Mike Pondsmith, the mind behind the Cyberpunk series, has been chatting about his role in shaping the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077. He’s keenly aware of what the folks at CD Projekt Red are crafting for this next installment. In the credits of Cyberpunk 2077, Pondsmith is credited for “lore consultation,” and he recently shared his insights during a special episode of CD Projekt Red’s REDstreams on YouTube.
When asked if he felt the developers missed the mark on anything in the original game, Pondsmith confidently said no. “Part of that was that I was involved in that process all the way,” he explained. His involvement allowed him to provide input that helped closely align the game with their shared vision.
He recounted a moment when the team presented him with some “silver, blaster-like” guns they were planning to include. He had to clarify that in the Cyberpunk universe, guns are more like “big, nasty, black, scary things which occasionally have little lights on them that watch you like eyes.” He emphasized that they should feel less like science fiction and more grounded in a brutal reality, just turned up a couple of notches.
What’s Next for Cyberpunk?
Alongside these revelations, CD Projekt Red is hinting at something new related to Cyberpunk 2077. Fans are speculating whether it’s news about the sequel, upcoming DLC, or something entirely different that’s got everyone buzzing.
Additionally, it looks like Cyberpunk 2’s multiplayer feature has strong backing, as CD Projekt Red seeks to hire an engineer focused on creating “high-performance online experiences” and optimizing multiplayer systems.
More on Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Pondsmith also elaborated on communicating similar ideas to the developers at the Krakow studio. He mentioned, “The important part was everybody listened.” As he continued to share his thoughts, he noticed that the team was aligning closely with his vision because they actively sought his opinion. “People had asked me the entire time, ‘What do you think?’ In fact, that still goes on now,” he noted.
During his recent visit to CD Projekt, Pondsmith was shown what’s in store for the new game iteration, including elements from potential TV or radio projects. The ongoing dialogue means they’re consistent with their shared vision and can expect to see the same outcomes.
Looking Ahead
With this collaboration, there’s hope that whatever CD Projekt Red has planned for Project Orion will resonate with Pondsmith’s original vision for the Cyberpunk universe. While we don’t have a release date or even an official title for the upcoming RPG just yet, Keanu Reeves has already expressed his enthusiasm to reprise his role as Johnny Silverhand. Pondsmith humorously added, “I have ways to do that, Keanu, contact me.”