Summary
In spite of its infamously troubled launch,Cyberpunk 2077was a big commercial success for CD Project Red and won over many fans in the long run, in large part thanks to its post-launch content updates and frequent, bug-fixing patches. The game was such a hit for the Polish developer, in fact, that the company confirmed back in 2022 that it was already planning to make a sequel to the popular sci-fi RPG. This successor toCyberpunk 2077, codenamedProject Orion, entered production earlier this year, and is being developed by CD Projekt Red’s newly-opened North American subsidiaries, located in Boston and Vancouver. Sadly, besides these minor details, virtually every aspect of the upcoming sequel is still shrouded in mystery.
One of the big question marks surroundingProject Orionis its setting. Even though CD Project Red has yet to confirm as such, many fans are assuming thatCyberpunk 2077’s sequel will bring players back to Night City. It is, after all, the primary setting of the titular tabletop RPG that the game is based on. However, it’s possible that CDPR may want to tackle another location entirely inProject Orionand give players a glimpse of theCyberpunkworld outside of Night City. If so, there are many regions in the franchise’s universe that the developer could choose from, both fictional and non-fictional.
CD Projekt Red Has Many Locations to Choose From for Cyberpunk 2077’s Sequel
Hong Kong is a Ghost Town in the World of Cyberpunk
One city thatProject Orionmay visit is Hong Kong, also known as Ghost World. Unlike its real-world counterpart,the Hong Kong of theCyberpunkuniverseis a free city-state that was decimated by a plague during the Fourth Corporate War of 2025. This disease wiped out the population of the region and turned the city into, well… a ghost town. Shortly after the destruction of Hong Kong, the engram of Alt Cunningham, Johnny Silverhand’s ex-girlfriend, took over what was left of the region and established a society made up of AIs that live within the NET in the city. Since there isn’t much human life left in Hong Kong, it may not be the best fit for the primary setting ofProject Orion, but it could be an interesting region to explore in a side quest or aPhantom Liberty-style expansion for the game.
MetaKey is a Lawless City Run by Nomads
Another potential location that CD Projekt Red could use as the setting forCyberpunk 2077’s sequel is MetaKey. This city, which is situated on an artificial, mobile island in the Gulf of Mexico, serves as the headquarters of MetaCorp, an American corporation that offers maritime construction and security services. MetaCorp isowned and operated by Nomads, so it should come as no surprise that the city of MetaKey is one of the biggest Nomad hubs in all of North America. Since MetaKey is run entirely by a corporation, it lacks a proper judicial system. Because of this, virtually everything, other than slavery and murder, is legal in the city. MetaKey’s lawlessness may make Night City look tame in comparison, which is why it could be a great setting forProject Orion.
Tycho is a Popular Tourist Destination on the Moon
Finally, CD Projekt Red could also explore the city of Tycho inCyberpunk 2077’s sequel. Unlike the other aforementioned regions, Tycho isn’t even located on Earth. Instead, it’s a moon colony situated at the bottom of a crater. This colony, along with its sister city Copernicus, are prominent tourist destinations in the world ofCyberpunk. Tycho, in particular, is the more popular of the two, and it’s home to various shopping malls, restaurants, museums, vineyards, and other recreational attractions. Given its unique traits, this moon colony has the potential to be a very intriguing setting forProject Orion. Furthermore, if Tycho is indeed an explorable location in the game, CDPR could revisit some of the ideas it had in mind forCyberpunk 2077’s canceled moon expansion.
Cyberpunk 2077
WHERE TO PLAY
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades.The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?
