Summary
It is fair to say thatCyberpunk 2077is now practically unrecognizable compared to its original launch state, with CD Projekt Red having worked extremely hard over the past four years to salvage the game and turn its reputation around. The main way that the title was improved post-launch was through many comprehensive content updates, and while a lot of these new features should have been included at release, they did well to greatly improve the game’s overall experience in the eyes of many fans.
One of the most game-changing updates thatCyberpunk 2077received post-launch was the 2.0 update, which was by far the largest free update that the game received. The 2.0 update forCyberpunk 2077had four key areas of improvement that it worked towards, one of which was the introduction of detailed vehicle combat. This area of enemy interaction is something that fits perfectly into the tech-saturated world ofCyberpunk, and it only seems right that the upcomingProject Orionshould take the vehicle combat of 2.0 and logically improve upon it.
There is Still a Lot of Room For Vehicle Combat Improvements in Project Orion
The 2.0 update forCyberpunk 2077was released in September 2023 and marked a significant moment in finally making the title more reflective of what fans expected prior to its launch in 2020. For example, the 2.0 update finally gave a much-neededoverhaul toCyberpunk 2077’s police system, which was heavily criticized closer to launch, with police AI becoming more intelligent and responsive to the player’s actions thanks to 2.0.
Other than this,Cyberpunk 2077’s 2.0 update introduced a much more intricate cyberware system to the game, as well as a revamp of the title’s perk trees, but it was the changes made to vehicle combat that really stood out to many fans.The vehicles ofCyberpunkare a massively important element of the franchise, with2077including over 60 vehicles, and CD Projekt Red even working closely with real-life manufacturers to imagine what vehicles of the future might look and perform like.
Cyberpunk 2077offers beefier off-road vehicles, eccentric sports cars, and devilishly fast motorcycles, and 2.0 finally allowed players to engage in combat from the comfort of this range of transportation. 2.0 added the ability for the player to shoot weapons from inside moving vehicles, giving cars weak spots that can be targeted, and turning chases into much more explosive and deadly affairs. The update also allowed for quick hacks to be used against other vehicles on the road, giving players a much wider overall range of dealing with their targets or unwanted pursuers.
Project Orion Can Take Cyberpunk 2077’s Vehicle Netrunning A Step Further
Following the release of2077’sPhantom Libertyexpansion, it might be some time before fans get their hands on moreCyberpunkcontent, but CD Projekt Red has already confirmed that a sequel is in the works. CodenamedProject Orion, not a lot is currently known about the title, but it only seems right that CDPR should carry forward the momentum of2077’s post-launch vehicle improvements for the upcoming game.
Project Orionshould lean further into the netrunning possibilities of vehicle combat, for example, perhaps giving players the ability to summon powerful AI-controlled vehicles to cause complete chaos and turn chases on their head. This, combined with other abilities like physically hijacking enemy vehicles on the road, would be excellent further additions to2077’s vehicle combat improvements, andProject Orionis in the perfect position to take the franchise’s vehicle mechanics one step further.
