CD Projekt Red Wants Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel To Have Most-Realistic Crowds Ever

Near the end of last year, CD Projekt Red shifted its focus away from Cyberpunk 2077 updates and bug fixes and put The Witcher 4 into full production. But that doesn't mean the developer isn't starting work on the next game in the Cyberpunk 2077 franchise. In a new job listing, CD Projekt Red put out the word that it's looking to create even more impressive background NPCs in the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel.

Via Video Games Chronicle, CD Projekt Red is looking for a lead encounter designer for Project Orion, which is the codename for the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel. The listing notably states that selected candidates will be collaborating with the design team "to create the most realistic and reactive crowd system in any game to date." The position will also be responsible for designing "memorable combat encounters" and crafting "divergent experiences that cater to all available play styles."

Despite getting off to a rocky start after Cyberpunk 2077's launch in 2020, CD Projekt Red addressed most of the major issues within the game. The Phantom Liberty DLC expansion was also highly praised for adding more life to Night City's inhabitants and surroundings. If the development team is going even further with NPC interaction in the sequel, it should be interesting to see if crowd encounters will affect the shape and flow of the story. A "realistic and reactive crowd" wouldn't just ignore or simply run away from players when things get violent. It also stands to reason that crowds could potentially interact with player-characters in more immersive ways.

CD Projekt Red hasn't disclosed a timetable for Cyberpunk 2077's sequel yet, and the game could be several years away while The Witcher 4 is in development. However, The Witcher 4 director Sebastian Kalemba recently shared his belief that the company has learned from its mistakes with Cyberpunk 2077, and won't be repeating them in the future. The developer's commitment to fixing Cyberpunk 2077's issues resulted in the game peaking at a 95% rating on Steam four years after its release.

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