Adag there, that’s the Cyberpunk 2, and it really looks like CD Projekt Red is finally giving the people what were wanted since day one all that free multiplayer. Job advertisement for a Lead Network Engineer on Project Orion, the code name for the working title of the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, pretty much almost confirms online features, something the original was notoriously stripped of in the days following its open launch.
Both GameSpot and Metro report that those activities included developing network systems-that of course was supremely contrary since Cyberpunk 2077 was only intended for a good ol fashioned single player. This job listing by CDPR themselves is not based on hearsay. And honestly, it’s high time for one.
The sentiment over online went…well, “mixed” might just be an understatement. Some players were overjoyed about it. Yuriken put it perfectly: “Finally someone to play Night City with.” Another one, Hat3Asylum, was equally enthusiastic: “Finally! Roaming Night City with friends was all I wanted from the original. Take my money now!” Surely many gamers have long been fantasizing about exploring that neon-lit city with their friends, and now it might actually be happening.
From some quarters, however, those voices of doubt almost seemed to be disappearing. In light of CD Projekt Red’s past in the launch of Cyberpunk 2077, which, let’s be honest, was chaotic—that skepticism was well deserved. User Dirklon raised an interesting point: “With how buggy the original singleplayer experience was I’m very interested to see how this plays out 🤣😭.” He is not wrong; the original game was very buggy at launch, and piling in multiplayer could well make things worse.”
And now the question arises: what sort of multiplayer is it? Verratus_Speaks said, “Is it Co-op or an actual separate multiplayer mode? Because they claimed that there would be a multiplayer competitive mode for Cyberpunk 2077 as well and then just never released it.” That is indeed a reasonable concern. Since CD Projekt promised multiplayer for Cyberpunk 2077 and then just dropped it with no explanation, the players are right to be skeptical about the real nature of what is coming this time around.
Other trepidations among players take center stage in some discussions, simply around the concern that multiplayer could interfere with the narrative emphasis toward which CD Projekt Red made its name. User iam_Lecumberri stated, “If Cyberpunk 2 leans too heavy on multiplayer, it risks losing the deep storytelling that made us fall in love with CDPR in the first place.” That’s a valid concern; The Witcher 3 and, after some polish, even Cyberpunk 2077 are celebrated for their strong narrative, and no one wants to see that put aside for online multiplayer.
“Crazy cause this game had some of the most insane hype i’ve ever seen for a game and then it came out and i honestly haven’t heard shit about it until now,” remarked chiefflips. He may have a point: the game took off of everyone’s radar given the horribly messy release, but after all the updates and the Phantom Liberty expansion, this multiplayer news could be just the remedy to welcome back some lapsed players to Night City.
Regarding a possible return, featlor admitted: “time to finally play through the Cyberpunk story (I stopped somewhere at 50%).” They are not alone; hundreds who also never made it to the end either because of bugs or because they gave up on it would be glad to see the reinforcement of multiplayer for the next installment, and this might give them a reason to try again or, at the very least, hype them up for what’s coming.
Then there are those skeptics. Thus, NoaNuman bluntly asked, “Does anyone even play this trash ass game?” It feels somewhat harsh, but considering its history, it’s a fair question. Then there is ku_ds17868 who voiced another thought: “Wait wasn’t that the game which was already dead as it came out?” Again, not quite wrong, but the game has been on the comeback trail thanks to some updates and the Edgerunners anime on Netflix.
So what does this mean for Cyberpunk 2? For one, it just seems the clear indication that CDPR has learned a few lessons from their mistakes. Giving it a multiplayer spin might be their commitment to creating something that engages players for the long term, an area where single-player games briefly struggle. But, really, the execution is what they need to nail this time. The launch of the first title was a cautionary tale about failing to deliver upon screams of build-up, and there won’t be players willing to forgive another slip.
By virtue of the ultra-specialized nature of this advertised position, a Lead Network Engineer would let you infer an online infrastructure intent for Project Orion, suggesting that multiplayer is not some faint afternoon thought; rather, it’s the serious core of the entire operation.
When will it ever be possible for somebody to play Cyberpunk 2? Yeah…nobody knows. User slotslv asked: “When does it come out?” Probably not anytime soon is the answer. While the waiting continues, development does take time with a project of this magnitude. But hey, at least we got one single concrete datum on which to base all our wild speculations.
So, could it be that the time to play Cyberpunk 2077 is now, if you never got around to it after launch? Considering all the fixes and the Phantom Liberty expansion, the game holds up fairly well these days. And who knows? Maybe running through Night City now will only hype you up more for the multiplayer sequel.
So, yeah, Cyberpunk 2 with multiplayer coming is a reality. Will it be awesome? Will it just be another hit? Only time will tell. But what can be said is Night City is going to be much more crowded, especially for those on PlayStation and Xbox.
