Cyberpunk 2077 sequel's release date potentially not as far off as expected

The release of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is just around the corner - on 26 September to be exact - but some fans are already itching to know more about the game’s full sequel, codenamed Project Orion.

Phantom Liberty will be Cyberpunk 2077’s first and only full expansion as CD Projekt RED devs will then turn their attention towards the next instalment in The Witcher franchise. We do know that Project Orion is in the early stages of development alongside this though. In the more immediate future, Phantom Liberty is set to introduce Idris Elba’s Solomon Reed, plus a wide array of quality of life updates and new gameplay mechanics from the expansion will be dropping in the base game as a part of the upcoming free Update 2.0. Phantom Liberty may not have to tide you over for as long as you think though, as Project Orion could release sooner than expected.

Take a look at Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty in action below.

We know that CDPR are beginning work on The Witcher 4, which isn’t yet titled but it is the fourth instalment in the series, albeit one that will kick off a brand new story and trilogy. It’s to be expected then that Project Orion could become CDPR’s main focus following that. Well, a report by ComicBook takes this theory one step further.

They noted that CDPR have confirmed that Project Orion will enter pre-production once Phantom Liberty is released - although The Witcher 4 remains the main developmental focus. Well, Cyberpunk 2077 entered pre-production after The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine was released in 2016. Cyberpunk 2077 then released in 2020, meaning it had a four year development cycle.

If Project Orion is entering pre-production now, it could reasonably be released in 2027. Clearly, Cyberpunk 2077 could’ve done with a bit more time in the oven though so perhaps 2028 is a safer bet. Do take this all with a pinch of salt for now. We’ve got plenty of Cyberpunk action to keep us busy in the meantime.