Steps are also in place to ensure employees don’t get burned out, and it’s a “very healthy work-life balance right now.”

CD Projekt RED’s Gabe Amatangelo has been a driving force behind the improvements to Cyberpunk 2077 and is currently directing its expansion, Phantom Liberty. However, in an interview with Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, he confirmed directing the sequel, Project Orion. It’s developed on Unreal Engine instead of the company’s proprietary REDengine.

Amatangelo also reveals efforts to improve the company culture, which includes opening the Boston studio to attract veteran developers in the United States. As for crunch, a controversial subject during the base game’s development, the company has been working to prevent it from happening again. Amatangelo confirms that it’s been keeping to that while ensuring people don’t burn out (and even be alerted if they’ve been working for long periods).

“Fortunately, it’s a very healthy work-life balance right now,” he said. Employees may ask for extra hours, but he would only allow them to a degree. While lower-level staff affirmed the same in conversations with Schreier, they also said, “work-life balance at the company remains an ongoing, complicated issue.” As always, time will tell if this becomes an issue closer to the sequel’s launch.

Project Orion doesn’t have a release window, but it’s aiming to “prove the full power and potential of the Cyberpunk universe.” Stay tuned for more details, and in the meantime, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is out on September 26th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.