Project Orion, the code-named sequel toCyberpunk 2077, is currently in development, though virtually nothing has been revealed about it. Nevertheless, it’s an enticing prospect, especially after so many years of consistent, significant improvements to the coreCyberpunk 2077experience, which have transformed it into not only a good game, but a great one.
Among the many promising elements ofProject Orionis the possibility that it may feature some sort of multiplayer component—something that was more or less confirmed by a recent CD Projekt Red job listing. Naturally, all information aboutProject Orion’s potential multiplayer aspectsshould be taken with a grain of salt until CDPR itself comments on the matter, but it wouldn’t be such an absurd idea: CDPR is clearly warming up to multiplayer, with a multiplayerWitcherspin-off confirmed to be in the works, and the originalCyberpunk 2077was initially meant to have a multiplayer expansion added after launch. With the famous Polish studio dipping its toes into online gaming, it will certainly be interesting to see howProject Orion’s potential PvP or co-op features shake out.
How Project Orion’s Multiplayer Can Be Fresh and Competitive
The Case Against Project Orion’s Multiplayer Being “Sci-Fi GTA Online”
Cyberpunk 2077’s base game already has a bit in common withGrand Theft Auto, leading many to speculate that its scrappedmultiplayer mode could be akin toGTA Online. That is, it would adopt a quasi-MMO format, thrusting players into a rendition of Night City (or some other futuristic dystopia) populated by other players. It’s not a terrible idea, and it would allow CD Projekt Red to devise its own metaverse of sorts, but it could also be an uphill battle.
Yes, a AAA, sci-fi-tinged competitor toGTA Onlinewould be nice, but Rockstar is no doubt planning to dump considerableresources intoGTA Onlineover the next several years, possibly even releasing a brand-new version of the uber-popular MMO to coincide withGTA 6. CD Projekt Red would be rather bold to release a direct competitor to one of the most successful online games of all time, and with the resources that Rockstar will inevitably have at its disposal forGTA Online’s continuation, direct comparisons might not be favorable forProject Orion.
More important are the many mechanical and structural differences between the two franchises. Assuming thatProject Orionretains at least some of its predecessor’s design choices, it will likely have a heavy emphasis on progression and build variety, which could spell trouble in a PvE environment. In a game likeGTA 5, orRed Dead Redemption 2for that matter, players are more or less on equal footing: there are light RPG progression elements, but no one has access to significantly more powerful abilities. Plus, major combat dimensions like the Sandevistan and quickhacking, which rely on time dilation, may not translate well to a real-time multiplayer environment. Put another way,Cyberpunk 2077’s combat sandboxis best suited to a single-player environment, so a direct transplant ofProject Orion’s base game to an online format could be messy.
A Fundamentally Distinct Multiplayer Mode Might Be Project Orion’s Best Bet
Rather than a quasi-MMO likeGTA Online, perhapsProject Orioncould benefit from a more structured multiplayer component. Predesigned PvP modes like team deathmatch could work well, especially if they are disconnected from single-player progression systems, but more linear co-op experiences may be worthwhile as well. For instance, perhaps players could embark on scripted heists or other missions, rather than being set loose in a no-holds-barred sandbox likeGTA Online’s overworld. This way,Project Orion’s multiplayercould serve as a way to further flesh out theCyberpunk 2077universe.
Cyberpunk 2077
WHERE TO PLAY
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades.The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?
