Cyberpunk 2077plunges gamers into a high-tech dystopian city of diverse characters and a fast-paced life or death situation. No matter what path they choose, morality is hard to come by, and the story becomes this: anything can happen in Night City.
Indeed,Cyberpunk 2077’s 2.2 update is reflective of this chaos, introducing more customization in several areas. But beyond fresh mechanics, CDPR appears to be cracking its knuckles ahead of the franchise’s next phase, deemed Project Orion, and may be teasing players about the future of its gameplay as a whole.
Project Orion Looks at a Future of More Player Freedom
Cyberpunk 2077 Introduces More Customization Across the Board
One major feature of update 2.2. is character customization, a beloved feature of many RPGs as players seek to make their avatars look as good as they desire. The update gives V more options for eye color, makeup, tattoos, cosmetic cyberware, and more. This is also true for cars, as severalCyberpunkvehicle typesnow support new paint jobs, which were previously only available on Rayfield cars. Players can also scan cars around Night City to acquire new designs.
In addition, there was a complete overhaul to photo mode, but a particularly interesting facet of this is that photos can be displayed inV’s apartmentswith SmartFrames by Kiroshi. This seems indicative of customizable living spaces. After all, developers went all out allowing for numerous apartments for V to purchase across Night City, and each is an interesting reflection of its location, from the cozy chic of Japantown to the rundown den of Northside.
This isn’t the first time CDPR has tried its hand at a customizable space. In theBlood and Wine DLCforThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CDPR’s other behemoth, players also get access to a home. It includes fixed upgrades before they can display armor, weapons, and art in it. It feels like the developer is trying to flex its options for a customizable game, which could add to its particular approach to game creation, clearly ever-changing.
CD Projekt Red’s Strength is in Uniqueness
CDPR has a recognizable style, from its games’ dialogue trees to winding storylines. But at its heart, players get their fill of complex systems that allow for some kind of customization or individual build.
The Witchersucceeded with this across its franchise, alchemy taking center stage in the first one and thenan impressive mutation treeand armor/weapon combinations getting more complicated in later installments. Of course, the world of gaming is constantly changing, so developers need to find new things that work and scrap what doesn’t. But there seems to be a pattern.
InCyberpunk 2077, CDPR went further.Cyberpunk’s character attributesand perk system allow V to hone in on both weapon preference and general combat approach, be it stealth or netrunning, and that’s not including the vast amount of cyberware to choose from. The combinations seem endless, essentially creating a different gameplay experience each time. It’s not unrealistic to say devs had fun with customization after having less with the fixed protagonist ofThe Witcher.
All of this is to say that CD Projekt Red has a history of experimentation that’s landed rather well with its audience. It’s reasonable to assumeProject Orion, asCyberpunk’s next brainchild, is what takes these elements to greater heights. Since customization is a standout feature of many modern RPGs, it’s possible that what CDPR does going forward could cement its legacy in this genre entirely.
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?
