplay innovations, such as seamless vehicle-to-combat transitions or player-driven faction alliances, could address fan concerns about variety, while a robust narrative—potentially centered on a new protagonist or a returning V—will be key to anchoring the setting. CDPR’s commitment to single-player storytelling, free of microtransactions, has reassured fans, but delivering a bug-free launch remains paramount.
The Badlands setting opens narrative possibilities: a rogue AI reshaping the ecosystem, a corporate land grab sparking rebellion, or a protagonist navigating a fractured society. Integrating Cyberpunk’s core elements—cyberware, hacking, and moral ambiguity—into this frontier will be crucial to maintaining brand identity. CDPR’s transparency, through dev diaries or community engagement, could mitigate skepticism, building on the goodwill earned from Cyberpunk 2077’s recovery.
The Bigger Picture
The Cyberpunk 2077 sequel’s setting reveal underscores the high stakes of blockbuster game development. CDPR’s bold shift to the Badlands reflects a desire to innovate within the cyberpunk genre, but it also risks alienating fans wedded to Night City’s legacy. The controversy, while less toxic than Witcher 4’s “woke” backlash or Onimusha 2’s censorship scandal, highlights the gaming community’s passion and scrutiny, amplified by X’s instant feedback loop. As studios like CDPR push boundaries, they must balance creative risk with fan expectations, a challenge made harder by the industry’s demand for spectacle and polish.
For Cyberpunk fans, the reveal is a call to dream big. The franchise’s journey—from a buggy launch to a redemption arc—proves CDPR’s resilience, and the Badlands offer a canvas for a new masterpiece. Whether Project Orion can deliver a world as iconic as Night City remains to be seen, but the hype and debate it’s sparked confirm Cyberpunk’s enduring grip on gamers’ imaginations. As the neon horizon looms, the world waits to see if CDPR can forge a new legend in the wastelands.
