The sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 was introduced a few years in the past throughout an traders’ presentation—however all we have been advised was that it was solely within the early levels of improvement. Since then, we have not heard an entire lot about Challenge Orion, however that is the place Cyberpunk creator Mike Pondsmith is available in.
Throughout an interview with tvgry as a part of the Digital Dragons occasion, Pondsmith mentioned his historical past with Cyberpunk from its inception to the event of Cyberpunk 2077 to Challenge Orion.
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“I spent plenty of time speaking to one of many surroundings guys, and he was explaining the brand new place in Orion that we go to,” Pondsmith says. “I bear in mind taking a look at it and going ‘Yeah, I perceive the sensation that you are going for with this, and this actually does work.’ And it does not really feel like Blade Runner, it feels extra like Chicago gone improper.”
Chicago gone improper is a wild descriptor, however I sort of get it. I’ve by no means been to Chicago, however a Cyberpunk sport set in its clustered city surroundings with all of the railroads, frozen rivers, and industrial websites sounds actually cool and precisely the sort of new place I would like to discover within the sequel.
It additionally looks like an excellent various to the enduring Night time Metropolis, which was glossy however gaudy with its neon indicators and glass skyscrapers. A extra industrial, lived-in tackle Cyberpunk looks like an excellent concept. And Pondsmith saying that “I can see this working” is all of the reassurance I want.
Pondsmith additionally clarifies that not being like Blade Runner is not in any method meant as an insult. “I like Blade Runner,” Pondsmith says. “[It’s] my favorite film.” However having a bit of extra variation than only a single moody, futuristic dystopia can be very welcome.
“[The genre] was once very area of interest once we began out,” Pondsmith says. “I feel a part of that’s how the style has matured, and I additionally like what CD Projekt did, which form of redefined what Cyberpunk was like—it wasn’t simply Blade Runner.”
Not like Cyberpunk 2077, Pondsmith does admit that he is taking a barely extra hands-off method with Challenge Orion: “I am most likely not as [involved], however that is as a result of I’ve somebody to assist me. We’ve got a designer on our crew, and Jay is the man. He talks to the CD Projekt guys as a lot as I do, in order that frees me as much as do plenty of issues.”