Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel to Provide ‘Unique Fusion of Film and Game’

Highlights

• CD Projekt Red is ramping up for the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, prioritizing a cinematic experience with a new fusion of film and game.
• The original game focused on immersion over cinematic appeal, leading to fewer cinematic cutscenes – a trade-off now being reconsidered.
• CDPR is seeking a Lead Cinematics Designer for Project Orion, aiming to infuse the sequel with more movie-esque moments.

The sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 may feature a high cinematic quotient, as per a job listing from developer CD Projekt Red (CDPR). The developer seems to be on the hunt for a cinematics expert as it looks to combine film and game into one genre for the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel.

Since Cyberpunk 2077’s infamously botched launch and its eventual redemption with the Phantom Liberty DLC, CDPR has moved on and shifted focus to the next big step for the franchise. Back in October 2022, the Polish developer confirmed its plans for a sequel, codenamed Project Orion. And now, it has apparently amped up staff recruitment for its next Cyberpunk game.

As confirmed from an active job listing, CDPR is looking to hire a Lead Cinematics Designer to help make the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel a “unique fusion of film and game.” Given one of the job requirements is eight years of experience in AAA game development, it is clear that the company wishes to hire someone who can make a veteran’s contribution to a key area of Project Orion. According to the job description, CDPR is hiring for this role at its new Boston office, which was first announced in 2022.

Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel to Double Down on the Original Game’s Cinematic Appeal

Even though Cyberpunk 2077 has a rousing plot and features popular Hollywood celebrities – Keanu Reeves and Idris Elba – in starring roles, it hasn’t really been in the running for being one of the most cinematic games. Titles, such as Death Stranding and Alan Wake 2, don’t just surpass it by a margin but also rival films when it comes to the cinematic aspect.

This deficit may be attributed to CDPR’s decision to prioritize immersion over cinematic appeal for the first game. The developers introduced a new “Scene System” for cutscenes in Cyberpunk 2077, allowing players to have a freely movable camera during cutscenes instead of a fixed camera. While this allowed more freedom within cutscenes, it was a trade-off that meant having fewer cinematic cutscenes compared to other CDPR games, such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

After all that, it seems that CDPR is taking a different approach in these parts of the game for the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel. It appears that cinematic quality has risen higher in the list of priorities for Project Orion, and there are going to be a few more movie-esque moments in the sequel than there were in the original.