Summary
Cyberpunk 2077is touted as one of the best and most immersive single-player experiences of our generation, and it’s hard to argue with that assertion after subsequent updates andPhantom LibertyDLC. While the title certainly had major issues on its initial release all the way back in December 2020, CD Projekt Red has been diligent over the years to create a polished product, and many of those previously sour opinions have turned on their head,including my own.
With the end of development and additional content and support winding down forCyberpunk 2077, fans are now eyeing the future of the franchise via thecodenamedProject Orion. Though it’s been pretty well established that players will need to wait a few years for an announcement or gameplay footage, it doesn’t stop fans from speculating on leaks or details about the development.
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A Job Listing Points To The Potential For Multiplayer
Optimize Multiplayer Systems
In a recent job listing posted on theCD Projekt Redwebsite (viaGameRant),CDPR is looking for a Lead Network Programmer for its Boston Office. While this could theoretically be for any of the company’s games, the fact that the position is located in North America indicates that it’s likely for the upcoming sequel toCyberpunk 2077, as both theBoston and Vancouver offices are tasked with creating the sequel.
The job posting lists some daily responsibilities related to multiplayer, including “Develop and optimize multiplayer systems, including matchmaking,” and goals like “Design, implement, and maintain scalable and efficient network architectures for online features.” The posting also talks about the need to integrate these technologies “seamlessly,” which may provide some decent evidence that multiplayer or network features may play a more predominant role in the highly-anticipated upcoming title.
What Does The CDPR Job Listing Really Mean?
There Are No Official Announcements
While the evidence does point to multiplayer or at least network features being implemented in the sequel, it does not mean that multiplayer has been confirmed for the game. For one, there are amultitude of features likeintegrated modsor custom cosmetics that could require network features, and thesewon’t really impact the underlying gameplayof theCyberpunksequel whatsoever.
Turning the Cyberpunk 2077 experience into an updatedCity of HeroesMMO with heroes being replaced by cybernetically modified trolls is not my cup of tea.
What is perhapsmore curious is the line about matchmaking, which is stronger evidencethan the rest of the job listing that somegameplay features will be online. Those gameplay features are still locked tightly behind closed doors at the CDPR offices, but they could range from anything to multiplayer co-op or even some PvP modes. Although one line from a job listing certainly does not confirm that these features will be included in the game, it is strong evidence that the company is at least examining the potential for a multiplayer onlineCyberpunk.
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Going “Full” Multiplayer May Be A Catastrophic Mistake
Cyberpunk Is Meant To Be A Power Fantasy
A full-on MMO-styleCyberpunkgame,while on its face may seem like a cool concept, would fall flat on its face for a variety of reasons. Throughout my ownCyberpunk 2077playthrough, by the end of the game, I felt absolutely godly. Speccing into throwing knives and pistols and installing time-slowing Sandevistans enabled me to tackle any foe within mere seconds. The concept of having 20 V’s running around Night City and using their own Cyberware not only sounds incredibly chaotic but could also suck the fun out of the game altogether.
That’s not to say CDPR would ever make such a drastic move to change an open-world single-player title into an MMO, but the concept of open servers with different Vs randomly engaging in PvP sounds like it should be its own game entirely. Thebeauty of Cyberpunk 2077 is its engaging characters, amazing acting, awesome visuals, and total immersioninto the life of a Street Kid, Nomad, or Corpo on the streets of Night City. Turning theCyberpunk 2077experience into an updatedCity of HeroesMMO with heroes being replaced by cybernetically modified trolls is not my cup of tea.
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Additionally, taking any ounce of focus away from those immersive cinematic elements will likely damage the overall product players have come to expect in 2024. Though there are several ways CDPR could implement network features in a fun, separate way that shouldn’t affect or interfere with the underlying single-player experience, an over-emphasis on implementing these mechanics in a cohesive way could ultimately affect the main narrative.
There Is A Version Of Cyberpunk 2077 Multiplayer That Could Be Fun
There Isn’t Much Precedent
As it stands,there isn’t much to go off ofwhen trying to conceptualize what CDPR could have up its sleeves in terms of any multiplayer modes. NeitherThe WitchernorCyberpunkgames have multiplayer, and outsideGwent,the company hasn’t delved much into the world of multiplayer games. Although a mod forCyberpunk 2077calledCyber MPis currently under development by a dedicated fan, it looks like that project is much more of an FPS-style deathmatch with the open-world portions akin to something out ofGTA Online.
That said, a smaller, more intimate co-op-styleCyberpunk 2077could be a cool thing to try with a close group of friends. I’ve personallyloved adventuring with my buddies inBaldur’s Gate 3, and the chaos that can ensue when multiple people have the power to affect divergent storylines is an experience I recommend to everyone. Thoughcertain things will need to be worked out technically, like how a Sandevistan slowing time would work for multiple people, I could see aCyberpunk 2077multiplayer campaign outdoing even the single-player mode if it’s executed well.
Additionally — a separate PvP mode outside of the main game, where players could take a souped-up cyberware-infused freak and queue up for deathmatch-style combat, could be a fun alternative to the base single-player campaign. It could also give players a chance to test different builds out against other players to really settle the score on what the best tech in the game is. That said, regardless of what happens, any multiplayer features added should never take away from the base game’s experience. Now that CDPR has set a standard viaCyberpunk 2077, the Orion sequel has pretty big shoes to fill.
