Cyberpunk 2 Boss: The Game Has Evolved Beyond My Original Idea

Ever wonder how a game as massive as Cyberpunk 2 actually comes together? According to its director, it's all about trusting the team and letting the original vision grow.

In a new blog post on CD Projekt Red's website, Gabe Amatangelo opened up about his approach to game development. He explained that while he's ultimately in charge, he doesn't want to create bottlenecks by approving every single decision. Instead, he trusts the team he's building around him. "I had the idea of Cyberpunk 2 in the beginning, but it evolves as I involve more people," he says. "And it evolves as I empower the team and individuals within them to contribute. It becomes something else, right? It becomes this thing that I've shepherded, but it's ultimately a reflection of the team's hearts and souls. And I look forward to sharing that."

That collaborative spirit extends to how Amatangelo defines the cyberpunk genre itself. For him, it's deeply personal. "It's my childhood," he says, because "questioning things was just part of my growing up." Being a screamer in a hardcore punk band also shaped his perspective. He adds that "the cyber part of it is both exaggeration and expression, neon lights and loud noises. It's about exploring the extremes of dehumanization."

But Amatangelo isn't interested in locking down a single definition. He's open to what others think Cyberpunk represents, which helps "put forward new ideas" and "figure out the next step." He recalls people telling him, "Oh, cyberpunk means this. Cyberpunk means that." His response? "Yes! You're all right and you're all wrong!" As he puts it, punk means different things to different people, but the core is the ability to pose questions — to ask why.

As for when you'll actually get to play Cyberpunk 2, CD Projekt Red still hasn't announced a release date. The studio's current focus appears to be on The Witcher 4. That said, the blog post notes that more than 180 developers are working on Cyberpunk 2, so it's likely moving forward at a good pace. Given Cyberpunk 2077's rough launch, we imagine this one will get all the time it needs.

On top of The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2, CD Projekt Red's boss says Project Hadar is the studio's "biggest undertaking to date" — and they've finally finished building its world. That's a lot of irons in the fire, but it sounds like the team is embracing the challenge.

What do you think about Amatangelo's approach to letting the team shape Cyberpunk 2? Will you be picking it up when it eventually launches?