It’s what we commonly call “Americanada”, so CD Projekt’s next RPG won’t abandon these borders.
Cyberpunk 2077, the RPG that marked a decisive, almost terminal, moment for CD Projekt RED has already said everything it had to say, and now its studio is preparing for a sequel under the title Project Orion. In the recent episode of the AnsweRED podcast, where the Polish team breaks down behind-the-scenes details of its developments, the employees of the new study of Boston shared their plans and the cultural improvements they will bring to the new game, and how they are looking to overcome criticism previous while creating the “fantasy of the ultimate futuristic United States“.
There has been a lot of discussion about whether, something that has also generated debate within the GTA saga, the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 should leave the United States to bring fresh air to a license that is still taking off. Unlike common dystopian fantasies, USA It is not the only country standing and, in fact, Europe is mentioned in the base game, so it would not be surprising to see an RPG from the Polish studio set in Futuristic versions of Paris, Berlin or London.
However, for Dan Hernberg, acting executive producer, the decision to set and develop Project Orion in the United States has to do with the hallmarks of the brand. This, which was born as a tabletop role-playing game under the name Cyberpunk 2020, built its world around the pillars of late capitalism, the destruction of the ecosystem, cybersecurity or implants to improve human functions, so, according to Hernberg, “Cyberpunk is a uniquely American story“.
“It has a lot of punk energy, and it was written by an American, so it just seems right to do it in America,” Hernberg added. logical decision If the team has the need to accurately capture the atmosphere and American culture for what he calls a “American postmodern fantasy”something that with greater or lesser success we could see in Cyberpunk 2077.
Authenticity comes from having a local team
But how are they going to improve that “American essence” for their sequel? That’s where the studio in Boston comes in. This will be crucial in development while the rest of the European team tackles work on the new The Witcher. Paweł Saskoassociate game director, illustrated the need to have a good representation of American culture with a specific example: “Cyberpunk 2077, which was made in Poland, had the wrong manhole covers for a city based in the United States.” A mistake that, at the end of the day, It will be avoided with a team from the area.
Hernberg went on to describe how small detailslike the fire hydrants, street lighting and the location of garbage containers, differ between Europe and the United States, affecting the authenticity of the game’s environment. “Our curbs are different, the color of our signs is different. Everything is slightly different“Hernberg said, emphasizing that these nuances can influence player perception on the authenticity of the game world.
Setting up the new studio in Boston not only brings the team closer to American culture, but also allows them to tap into high-profile local talent. Graduates of prestigious institutions as Harvard and MIT will join the development team. In addition, CD Projekt RED will collaborate with its studio in Vancouver, which will further enrich the development of Project Orion. Hernberg announced that the Canadian team is working on “really interesting things” for the sequel.
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