CD Projekt RED showcased a lot of new content for and related to Cyberpunk 2077 during the first episode of its Night City Wire livestream. The company showed off a new trailer that features new footage of the game’s world, characters, story, and more; some new gameplay footage that showcased the game’s Braindance feature; and a new anime series called Cyberpunk: Edgerunners that will be produced by CD Projekt RED and acclaimed anime production company Studio Trigger.
The new trailer gives us a better glimpse of the game’s setting, Night City, as well as the background of the title’s protagonist named V, the cyber-enhanced outlaw players will be taking control of. The gameplay footage shown off during the livestream gives us a preview of the game’s Braindance feature that will allow players to basically relive the experiences of others, which will help players in their adventure through Night City.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Lastly, CD Projekt RED has partnered with Studio Trigger to produce the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime series. Here’s a description of the series from the press release and trailer description:
“CYBERPUNK: EDGERUNNERS tells a standalone, 10-episode story about a street kid trying to survive in a technology and body modification-obsessed city of the future. Having everything to lose, he chooses to stay alive by becoming an edgerunner—a mercenary outlaw also known as a cyberpunk.”
Studio Trigger, known for creative several popular anime series including Kill la Kill, Promare, BNA: Brand New Animal, and more, will be animating the series with the signature over-the-top style they’ve become known for. Hiroyuki Imaishi (Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill, Promare) will direct the series along with assistant director Masahiko Otsuka (Gurren Lagann, Promare), creative director Hiromi Wakabayashi (Kill la Kill), character designers Yoh Yoshinari (Little Witch Academia, BNA: Brand New Animal) and Yuto Kaneko (Little Witch Academia), and the adapted screenplay by Yoshiki Usa (SSSS.GRIDMAN, Promare) and Masahiko Otsuka (Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill, Promare). The original score will be composed by Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill series).
“We at TRIGGER are thrilled to work with CD PROJEKT RED to create a brand-new story set in the world of the highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077. It’s a huge challenge to adapt this universe into an anime, but we are eager to face it head-on,” said Masahiko Otsuka, CEO, Studio TRIGGER. Director Hiroyuki Imaishi adds, “I’ve always loved cyberpunk as a genre, but always found it difficult to create as an original work. This is why I’m very excited to be working with CD PROJEKT RED on this project. It won’t be easy to please both game and anime fans, but I love a challenge, and I’m looking forward to the production. We’ll do our best to meet and exceed expectations.”
Cyberpunk 2077 is scheduled for release on November 19, 2020, for the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. A Google Stadia release is also scheduled this year. CD Projekt RED also plans to release the game on the PS5 and Xbox Series X with a free upgrade for PS4 and Xbox One owners to become available. As for the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime series, it is scheduled to premiere sometime in 2022.