Summary
AlthoughCyberpunk 2077may have had a notorious launch, the ambitious sci-fi RPG from CD Projekt Red experienced one of the biggest redemption arcs in modern gaming. Now that the game is getting an official sequel, theCyberpunk 2077franchise is going to grow even further. Codenamed Project Orion, the sequel recently entered production. Despite the early development, there are already plenty of questions about what the game has in store.
The world ofCyberpunk 2077is vast. From the lore to characters to Night City itself,Cyberpunk 2077is rife with exploration. Now, with the addition of thePhantom LIbertyDLC, the game feels bigger than ever. However, there is one specific wayProject Orion can one-up its predecessor.Cyberpunk 2077may knock it out of the park with character development and lore, but it is unfortunately missing a long-running gaming staple: New Game Plus.
Project Orion Needs to Feature a New Game Plus Option
Correcting Cyberpunk 2077’s Initial Mistakes
New Game Plus has become a staple for many games to feature through the years. Being able to restart a game after beating it with all, or most of, the equipment and upgrades one acquires through the story has become an incredibly fun way to experience a story in a new light. Although there isplenty to do inCyberpunk 2077, New Game Plus can really bring a power fantasy to life. That said, a New Game Plus mode in Project Orion may be just a pipe dream.
Since the game’s initial launch back in 2020, many players have been asking for a New Game Plus update, but CD Projekt Red has made it clear that it won’t happen. Although disappointing, it definitely isn’t without merit, citing the game’s intricacy as a road block. In a recent interview, Lead Quest Designer, Pawel Sasko, stated, “It’s incredibly difficult to figure out a way where New Game Plus could be done in a way that doesn’t completely break the way the game is constructed.” It is understandable as to whythe complexities ofCyberpunk 2077’s worldwould make developers wary of a New Game Plus mode, but the worries about a New Game Plus not making sense in the grand scheme of things may be overthinking it.
There aren’t many New Game Plus modes that actually make sense when going through the motions of a game’s story for the second time. The point of New Game Plus is to reward players for completing the story by letting them experience it again as overpowered as possible. The manyfeatures ofCyberpunk 2077can make V feel like a god by the end of the game, but feeling like that from the beginning could be incredibly compelling.
At the end of the day, a New Game Plus does not necessarily have to make sense. It just has to be fun.
Project Orion Should Give New Game Plus Another Chance
Since most New Game Plus modes are mainly about making a second run as fun and outlandish as possible, CD Projekt Red should reconsider its stance on the mode. It is expected thatProject Orion will improveCyberpunk 2077in an unknown variety of ways, but New Game Plus is a great place to start. Experiencing a game with the developer’s true intentions and hopes on the first run-through makes perfect sense. However, players should at least be given the option to experience Night City as an overpowered V. At the end of the day, a New Game Plus does not necessarily have to make sense. It just has to be fun.
Although the hype has already begun,Project Orion is probably several years awayat this point. As time passes, more information will be revealed by CD Projekt Red, and New Game Plus will hopefully be revealed in the eventual updates.
Cyberpunk 2077
WHERE TO PLAY
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?
