CD Projekt Red has officially moved the next Cyberpunk game—often referred to as Cyberpunk 2—into pre-production, marking the clearest sign yet that the company is ramping up beyond early concept work. The sequel is being developed under the codename “Project Orion,” and while the studio isn’t attaching a release window, pre-production typically signals a shift toward building out the core pillars: gameplay direction, pipelines, staffing, and early prototypes.
### What “Pre-Production” Actually Means
Pre-production doesn’t mean a launch is around the corner. In AAA development, it’s the phase where teams lock in the vision, test systems, establish technical foundations, and define scope before full production begins. For players, it’s reassurance the sequel is progressing—but also a reminder that meaningful reveals, trailers, and firm dates are likely a long way off.
### A New Chapter After Cyberpunk 2077
The announcement lands after Cyberpunk 2077’s dramatic turnaround. The game launched in 2020 to widespread criticism over performance and missing features, then gradually rebuilt its reputation through major patches and system overhauls. That recovery arc culminated with the Phantom Liberty expansion, which helped reposition Cyberpunk 2077 as one of the most substantial open-world RPGs of the generation.
### CDPR’s Bigger Roadmap
Project Orion is also part of CDPR’s broader multi-project strategy. The company has been scaling up to develop multiple AAA titles in parallel, including the next mainline Witcher entry (sometimes discussed as Witcher 4) and other long-term initiatives. That broader pipeline is designed to reduce the long gaps between releases that defined the studio’s earlier era.
### Why This Matters
For CDPR, Cyberpunk 2 entering pre-production is a confidence play: it signals commitment to the franchise as a pillar alongside The Witcher, and it suggests lessons learned from 2077’s launch are being baked in earlier. For fans, it’s the first concrete milestone that the next trip to Night City—or whatever new locale the sequel chooses—has moved from promise to production reality.
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