Cyberpunk 2077: Why Project Orion Should Consider Dropping Character Customization

Cyberpunk 2077 introduces players to Night City, a place where seemingly anything is possible so long as gamers know the right person. In the game, players take control of V, who finds himself sharing his head with rockstar and war veteran Johnny Silverhand. Where the story goes is up to the player, and the same goes for how V looks.

At the start of Cyberpunk 2077, players get to customize V considerably, choosing the character’s gender, appearance, and traits. Although it’s fun to tinker with these features, it never feels like they have a considerable impact on gameplay. Consequently, it may be a good idea for the sequel to ditch the customization and have a standard V that everyone plays as, putting extra time into the aspects of the game that actually matter.

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The Customization of Cyberpunk 2077

There is a wide range of customization options available for V, including choosing V’s skin color, hair, and even genitals. Though this is appreciated, it does feel pointless because the game is played in first-person. Ultimately, there are only a few scenarios where players get to see the character they’ve created. Similarly, players can choose between three lifepaths: Nomad, Streetkid, or Corpo, but after the game’s early moments, the story unfolds similarly, making this seemingly big choice – just like character customization – feel somewhat futile.

The consequence of this is that, beyond different Cyberpunk 2077 core attributes, it doesn’t feel like there is much reason to put effort into customizing V. For this reason, it may be a good idea for the next game to not bother featuring character customization. Although it may seem like a step back at first, there would be advantages to this decision.

When is Project Orion Coming?

Project Orion was first announced in 2022, and as of February 2024, it is in early development, meaning there are still a few years to go before fans get to see what CD Projekt Red is cooking. As expected, there isn’t much information regarding the game yet, though it is being developed using Unreal Engine 5, and Gabe Amatangelo, who previously directed the Phantom Liberty expansion, will be serving as director.

The Advantages of Not Including Character Customization in Project Orion

Cyberpunk 2077 didn’t have the smoothest landing when it launched in 2020. It was filled with bugs, and many promised features never made the final cut. To some degree, the project was too ambitious for the time frame CD Projekt Red had, and the product was pushed out for the holiday season before it was ready.

Project Orion can avoid the same fate by focusing its attention on what matters most – the core gameplay and story. Without having to worry about complex customization, developers can ensure the game tells a coherent, linear, single-player story that delivers on what it sells. Ultimately, all the customization doesn’t affect the quality of the game or its trajectory significantly, and time shouldn’t be wasted on it.

Since its launch, Cyberpunk 2077 has improved significantly, and the Phantom Liberty DLC launched to great reviews. This means that Project Orion has a great chance of being a success right out the gate. However, this will require CD Projekt Red to nail the key aspects of the sequel, which could be a little bit easier to do if no time is spent on character customization.

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 is an RPG set in a future dystopian world. Players take up the role of V, who works as a mercenary in Night City in California. Gameplay involves branching dialogue, open-world exploration, character classes, and combat.