We’re probably still about five years away from the highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, but part of the excitement comes from the sheer potential to make the game even better than the original, and with a much more stable launch, too.
There’s already speculation that the game might feature two massive cities and an improved RPG system. But what about its multiplayer? CD Projekt Red hasn’t confirmed anything regarding an online mode for the sequel, but does anyone remember that the original Cyberpunk 2077 did have a planned multiplayer mode that was ultimately scrapped?
How Watch Dogs’ Multiplayer Could Inform the Sequel
We don’t have a clear picture of how Cyberpunk 2077’s original multiplayer mode was supposed to function, but there’s a lot CD Projekt Red could learn from Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs series.
The Watch Dogs multiplayer experience was seamlessly woven into its open world. Players could be stalked, challenged to races, hacked, or simply messed with in fun and unpredictable ways. That kind of organic online experience could fit beautifully into the world of Cyberpunk, especially if paired with the chaotic, tech-driven sandbox of Night City (and the new rumored city.)
Online races, for instance, could be a huge improvement over the first Cyberpunk game, where enemy AI wasn’t particularly smart until post-launch updates. As for hacking, what better way to build on the cyberpunk aesthetic than letting players steal data from one another, disrupt their gameplay, or initiate digital manhunts?
READ: Ubisoft Takes Watch Dogs Out Back, Series ‘Dead and Buried’
Imagine being hunted by a notorious Netrunner who’s carved out territory in a district like Kabuki; someone who’s gained a reputation among players for being lethal and unstoppable. It would transform the sequel into something that feels less like a traditional open-world RPG and more like a tense, player-driven survival game.
A seamless online component would be a double-edged sword, of course. It opens new creative doors for immersion and engagement, but it also invites the usual issues: trolling, griefing, and imbalance. CD Projekt Red would need to implement fail-safes, much like FromSoftware has done with their multiplayer invasion mechanic.
Learning from Watch Dogs 2
While the original Watch Dogs multiplayer didn’t meet expectations, it did develop a small but dedicated player base that stuck around. Its sequel, Watch Dogs 2, refined the formula with co-op play and a competitive PvP mode called Showdown. These features added structure and replayability, something the Cyberpunk sequel could emulate, especially since it's already a first-person shooter at its core.
Done right, multiplayer could be the perfect companion to the single-player narrative; turning Night City into a living, breathing world where every encounter, whether AI or player-controlled, keeps you on edge.
A Second Chance at Multiplayer
This could be CD Projekt Red’s opportunity to revive interest in the multiplayer concept that never made it into the first game. It might take a while to get right, especially since the sequel is moving away from their in-house RED Engine in favor of Unreal Engine 5. That change could introduce performance hiccups and server-related issues at launch; understandable, considering this would be CD Projekt Red’s first foray into a full-scale multiplayer experience.
Still, we probably won’t know much more until we get our hands on it, potentially five or six years from now.
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