Summary

• Cyberpunk 2077's sequel, tentatively titled Orion, is still in early development but already has a promising new feature: more open world events.
• These open world events can make the game's world feel more alive, compared to the strictly location-based quests in the original Cyberpunk 2077.
• Crafting and non-interactive cutscenes are also expected to be included in the sequel.

With early details of the game now leaked online, sequel to Cyberpunk, under the working title Orion, was first announced in 2022, and appears to still be in the early phases of development. However, information leaked online suggests developer CD Projekt Red already has a vision in mind for the next Cyberpunk. Even though details are still murky and there's a lot yet to be revealed, Cyberpunk's sequel has one big new feature that could be really promising.

Cyberpunk's sequel will have more open world events, according to job listings on CDPR's website interpreted and shared by Reddit Awkward96. Most listings are centered on CDPR's new Boston location. They're almost certainly part of Cyberpunk 2, as they're under a section in CDPR's career page labeled "Orion." In particular, the Senior Quest Designer role calls for someone with experience in "deg quests, communities, and open world events." Open world events differ from Cyberpunk's regular quests in that they're triggered spontaneously - in some games, when the player walks over a certain spot, and in others, completely at random.

This is one thing that Cyberpunk 2077 lacks, and it sometimes prevents Night City from feeling like a living, breathing world. All of Cyberpunk's quests are strictly tied to a particular location. In between those quests, though, the world is indifferent to V. There's the occasional alley with a few gangsters and a bit of loot, or a couple of chatty NPCs, but these are still locked in place and require V's initiative. Random open world events could lend a degree of chaos to Night City (or wherever Cyberpunk's sequel is set) in a way that the first game couldn't.

Everything Else Leaked About Cyberpunk's Sequel

The job listings don't say so explicitly, but it's unlikely that Orion will be a direct sequel to Cyberpunk. There's just too much variation in Cyberpunk's endings, too much change effected on Night City to pick up immediately where the last game left off. Instead, it's more likely the sequel will be set in a new place, a new time, or both - although some references to Night City and its inhabitants are almost a given.

Job listings for Orion also reveal CDPR's search for someone to design a crafting system. So it seems like crafting will be part of Cyberpunk's sequel in some way, shape, or form. Since CDPR is hiring a new designer for these systems, it's unlikely that Orion's version of crafting will be identical to Cyberpunk's. It could be similar in principle, with players collecting schematics and parts to cobble together weapons and quickhacks - or it could be completely different.

Orion is also expected to feature non-interactive cutscenes alongside interactive dialogue scenes, as suggested by positions like Senior Cinematic Designer and Animator. To that end, job listings also suggest it'll have seamless transitions from gameplay into dialogue and vice versa. This should help story-focused scenes feel natural, like part of the living world CDPR is trying to create with Orion.

Again, Cyberpunk's sequel is still very much in its early stages. While someone at CDPR probably knows more about its setting, plot, and gameplay systems, that information remains under wraps for now. All fans have to go off are the tidbits provided in job listings, which may be revealing, but still present an incomplete picture. Early leaks present a promising vision, but with Cyberpunk 2077's sequel still likely several years away, it could be a while until players know more.

Source: Awkward96/Reddit