On July 5, 2026, Cyberpunk 2077 surpassed the 100,000 concurrent player mark on Steam for the first time in three years, peaking at 101,558 players. The game typically hovers between 20,000 and 30,000 users, making this more-than-threefold surge a significant event.
Paweł Sasko, Associate Game Director at CD Projekt RED, cited two main reasons: the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 anime and a collaboration with Wuthering Waves. The crossover launched on June 8, 2026; Update 3.4, “Unrealized Dream,” brought the Night City location and two 5-star characters—Lucy and Rebecca—to the gacha game, with Rebecca available for free. Adam Smasher also made an appearance as an enhanced boss.
The anime sequel, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, is set to release in the fall of 2026. It is a standalone 10-episode story from Studio TRIGGER, continuing the series that previously won “Anime of the Year” at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards. A teaser was revealed earlier at Anime Expo in July.
Sales figures are also fueling interest. By July 3, 2026, Cyberpunk 2077 had sold 40 million copies—an increase of 5 million since November 2025. For comparison, The Witcher 3 sold 30 million copies over its entire lifespan. CD Projekt RED co-CEO Michał Nowakowski described this result as a “solid foundation for future projects in the universe.”
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Calls for a second DLC: why don’t fans believe CD Projekt RED?
The surge in player numbers has sparked a new wave of demands. A Reddit thread calling for a second story expansion has garnered 12,000 upvotes. Comments range from jokes to outright disappointment: “Yeah, we need a second DLC, CDPR. You need money—release a DLC so we can give you more money.”
The fans’ main argument centers on a sense of unfairness. The Witcher 3, now 11 years old, still receives new content, whereas Cyberpunk 2077 does not. Then there is the issue of cut content: for years, players have pored over datamined files looking for features that were promised but never added. One Reddit user described Cyberpunk as “one of the saddest cases of cut content,” admitting they had spent more time exploring removed features than playing the actual game.
CD Projekt RED’s official stance remains firm. In May 2026, the studio confirmed that Phantom Liberty would be the only major story expansion and that no further DLCs were planned. Company representatives have repeatedly emphasized that the team has shifted its focus to other projects.
Yet, fans haven’t lost hope. The Witcher 3 was also considered a closed chapter for years—until the studio changed its mind. Consequently, many view the current refusal not as a final verdict, but as a position subject to change. The financial potential is obvious, after all: the demand exists, and it is translating into vocal support.
What’s next? Cyberpunk 2 (Project Orion) and the end of support
The sequel—Cyberpunk 2, also known as Project Orion—is not expected to launch before 2030. The game is not even in active development yet; CD Projekt RED intends to strengthen its team first. CFO Piotr Nielubowicz stated that Orion would require a workforce of 350 to 500 developers, led by the CD Projekt Red North America studio. The budget is estimated at $400 million.
It is known that the sequel will feature a multiplayer mode and a new city inspired by Chicago. Cutscenes will remain in the first-person perspective; creative director Igor Sarzyński explained that switching to a third-person view—even briefly—would break immersion.
In the meantime, Cyberpunk 2077 is enjoying its best days five and a half years after launch. Players have returned, sales are breaking records, and fans continue to demand things that, in all likelihood, will never happen. Or will they? In the world of CD Projekt RED, never say never.
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