CD Projekt wants the Cyberpunk series to experience 'a similar evolution' to The Witcher games
The Witcher progressed by leaps and bounds across three games. What will Cyberpunk 2 look like?
Consider The Witcher games and how much they changed with each installment. We want a similar evolution here," narrative director Igor Sarzyński said in a recent interview with PC Gamer.
What does that mean for a studio that's already gone from scrappy, idealistic RPG dev to one of the titans of the gaming industry? CD Projekt has already proven it can make incredible-looking games. In 2011 The Witcher 2 was already one of the best-looking videogames on the planet, and it also showed a glimmer of the narrative ambition CDPR would really flex in The Witcher 3. The Witcher 2's story branches into two completely separate paths at the halfway point, a bold move that no one's really pulled since. And obviously CD Projekt now knows its way around an open world. Where do you go from there?
Across the three Witcher games, I don't think CD Projekt ever made truly great combat—even in The Witcher 3 it was merely a serviceable interlude between all the great storytelling. Cyberpunk 2.0 might be the first game from the studio to really nail it, with shooting that feels innately satisfying and tons of sci-fi abilities that meaningfully change how you engage with combat. That's an exciting thought for what the sequel could introduce.
I think it's the world, though, that CD Projekt still has to work hardest to get just right. "NPC interactivity" is a key phrase in Sarzyński's answer; on first blush Night City is amazing, but back at launch especially the illusion really didn't hold up. Fixing bugs, making the police more dynamic, and other updates across many patches helped Night City feel more alive, but there's still a clear gap between Cyberpunk 2077 and a Rockstar open world like Red Dead Redemption 2's. As pretty as Night City is, your main ways to interact with it outside of missions is to buy stuff or help the cops.
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