Project Orion is one of the most elusive games withinCD Projekt Red’s lineup of upcoming releases. Announced during an investor meeting in 2022, the action RPG is going to be a sequel toCyberpunk 2077and, unlike its predecessor, it’ll run on Unreal Engine 5. Other than these two tidbits of information, practically nothing else has been officially confirmed about the game. It’s not exactly clear if thisCyberpunk 2077sequel will take place in Night City, or if characters like V and Johnny Silverhand will even be featured in it. What is clear, though, is that fans ofCD Projekt Redwill have to wait a long time to see this game with their own eyes.
Of course, Project Orion isn’t the only game CD Projekt Red is working on. The company is developing several new installments inThe Witcherfranchise, as well, fromthe recently-revealedThe Witcher 4to the upcomingTheWitcher 1remake. CD Projekt Red is also making a game under the codename, Project Sirius. Unlike the other aforementioned titles, this game is a multiplayer-focused spin-off ofThe Witcherseries that has a singleplayer component. Project Sirius is apparently going to be quite different from previous CD Projekt Red games, but if it ends up being successful, then perhaps Project Orion’s rumored multiplayer mode should copy it in one way.
Project Orion’s Rumored Multiplayer Mode Should Copy One Aspect of Project Sirius
Job Listings Suggest that Project Orion Will Have Some Kind of Multiplayer Functionality
Although CD Projekt Red has yet to confirm or deny the existence ofmultiplayer in Project Orion, recent rumors suggest that the feature may be included in the game. Last year, the Polish developer posted a job listing on its website looking for people that have experience in the multiplayer field. Some, at first glance, may assume that this listing is intended for Project Sirius or some other game that CD Projekt Red is making, but the fact that it’s specifically intended for the company’s Boston office suggests otherwise.
For those who don’t know,Cyberpunk 2077’s sequel is being helmed byCD Projekt Red’s newly-established North American division, which is situated in Boston, Massachusetts. While The Molasses Flood, the developer behind Project Sirius, is also located in Boston, the company has a separate website with its own job listings, so ads on the CD Projekt Red website probably don’t apply to it. With this in mind, it seems likely that the listing in question is for Project Orion, since that is the only game CD Projekt Red’s Boston-based studio is currently working on.
The Molasses Flood was once a small independent developer, but it was acquired by CD Projekt Red in 2021.
Project Orion’s Multiplayer Mode Should Be a Standalone Experience, Like Project Sirius
If CD Projekt Red does indeed intend to add a multiplayer mode to Project Orion, then it may be a good idea for the studio to turn it into a standalone game, much like Project Sirius. Multiplayer modes in singleplayer games can often be half-baked, and no matter the quality, they usually have short life spans. If CD Projekt Red wants thisrumored Project Orion mode to rival the likes ofGTA Onlineand other live service juggernauts, then releasing it as a separate game would be ideal. Plus, adding a singleplayer campaign to a hypothetical multiplayerCyberpunkgame, similar to what Project Sirius is doing, may please fans of both types of experiences.
A Standalone Cyberpunk 2077 Multiplayer Game Was in Development, But Was Canceled
CD Projekt Red has actually attempted to make amultiplayer-focusedCyberpunkgamebefore. Prior to the disastrous launch ofCyberpunk 2077, the company sought to release a standalone multiplayer mode for the sci-fi RPG sometime in 2022. However, in 2021, it canceled the mode in favor of prioritizing post-launch support forCyberpunk 2077, which was suffering from a litany of bugs and technical issues back then. AlthoughCyberpunk 2077’s multiplayer component may never see the light of day, hopefully Project Orion’s rumored one will, assuming it actually exists.
Cyberpunk 2077
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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?
