Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel: Will It Have Chicago Vibes?
Possibly—but there is no official confirmation that the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel will be set in Chicago or designed around Chicago’s real-world atmosphere. CD Projekt Red has announced a sequel, currently known by the working title Project Orion, but it has not publicly identified its city, setting details, or release date.
What is confirmed about the sequel
Project Orion is the name CD Projekt Red has used for the next Cyberpunk game. The studio announced the project in 2022 as a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, and it is being developed by a team that includes CD Projekt Red North America. The announcement established that the company intends to continue the series; it did not reveal a new city or confirm that Night City will be replaced.
That distinction matters because online discussion often combines confirmed information, interpretation of concept art, and fan speculation. A city that looks industrial, dense, or familiar is not evidence of a Chicago setting unless the developers identify it as one. No official announcement has established a Chicago-inspired location.
- Confirmed: a Cyberpunk sequel is in development under the working title Project Orion.
- Not confirmed: Chicago as the setting, a map based on Chicago, or a particular release date.
- Still open: whether the sequel returns to Night City, introduces another city, or combines locations.
Why Chicago keeps coming up
Chicago makes intuitive sense as a fan theory. Its recognizable mix of downtown towers, elevated rail, bridges, lakefront space, older industrial districts, and neighborhood-scale streets could provide a rich visual vocabulary for a cyberpunk environment. The city’s skyline and transit infrastructure are also easy to imagine transformed by corporate power, surveillance, extreme inequality, and advanced technology.
Those elements are useful comparisons, not clues about the actual game. A fictional city could borrow visual qualities associated with Chicago without being set there, just as a game can combine architectural and cultural influences from multiple places. Until CD Projekt Red says more, “Chicago vibes” is best understood as a description of the atmosphere fans hope to see—not a reliable report about the sequel.
What “Chicago vibes” might mean in a game
When players describe a city as having Chicago vibes, they might mean much more than its skyline. They could be asking for a different street-level rhythm from Night City: older buildings beside new development, a strong public-transit presence, industrial waterfronts, and neighborhoods that feel distinct from one another.
These qualities could shape gameplay as well as scenery. Elevated tracks might create routes through or above busy streets. A river or lakefront could form a natural boundary, while bridges and tunnels could become meaningful connections between districts. Industrial areas could contrast with a polished financial center. Such features would matter most if they affected navigation, missions, crowds, or the way districts change—not merely if they appeared in the background.
But none of those possibilities has been confirmed for Project Orion. They are examples of what a Chicago-influenced design could offer, not descriptions of announced mechanics or locations.
Night City, a new city, or both?
Cyberpunk 2077 is closely identified with Night City, a fictional metropolis in the Cyberpunk tabletop role-playing setting. The first game made that city a central part of its identity: its districts, corporate structures, gangs, and contrasting built environments all help frame the story. That makes a return plausible, but plausibility is not confirmation.
A sequel could revisit Night City, move to another location in the same broader world, or use more than one setting. Each approach has creative trade-offs. Returning would let the developers show how a familiar place has changed and build on established locations. A new city could introduce different architecture, power structures, and local conflicts. Multiple locations could broaden the world, although they would require careful design to make each place feel substantial.
It is also easy to mistake a new visual direction for proof of a new real-world city. A different color palette, skyline, or neighborhood design might reflect changes within Night City—or an entirely fictional location. Without an official description, screenshots or rumors cannot settle the question.
How to assess rumors and concept images
Speculation about an unreleased game can spread quickly, especially when fan art, leaked material, and official announcements are discussed together. The safest approach is to check what a source actually says and whether it is speaking for the developer.
- Look for a direct statement: a city is confirmed only when the studio or an authorized project representative identifies it.
- Separate art from setting details: a concept image may communicate mood without naming a place or showing a final game environment.
- Check the date and context: old comments can be repeated as if they were new announcements, and working titles do not necessarily reveal a finished game’s direction.
- Treat resemblance as interpretation: a skyline that reminds viewers of Chicago does not establish that the fictional city is Chicago.
This is especially important with claims about development progress, release windows, or map size. If CD Projekt Red has not announced a detail, articles repeating it should be read as speculation rather than settled fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel set in Chicago?
No. CD Projekt Red has not officially confirmed Chicago as the setting. The sequel is in development as Project Orion, but its location has not been announced.
What is Project Orion?
Project Orion is the working title CD Projekt Red has used for its planned Cyberpunk 2077 sequel. It is a project name, not a confirmed final game title.
Will the sequel return to Night City?
That has not been officially confirmed. Night City is central to Cyberpunk 2077, but the developers have not publicly said whether the sequel returns there or moves elsewhere.
Why do fans think the next game could have Chicago vibes?
Chicago’s architecture, transit, river, industrial areas, and recognizable skyline offer appealing ideas for a cyberpunk city. Those comparisons are fan interpretation, not evidence of the game’s confirmed setting.
When will the Cyberpunk sequel come out?
CD Projekt Red has not announced an official release date. A specific date or window should be treated cautiously unless the studio confirms it.
Could the sequel use a fictional city inspired by Chicago?
It could, but that remains a possibility rather than an announced plan. A fictional setting can draw on real-world influences without being a direct version of any one city.
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