Cyberpunk 2077 fans hoping to return to Night City anytime soon need to adjust their expectations. Polish analyst firm Noble Securities predicts CD Projekt’s sequel won’t launch until the fourth quarter of 2030, roughly a decade after the original game’s troubled release. The reason for the extended timeline? CD Projekt is building multiplayer into the game from day one, a decision that’s ballooning the budget to an estimated PLN 1.5 billion, or approximately $419 million.
That figure represents a substantial increase over Cyberpunk 2077’s already massive development costs and positions the sequel as one of the most expensive video games ever made. The original took nearly ten years to develop and still launched in a broken state that damaged CD Projekt’s reputation. With Cyberpunk 2, the studio appears determined to avoid repeating those mistakes even if it means waiting six more years before players can experience the sequel.
Why 2030 Makes Sense Despite Feeling Forever Away
CD Projekt officially confirmed in May 2025 that Cyberpunk 2, previously known as Project Orion, entered pre-production. During an investor presentation, joint CEO Michał Nowakowski acknowledged that the studio’s typical development timeline from pre-production to final release averages four to five years. When asked directly whether this puts Cyberpunk 2 in the late 2030 or early 2031 timeframe, Nowakowski didn’t disagree, stating only that each project is unique with many variables influencing the outcome.
The Q4 2030 prediction from analyst Mateusz Chrzanowski aligns perfectly with the tenth anniversary of Cyberpunk 2077’s original December 2020 launch. That symbolic timing seems too perfect to be coincidental, suggesting CD Projekt may deliberately target that window for maximum marketing impact. A decade feels like an eternity in gaming, but it reflects the brutal reality of modern AAA development timelines, especially for studios creating massive open-world RPGs.
CD Projekt is currently focused primarily on The Witcher 4, which entered full production in late 2024 and likely won’t arrive until 2027 at the earliest. The studio has committed to releasing the entire new Witcher trilogy within a six-year period, meaning The Witcher 5 would follow in 2030 and The Witcher 6 in 2033. Fitting Cyberpunk 2 into this aggressive schedule creates logistical challenges, but CD Projekt has been expanding rapidly to handle parallel development across multiple major projects.
The Multiplayer Decision That Changed Everything
According to Noble Securities’ analysis, CD Projekt’s decision to integrate multiplayer into Cyberpunk 2 from day one significantly impacted both the development timeline and budget. The original Cyberpunk 2077 was supposed to receive multiplayer as a post-launch addition, but those plans were quietly shelved after the disastrous launch consumed all resources for fixing the base game. Phantom Liberty, the excellent expansion released in 2023, refocused the project on single-player storytelling where CD Projekt excels.
Building multiplayer into a massive open-world RPG from the ground up presents technical and design challenges that go far beyond adding cooperative play to an existing game. Server infrastructure, balance considerations, anti-cheat systems, monetization strategies, and long-term live-service support all require dedicated teams and extensive testing. These elements cost money and extend development timelines substantially compared to pure single-player experiences.
The PLN 1.5 billion budget, roughly $419 million at current exchange rates, reflects these expanded ambitions. For comparison, Cyberpunk 2077’s development and marketing reportedly cost around $316 million over eight years. The sequel’s higher budget despite a shorter timeline suggests CD Projekt is staffing up aggressively and learning from past mistakes about proper resource allocation. The question is whether multiplayer integration justifies the additional cost and delay when fans primarily loved Cyberpunk 2077 for its narrative and world-building.
How CD Projekt Plans to Build This Monster
Currently, approximately 130 developers are working on Cyberpunk 2 across offices in Boston, Vancouver, and Warsaw. CD Projekt plans to double that number over the next two years, reaching around 300 developers by 2027 when the project hits full production. Half the team will be based in Boston, with the remainder split between Vancouver and Warsaw. This international structure mirrors how major publishers handle simultaneous development of multiple AAA projects.
The Boston studio, CD Projekt Red North America, was specifically established to lead Cyberpunk 2’s development. Relocating the franchise’s creative hub from Poland to the United States represents a significant strategic shift for the company. Boston offers access to a deeper talent pool of experienced AAA developers, though it also means building new studio culture and workflows from scratch. Whether this new team can capture the magic of the original while avoiding its technical disasters remains uncertain.
What We Actually Know About Cyberpunk 2
Beyond the multiplayer integration and budget estimates, concrete details about Cyberpunk 2 remain scarce. Mike Pondsmith, creator of the original Cyberpunk tabletop RPG, disclosed that the sequel will feature a second city beyond Night City. That expansion alone represents a massive undertaking given how densely detailed Night City was in the original. Building another comparable location while maintaining quality standards could easily justify years of development time.
CD Projekt has been explicit about not wanting to rush Cyberpunk 2. The original’s catastrophic launch, particularly on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles where performance was borderline unplayable, damaged the studio’s reputation severely. Sony temporarily removed Cyberpunk 2077 from the PlayStation Store, an unprecedented action for a major AAA release. CD Projekt’s stock price collapsed, and the company faced lawsuits from investors who felt misled about the game’s state.
The redemption arc through patches and the Phantom Liberty expansion restored some goodwill, but the scars remain. Taking six years to develop Cyberpunk 2 properly, launching it on next-generation console hardware (presumably PS6 and whatever follows Xbox Series X/S), and ensuring multiplayer functions correctly at launch all serve the goal of never repeating 2020’s disaster. Patient development makes sense even if fans struggle with the wait.
The Witcher Schedule Complicates Everything
CD Projekt’s ambitious plan to release three Witcher games in six years alongside Cyberpunk 2 raises legitimate concerns about resource management. The studio is also overseeing a Witcher 1 remake being developed externally, exploring a multiplayer Witcher spin-off, and developing two original IPs beyond the Witcher and Cyberpunk franchises. That’s an enormous amount of simultaneous development even with aggressive hiring and studio expansion.
Reddit users discussing the predictions expressed skepticism about CD Projekt’s ability to deliver this many major projects without compromising quality. The studio has never managed parallel development at this scale before, and several of these projects will be inaugural efforts from new international studios. The Boston and Vancouver offices leading Cyberpunk 2 have never shipped a game together. That inexperience introduces risk despite the veteran developers involved.
If The Witcher 4 arrives in late 2027, The Witcher 5 in 2030, and Cyberpunk 2 also targets Q4 2030, CD Projekt would be attempting to launch two massive RPGs in the same quarter. That scheduling seems unwise unless the company staggers releases by several months. More likely, either The Witcher 5 or Cyberpunk 2 will slip into 2031 to avoid cannibalizing sales and marketing attention. Given that Witcher is CD Projekt’s primary focus right now, Cyberpunk 2 seems likelier to delay.
What $419 Million Actually Buys
A budget approaching half a billion dollars positions Cyberpunk 2 among the most expensive games ever made. For perspective, Grand Theft Auto V reportedly cost around $265 million including marketing. Red Dead Redemption 2 allegedly reached $540 million. Modern Warfare 2 (2022) was estimated at $250 million. These figures are notoriously difficult to verify since publishers rarely disclose exact costs, but they provide rough context.
The $419 million figure from Noble Securities presumably includes both development costs and marketing expenses. Marketing AAA games often costs as much as development itself, so the actual development budget might be closer to $200-250 million with another $150-170 million allocated for advertising, promotional events, and influencer campaigns. That split would be typical for blockbuster releases.
Where does that money go? Salaries for 300 developers over five to six years represent the largest expense. Senior developers at AAA studios in major cities like Boston command six-figure salaries. Office space, equipment, software licenses, motion capture facilities, voice acting, orchestral music recording, and countless other production costs add up quickly. Multiplayer infrastructure including servers, networking engineers, and ongoing live-service operations create additional expenses that pure single-player games avoid.
The Next Console Generation Problem
If Cyberpunk 2 launches in late 2030 or early 2031, it will almost certainly target the next generation of console hardware rather than PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Those systems will be seven to eight years old by then, approaching the end of their commercial lifecycle. Developing a massive open-world game with multiplayer for aging hardware makes little sense when new consoles will likely debut in 2027-2028.
This creates interesting strategic considerations. Launching Cyberpunk 2 as a showcase title for PS6 and the next Xbox could secure favorable platform partnerships and marketing deals. However, it also means abandoning the 150+ million PS5 and Xbox Series X/S owners unless the game receives cross-generation support. CD Projekt’s disastrous experience with last-generation console versions of Cyberpunk 2077 might make them hesitant to attempt cross-gen development again.
The PC version provides flexibility regardless of console timing, but consoles represent the majority of sales for most AAA games. Cyberpunk 2077 sold over 25 million copies across all platforms, with a significant portion coming from consoles after patches improved performance. Limiting Cyberpunk 2 to next-generation hardware reduces the potential install base dramatically at launch, though it eliminates technical compromises required for supporting older systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Cyberpunk 2 actually release?
Polish analyst firm Noble Securities predicts Q4 2030, aligning with the tenth anniversary of Cyberpunk 2077’s original launch. CD Projekt hasn’t confirmed this timeline but acknowledged their typical development cycle from pre-production to release takes four to five years. Since the game entered pre-production in May 2025, late 2030 or early 2031 seems realistic barring delays.
How much will Cyberpunk 2 cost to make?
Noble Securities estimates the budget at PLN 1.5 billion, approximately $419 million at current exchange rates. This includes both development costs and marketing expenses. The figure represents a substantial increase over Cyberpunk 2077’s reported $316 million total cost, driven largely by the decision to integrate multiplayer from day one.
Will Cyberpunk 2 have multiplayer?
Yes, according to analyst predictions and reports. CD Projekt plans to integrate multiplayer at launch rather than adding it post-release like originally intended for Cyberpunk 2077. This decision significantly impacts the development timeline and budget, but ensures the feature is properly designed into the core game rather than bolted on later.
Where will Cyberpunk 2 take place?
Mike Pondsmith, creator of the Cyberpunk tabletop RPG, confirmed the sequel will feature a second city beyond Night City. CD Projekt hasn’t revealed which city or how much of the game takes place in each location. Building another densely detailed urban environment comparable to Night City represents a massive undertaking.
Why is Cyberpunk 2 taking so long?
CD Projekt wants to avoid repeating Cyberpunk 2077’s disastrous launch. The original took nearly ten years to develop and still shipped in a broken state. By taking five to six years for Cyberpunk 2, focusing on next-generation console hardware, and properly integrating multiplayer from the start, the studio hopes to deliver a polished product that doesn’t damage their reputation again.
What console generation will Cyberpunk 2 launch on?
If the 2030 timeline holds, Cyberpunk 2 will likely target PS6 and whatever console follows Xbox Series X/S. Those systems should debut around 2027-2028, making them the primary platforms for a late 2030 release. Whether the game receives cross-generation support for PS5/Xbox Series X/S remains uncertain, though CD Projekt’s previous experience with last-gen ports may discourage that approach.
How many developers are working on Cyberpunk 2?
Currently around 130 developers across offices in Boston, Vancouver, and Warsaw. CD Projekt plans to double that to approximately 300 by 2027 when the project hits full production. Half the team will be based in Boston with the remainder split between Vancouver and Warsaw.
Conclusion
Cyberpunk 2’s predicted late 2030 launch with a $419 million budget and integrated multiplayer reflects both CD Projekt’s ambitions and the lessons learned from Cyberpunk 2077’s troubled development. Taking six years to build the sequel properly makes sense after the original’s disastrous launch nearly destroyed the studio’s reputation. The decision to include multiplayer from day one adds complexity and cost but avoids the awkwardness of promising features post-launch and never delivering them. Whether CD Projekt can successfully manage parallel development of multiple massive RPGs while expanding into new international studios remains the biggest question mark. The studio has never operated at this scale before, and several projects including Cyberpunk 2 will be the inaugural releases from newly established teams. That introduces risk even with experienced leadership and substantial financial backing. For fans, the wait until 2030 feels interminable, especially considering Cyberpunk 2077 only launched in 2020. A decade between mainline entries in a franchise tests patience, but it also ensures the sequel targets next-generation hardware and arrives in a polished state rather than requiring years of patches to become playable. If the alternative is another 2020-style disaster, most fans would probably accept the delay. The real test comes in 2030 when we discover whether six years of development and $419 million produced the definitive Cyberpunk experience, or if CD Projekt bit off more than it could chew with its ambitious multiplayer integration and expanded scope.