Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel Set in “Chicago Gone Wrong”

The upcoming sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 is set to expand the franchise’s dark, futuristic universe with a bold new setting—described as a "Chicago gone wrong"—alongside the return of Night City. With fresh insights from Mike Pondsmith and new job postings from CD Projekt Red, details about Cyberpunk 2, codenamed Project Orion, are beginning to surface. Additionally, new footage has been released for the highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077 Switch 2 port. Read on for the latest updates.

Expanding the World: Multiple Cities in Cyberpunk 2

Cyberpunk 2's development is gaining momentum, with plans to introduce a major new city alongside the iconic Night City. During Digital Dragons 2025 on May 20, Mike Pondsmith, founder of R. Talsorian Games and original creator of the Cyberpunk universe, shared key insights into the sequel’s direction. While not as deeply involved as he was during the development of Cyberpunk 2077, Pondsmith remains engaged with the project, reviewing scripts and consulting with various development teams at CD Projekt Red.

He recalled an early look at the new city's design, saying, “I remember looking at it and going, ‘I understand the feel that you’re going for, and this really does work—it doesn’t feel like Blade Runner, it feels more like Chicago gone wrong’. And I said, ‘yeah, I can see this working’.” This suggests a grounded yet dystopian urban environment, distinct from Night City’s neon-drenched sprawl.

Meanwhile, CD Projekt Red has ramped up hiring for Cyberpunk 2, with recent job listings including a Lead Encounter Designer. The role involves crafting immersive and dynamic gameplay moments that push player engagement to new heights. Notably, one responsibility highlights the studio’s ambition to develop “the most realistic and reactive crowd system in any game to date,” signaling a leap forward in AI and environmental interactivity.

Though official details remain scarce, the combination of Pondsmith’s input and CDPR’s targeted recruitment indicates that Cyberpunk 2 will build on the original’s rich world-building, deeper storytelling, and technological innovation.

New Footage Released for Cyberpunk 2077 Switch 2 Port

In parallel, CD Projekt Red has unveiled new B-roll footage showcasing Cyberpunk 2077 running on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. The studio uploaded several video clips totaling around 37 minutes, offering a closer look at how the game has been optimized for Nintendo’s next-generation handheld console.

Early hands-on reports from showcase events in New York and Paris highlighted performance concerns, particularly frequent frame drops, with Business Insider noting that while playable, the experience was “a fun novelty” but “definitely isn't the best way to play Cyberpunk.” However, CDPR remains confident in the final product.

On April 25, CDPR engineer Tim Green told Game File that optimization progress has been promising. “We haven’t had to fight with fitting into memory, and the speed of the data storage has helped alleviate some of those early streaming problems. This has allowed us to focus our attention on improving other things, and we’re very happy with the result.”

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition is scheduled for release on Switch 2 on June 5, 2025. The edition includes the full base game, all post-launch updates, and the acclaimed Phantom Liberty expansion. For the latest news and updates on the game, stay tuned to our coverage [ttpp].