CD Projekt Red has made a name for itself by delivering captivating RPG experiences through its renowned line of The Witcher games. However, the studio embarked on a new adventure when it announced the adaptation of a board game to create Cyberpunk 2077. Fans were eagerly anticipating another immersive RPG set in a futuristic dystopian city, and the hype surrounding the game reached new heights with marketing materials touting it as a potential game of the year. The countdown to the release date had begun.
Unfortunately, as most of you are aware, the game's launch was plagued with numerous issues. There is no need to elaborate on the extent of the game's rough start in the marketplace. Fans were dissatisfied, and CD Projekt Red's reputation took a hit. It took the studio several years to bring the game up to standard, and during this time, a new director, Gabe Amatangelo, took the reins of the project. Gabe played a crucial role in revitalizing the game and is now directing the upcoming expansion, Phantom Liberty. Fans can expect a substantial overhaul of the game when this expansion is released.
Today, we are sharing insights from content creator Suzi Hunter, who recently shared her thoughts on Twitter after experiencing the expansion and voicing a character in the narrative. Suzi highlighted the numerous changes being implemented, expressing that it felt like CD Projekt Red had remade the entire game by modifying and improving its core mechanics. The best part is that these changes will not be limited to Phantom Liberty alone, but will also be applied to the base game.
Gabe Amatangelo's involvement gives hope that Phantom Liberty will not suffer from a rough launch. After witnessing the less-than-ideal release of Cyberpunk 2077, it is our sincere hope that the team took the necessary time to ensure the game is properly optimized. In any case, it seems that Gabe will remain a key figure in the Cyberpunk 2077 franchise. In a conversation with Jason Schreier from Bloomberg, Gabe mentioned that he would be directing the upcoming sequel to Cyberpunk 2077.
As of now, little is known about this sequel, which is not surprising considering that the game is still in its early stages of production. Internally, the project is simply referred to as Project Orion. However, we have learned that the research phase for the game will commence after the completion of support for Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. The development of the new game will be handled by CD Projekt Red's Boston studio, which is slated to become operational in early 2024.
Consequently, it will be quite some time before we receive any substantial information about Project Orion. However, if you find Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty enjoyable, along with the significant improvements made to the game, you may be eager to experience the new installment under Gabe's direction. Meanwhile, the Phantom Liberty expansion is set to release on September 26, 2023. Once it hits the market, the expansion will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC platforms. In the interim, be sure to watch the embedded video above for a glimpse of what to expect from the expansion.