Project Orion, the follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077, is pushing full steam ahead but not as fast as fans might’ve hoped. According to a new report, CD Projekt Red’s decision to include a multiplayer mode from day one is extending development time. The sequel, often referred to as Cyberpunk 2, is now expected to land no earlier than late 2030.
Cyberpunk 2’s release date tied to multiplayer ambitions
The latest update comes via Noble Securities, a Polish investment firm tracking CD Projekt Red’s development progress. The translated report mentions that about 135 developers are currently on the project, with that number expected to double by 2027. Despite that scaling, the push for integrated multiplayer is slowing things down.
The report notes, “The desire to integrate multiplayer mode into the production prompted us to extend the production time.” That shift puts Cyberpunk 2’s launch window around Q4 2030 exactly ten years after the original’s release.
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Aiming bigger than the original Cyberpunk 2077
The first Cyberpunk launched with a rocky start but eventually turned itself around with massive updates and the Phantom Liberty expansion. Still, it remained a purely single-player experience. That won’t be the case this time. CD Projekt Red is reportedly building multiplayer directly into the core design of Project Orion, rather than tacking it on post-launch.
Some fans aren’t sold. They worry the focus on online features could distract from what made the original shine: immersive world-building and narrative depth. Others are intrigued by the idea of a proper Cyberpunk multiplayer especially since unofficial mods like CyberMP have already proven the demand.
CD Projekt Red is chasing Rockstar’s model
Multiplayer isn’t new territory for CDPR. The studio floated similar plans back in the early Cyberpunk 2077 days, but later dropped them. This time, the incentives are bigger. The long-term revenue from microtransactions and live content is too tempting to ignore especially with GTA Online still printing money years after launch.
That said, Cyberpunk 2 isn’t expected to become a live-service-only game. CDPR still plans to deliver strong single-player content with a deeper story, smarter enemy AI, and richer NPC interactions. Even Keanu Reeves has hinted at returning as Johnny Silverhand, keeping some continuity alive for longtime fans.
Will the wait for Cyberpunk 2 pay off?
Pushing the sequel to 2030 won’t thrill everyone. But if multiplayer lands as more than a bolt-on mode, it might be the evolution Cyberpunk needs. CD Projekt Red has a reputation to rebuild and a decade to make it count.
