Cyberpunk creator Mike Pondsmith is tightly controlling the sequel's development.

While some authors of literary sources prefer to distance themselves from game adaptations, the creator of the Cyberpunk universe, Mike Pondsmith, takes a fundamentally different stance. Having spent decades developing his world in tabletop RPGs and literature, he now accepts very active participation in the creation of the sequel, known under the code name Project Orion.

Pondsmith recently detailed the format of his collaboration with the development studio.He regularly visits the team's office, where he is shown the earliest concepts and sketches of the future game. As the author himself noted, his opinion is taken into account at the studio: the team constantly consults with him on key aspects, starting from the coordination of the canons of the game world (lore) and technologies, and ending with the overall visual style of the project.

In fact, Pondsmith is once again, as he was in the 2020 game, acting as plot and visual consultantAs a reminder, he was the one who previously helped make Night City's weapons and locations more brutal and believably exaggerated. His goal was to help the developers move away from the sterile, "clean" futuristic aesthetic that was not characteristic of the original "cyberpunk" world.

Work on the sequel is in full swing. It is reported that the author has already had a chance to evaluate some elements of the upcoming sequel. In particular, he was shown this media content within the universe, like radio broadcasts and television programs. Such details are intended to enhance players' immersion in the complex and dystopian atmosphere of the future.

Thus, Project Orion is being created under conditions full creative alliance with the original sourceMike Pondsmith consciously refuses to follow in the footsteps of creators who handed over their franchises to studios, preferring to be a direct and influential part of the creative process rather than a bystander.