Summary
Cyberpunks 2077’s most modern iteration after thePhantom LibertyDLC and subsequent patches has made it arguably one of the most immersive games ever created, with players wondering where the story could go next. The intricate narratives, compelling characters, and fully-fleshed-out universe ofCyberpunkhave indeed transcended its origins, and today, the IP covers a variety of media, including new novels and the highly-ratedCyberpunk: Edgerunnersshow. With so much content across so many mediums, CD Projekt Red’s upcoming sequel, codenamedOrion, has the potential to go in a variety of different directions.
That said, even with the vast array of intricately built backstories and amazing motion-capture acting, there’s one character that stands out among the rest. In a star-studded cast that includes the likes of Idris Elba as Solomon Reed, it’s really everyone’s favorite rocker,Johnny Silverhand, played by Keanu Reeves, that truly steals the show for most people. His no-nonsense attitude and stalwart dedication to his cause have made him the most memorable character in the game, and a sequel without his presence would be sorely missed.
“Electrifying, Emotional, And Full Of Twists” - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Review
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty’s unpredictable spy-thriller story is full of jaw-dropping moments, and it’s got the gameplay to match.
Cyberpunk 2077’s Sequel Should Be A Prequel
A Stand-In For Samurai
Cyberpunk 2077does a decent job of building out the backstory before V takes the reigns as the protagonist in the form of flashbacks where players assume the role of the iconic metal-armed rocker. In this way, people get to experience Johnny’s band, Samurai, in full effect. Introducing certain characters like Kerry Eurodyne in the past and present is a cool element, and the entire feature makes V feel like a part of the band, with at least a few sections dedicated to shredding on the guitar.
Although dispersed throughout the duration of the game, much of this experience is given in small snippets that veer off from the main story while also managing to provide more context for current events.
This makes the perfect opening for asequel where the player could play as a stand-in for one of the members of the Samurai. Maybe one day Kerry gets sick, or maybe Arasaka kidnaps Bes Isis or Denny, but the band has to play the biggest gig of the year. Regardless of the scenario, going back to Johnny’s heyday and playing with the band as a no-named Streetkid could be the recipe for aCyberpunksequel that can explore the past while still introducing new concepts, story beats, and gameplay mechanics.
A Cyberpunk Where You Play Only As Johnny Would Be A Misstep
Silverhand Is A Much Better Foil Than Main Character
Although it would be tempting to want to jump into the shoes of Kenuau Reeves again and just straight-out play aCyberpunkas Silverhand, this would likely be a mistake for more reasons than one.Cyberpunk 2077introduced players to V, or the player-character that can be customized in just about every way, enabling one to immerse into the role of either a Streetkid, Corpo, or Nomad. ThoughCyberpunk 2077’s backgrounds don’t truly impact the gameas significantly as one would think, it all ties into role-playing andprovides a nice feeling of player choice and customization.
Abandoning this concept and opting for another already-well-established character like Johnny Silverhand or even another member of Samauriwould be a huge mistake and take away from player identity. For this reason, it’s important that the sequel maintain the DNA that made the original so great and introduce another character like V in Orion.
Live-Action Cyberpunk 2077: Confirmation & Everything We Know
A live-action Cyberpunk 2077 is in the works, though CD Projekt Red hasn’t said if it will be a movie or a TV show or when the release date arrives.
Johnny Silverhand Is Too Polarizing For A Main Character
Dialogue Options Would Be Extreme & “More Extreme”
Another aspect ofCyberpunk 2077that makes it so great is the dialogue and the options that players can choose. There are a decent number ofchoices throughoutCyberpunk 2077that actually matter, and this ties into the fact that the player-controlled character is quite literally whoever the player wants them to be.
Johnny Silverhand inCyberpunk 2077was consistently in favor of doing the most rebellious thing (though this is a gross oversimplification of his persona), especially if that meant messing with Arasaka, which would likely lead to a rather narrow array of dialogue options in most circumstances. That said, these are also the things that make him such an intriguing and fun companion character as well.
V Is Dead
Or They Should Be For Cyberpunk 2077’s Sequel
The route a person takes inCyberpunk 2077’s many endingswill determine whether a sequel starring the character would even be possible. That said, this option would also be a mistake, asCyberpunk 2077 —with all its launch warts and continuous improvements over the years —feels like a complete story from finish to end. While some endings, like “The Star,” and “The Sun,” would indicate that there was another chapter in V’s story, other endings, like “Temperance,” see V’s story come to an end.
Although there’s no official canon ending to Cyberpunk 2077, a sequel game starring V again would invalidate at least some of these endings, taking away the concept of player agency from some people. Worse,retreading old ground could feel iterative of the first title, whereas the first game feels groundbreaking in some ways. Even ifCyberpunk 2077 Oriondoes continue the story after the events of V’s rampage across Night City, a game featuring a new protagonist learning about V’s exploits would be a much more interesting and creative use of the character.
What’s Known About Cyberpunk 2077 Orion
Not Much Has Been Revealed
The few clues that players have been given by CD Projekt are few and far between, butCDPRdid confirm in the 2022 post on X that the starting conceptual stages were taking place. Though the company’s quote of “potential of this dark future universe.” it doesn’t say whether that comment was in relation to the first game’s timeline – with a high level of vagueness regarding the development of the project overall.
Though the next Witcher game, codenamed Polaris, seems to be taking the bulk of priority for the development teams, in a January 2024 interview withReuters, CEO Adam Badowski teased the potential for multiplayer elements in the upcoming game. Most recently, in February,CDPRannounced they would be adding industry veterans from studios like Blizzard Entertainment, Amazon Games, Ubisoft, and others. These new employees will be heading the development for theCyberpunk 2077sequel in their North American Boston and Vancouver studio locations.
