It will be quite a while before gaming audiences see hair or hide ofProject Orion, the enigmatic sequel toCyberpunk 2077. Though it’s shrouded in mystery, and will likely remain so for some time,Project Orionhas a lot riding on it, both in terms of CD Projekt Red’s reputation andCyberpunk 2077’s ongoing identity.
It will also be going toe-to-toe with other urban open-world games, which are decidedly few and far between. They used to be more prominent, but it would seem that, at some point during the last decade, developers chose to back away from such settings, perhaps worried about playing second fiddle toGrand Theft Auto—a series that has reigned supreme in the urban open-world space despite being dormant since 2013. AndGTAis definitely still the undisputed king of the urban sandbox, with many gamers anticipating a reprisal of Rockstar’s signature world design comeGTA 6. But it looks likeCyberpunk 2077’s successor could be looking to compete with Rockstar’s meticulous design, at least on one front.
CD Projekt Red Wants Project Orion To Have the ‘Most Realistic’ Crowds of any Game
According to a recentProject Orionjob listing, CD Projekt Red is seeking an experienced encounter designer who can help “create the most realistic and reactive crowd system in any game to date.” Now, this is obviously a rather lofty claim, and it’s possible that the developer is being a bit theatrical. After all, it’s often viewed as beneficial to position a big-budget game as “the best ever,” as this generates hype and attracts investors.
But assuming that CDPR is being earnest with its ambitions here, there are a lot of potential variables that would factor into achieving the cited goal. Terms like “realistic” and “reactive” are broad, but it can be reasonably inferred that the developer wants its NPCs to engage with both player behavior and dynamic world events in a believable and flexible manner. For instance, it’s not exactly complicated to make innocent NPCs run away from a player brandishing a weapon, but it’s considerably more difficult to program these NPCs to identify the safest or most expedient routes to safety. As far as howcrowds will specifically function inProject Orion, it’s hard to say without knowing more about the game. CDPR could give every NPC unique dialog responses or personalities, for example.
Unrealistic, immersion-shattering NPC AI wasamong the most common criticisms ofCyberpunk 2077at launch, so it’s possible that this renewed focus on crowd design is a response to that.
Project Orion Could Be Going Up Against GTA 6’s Crowd Systems
In the wake of thegranularly designedRed Dead Redemption 2, there’s an expectation thatGTA 6will feature a similar degree of realism and attention to detail.Red Dead Redemption 2’s NPCs, somewhat famously, all follow a unique schedule, with Rockstar’s designers factoring in things like work, hobbies, and whether the character has a family. All of this is to say that, if one were looking to identify “the most realistic and reactive crowd system” in gaming,Red Dead Redemption 2is a strong candidate.
AssumingGTA 6builds upon this widely lauded feature, then there’s a good chance it could set a new gold standard, thereby putting it in direct competition withProject Orion. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say thatProject Orionis putting itself in direct competition withGTA 6, as it is seemingly trying to beatGTAat its own game, as it were. One thing is certain: CD Projekt Red and Rockstar are both incredibly ambitious studios, so they’re unlikely to pull any punches, either with crowd design or across any other vector.
Cyberpunk 2077
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Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades.The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?
