New AnsweRED Podcast Shares How Project Orion’s Leadership Is Setting Up the Future of Cyberpunk
CD PROJEKT RED’s AnsweRED Podcast invited two core members of Project Orion, the next mainline Cyberpunk game, to discuss their vision for the company’s North America expansion, their perspectives on leadership, and much more.
Snapshot:
- Associate Game Director Paweł Sasko and Acting Executive Producer Dan Hernberg joined podcast hosts Sebastian Kalemba, Game Director of the next mainline Witcher game, and Paweł Burza, Senior Communication Manager.
- The podcast delved into building a team in Boston, the cultural differences the two directors encountered, and what the future of Cyberpunk holds.
- AnsweRED is CDPR’s in-house podcast, and each of the seven episodes recorded so far are available now on YouTube, Spotify, and other streaming platforms.
Episode seven, titled “CD PROJEKT RED in Boston”, saw the two hosts and their guests discuss leadership, the culture and philosophy behind the company, their ideas for Project Orion, and much more.
Acting Executive Producer Dan Hernberg spoke behind the reasoning of moving work on Project Orion to North America: “I think Cyberpunk is obviously a uniquely American story […] There's a huge talent pool in North America that for a lot of reasons doesn’t necessarily want to move to Europe or to Poland. We thought it'd be a great way to get access to more talent and to try something unique and different.”
Paweł Sasko, Associate Game Director, also spoke of his work on Project Orion, his trajectory within the company, and his love for the Cyberpunk 2077 universe. “What I really wanted, for us as a company, for me as a person, is growth. When we [were] building Cyberpunk, I felt that we’re doing that.”
AnsweRED podcast is a CD PROJEKT RED initiative dedicated to individuals interested in game development. It provides a unique platform for listeners to gain knowledge from CD PROJEKT RED representatives, game dev experts, and industry veterans’ insights, experiences, and cutting-edge expertise. All seven episodes are available on Spotify and YouTube. For more information about future episodes, follow CD PROJEKT RED on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.
About CD PROJEKT RED
CD PROJEKT RED is a game development studio founded in 2002. It develops and publishes video games for PCs and video game consoles. The studio’s flagship titles include the futuristic RPG Cyberpunk 2077, its spy-thriller expansion Phantom Liberty, and The Witcher series of games, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and its two expansions. In collaboration with Studio Trigger, CD PROJEKT RED also created the award-winning Netflix anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, set in the same universe as the game. Other games developed by the studio include Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales and GWENT: The Witcher Card Game. Together with GOG.COM, a game store offering hand-picked titles for PC and Mac, CD PROJEKT RED is part of the CD PROJEKT Group. CD PROJEKT S.A. is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (ISIN: PLOPTTC00011).
About Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is a narrative-driven, open-world RPG set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour, and body modification. The game tells the multilayered, mature story of cyber-enhanced mercenary V. Players are faced with choices and consequences as they customize their character and playstyle, take on jobs, and build their reputation. The game has sold over 25 million copies and won over 200 awards, and is also the inspiration for the award-winning Netflix anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, created by CD PROJEKT RED in collaboration with Studio Trigger. Its spy-thriller expansion Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty was released on September 26, 2023. Cyberpunk 2077 is set in the universe of the classic pen & paper RPG system, Cyberpunk 2020.
About Project Orion
Project Orion will be the next mainline Cyberpunk game from CD PROJEKT RED, drawing heavily on the foundations laid by the original game, while expanding them in meaningful and smart ways. Players can expect a story-rich and morally ambiguous experience set in the dystopian world of the dark future, deeply immersive tech-infused gameplay, as well as cutting-edge visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5. Project Orion is in development in-house at CD PROJEKT RED North America, led by the creators of Cyberpunk 2077 and Phantom Liberty, and supported by experienced industry professionals from around the world.