Project Orion Can Make One Cyberpunk 2077 Accessory More Than Just Cosmetic

Key Takeaways

• Project Orion could revolutionize Cyberpunk 2077 by making masks essential gear for players to survive in hazardous areas of Night City.
• The sequel might explore space travel, where advanced helmets would be crucial for survival in extreme conditions like lack of oxygen and cosmic radiation.
• If Project Orion delves into space combat, advanced helmets could provide real-time enemy tracking for a tactical edge, though specifics are unconfirmed.

After the release of Phantom Liberty, the core crew of Cyberpunk 2077 moved to Boston and started working on the new sequel, titled Project Orion. A tweet from CD Projekt RED’s Associate Game Director Pawel Sasko revealed that the team is in synergy with the Vancouver crew and Warsaw developers. This might be a hint at the upcoming evolution in the Cyberpunk universe and one area ripe for that is the role of accessories in the game, particularly masks.

Cyberpunk 2077 featured many immersive masks that perfectly highlighted the Night City’s dystopian nature. While these accessories looked cool, they didn’t serve much purpose beyond visual appeal. Project Orion could change all this in a snap. As the development of the sequel continues, there is a unique chance for masks to become an essential part of the player’s arsenal for overcoming challenges within Night City and beyond. Phantom Liberty has already added 100 new weapons and several new districts to the game. So, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Project Orion introduced some new mechanics in the game to facilitate the functionality of masks and other accessories.

The Potential Roles Of Masks in the Night City

The multicultural metropolis of Night City is notorious for corruption, gang violence, and organized crime. The in-game NPC community has already seen the AHQ disaster, which can make masks functional in the game. Any nuclear disaster similar to Arasaka Headquarters, or chemical spills like Arroyo district, can turn certain areas of the Night City into hazardous zones. In such a setting, masks wouldn’t just be for show — they would become essential gear for the player to survive.

The introduction of these areas will also fundamentally change how players navigate the city. New roles of masks would force players to plan their routes carefully and add a more strategic layer to the gameplay. Developers can make the mechanic even more challenging by featuring limited uses of masks. In that case, managing resources like filters and related supplies can increase the tension in these dangerous areas of Night City and enhance the overall gameplay.

Masks In Space Could Be Project Orion’s Next Stop

One of the biggest speculations associated with Project Orion is the possibility of space travel. The name Orion is already well-known in the real world for space projects. NASA’s Artemis program has an individual spacecraft named “Orion.” NASA, DARPA, and the US Air Force also conducted a project in the 1950s where they tested nuclear technology for spacecraft propulsion. There’s a fair chance that the sequel’s codename is a massive hint toward these space explorations. If the Cyberpunk universe ventures beyond the polluted streets of Night City and expands into space, masks — and most broadly, helmets — will become crucial for survival.

Unlike the accidental hazards of Night City, space brings extreme environmental conditions such as lack of oxygen, vacuum, and cosmic radiation. The vacuum of space means there’s no atmosphere, making oxygen supply a critical concern. At the same time, cosmic radiation might be programmed to stay hazardous for the player’s health and the integrity of their equipment. In this scenario, masks from Cyberpunk 2077‘s Night City wouldn’t be enough. Developers could take this to the next level by introducing advanced helmets explicitly designed for space survival. These helmets could offer more than just protection against the lack of oxygen. Not to mention there’s a high probability of seeing advanced HUD displays with different mechanics, such as proximity to safe zones and oxygen levels.

Helmets Could Redefine Tactical Battle In Space

Cyberpunk 2077 had its fair share of intense combat, but Project Orion could take it to new heights — quite literally. Rumors surrounding a canceled Cyberpunk 2077 Moon-based DLC hinted at the potential corporate battles in space. If Project Orion went into space, fans would be able to see advanced helmets beyond mere protection. Real-time enemy tracking could become a probable feature of helmets, giving players a tactical edge in combat. While these ideas are exciting, CD Projekt Red has not confirmed them. So, the final implementation of these speculative concepts remains to be seen in Project Orion.