Summary
In December 2020, a game was released that would go through a lot of ups and downs over the coming years, both famous and infamous, with a huge world rich with lore. Of course, that game isCyberpunk 2077. When it was first released, the game was incredibly anticipated by many people, especially as it was made by CD Project RED, the studio behind the famousThe Witcherseries. But it was released with a ton of glitches and problems, leading to it even being removed from the PlayStation store for a while.
Since therelease of the game’s one and only DLC,Phantom Liberty,Cyberpunk 2077has regained a lot of the reputation it lost four years ago. The latest versions of the game have significantly fewer glitches, too, which is a big selling point. But another factor that led toCyberpunk 2077’s renewed interest and reputation was not thanks to anything the game itself did, but rather an anime based on the game. In September 2022,Netflixreleased an anime based on the world ofCyberpunk 2077calledCyberpunk: Edgerunners, and its massive success directly correlated to renewed interest in the video game. But isEdgerunnersthe end forCyberpunk 2077anime?
Don’t Ruin That Just for Views
One thing that many TV series get abad reputation for is extending the storyunnecessarily just because the show is popular - looking at you,The Walking Dead. Even when something seems like it has reached its natural conclusion, if people still show interest,sometimes the team behind the show will make new seasonsbecause they can continue to make money from it. What this leads to is shows that start off strong and end disappointingly, or that lose more and more fans with each subsequent, pointless season. When a story has reached a good ending point, there is something to be said for letting it end there.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunnershad a very solid conclusion. The anime took place over a long period of time, anyway, and thoroughly explored the life of the main characters. David and Lucy had a full-blown romance, theygrew up from teenagers to adults, and all the anime’s problems were solved. Without spoiling the ending for those of you who have not watched it yet, it really did have a conclusion. If the anime were to have a sequel, or at least one with the same characters, it would cheapen the intensity of the final episode.
Making a direct sequel toEdgerunnersjust for the views would take away the emotions and the power that the original series had. Sure, there is more that could beexplored with the other characters. And of course, there is plenty more that can be done with the setting. But that point is exactly why another anime could easily be made based onCyberpunk 2077, and it would not need to be a sequel toEdgerunners. The anime has already scored an impressive 8.3/10 according to IMDB, and it is better to let it keep that legacy intact.
Cyberpunk 2077Has a Whole World Rich in Lore
And So Little Has Been Explored
That being said,Cyberpunk 2077definitely has more stories to tell. The game is already a huge world, filled with plenty of side quests and secrets for players to explore and discover. There areplenty of colorful characters, mysterious alleyways, unique neighborhoods, and huge buildings that each hold their own stories. The in-game codex is massive, and builds upon lore that players may never discover unless they are ready to read it all. There is just so much more that can be told.
And that is just in the base game.Cyberpunk 2077was not an original idea from CD Projekt Red. The game came from a tabletop role-playing game originally, which was calledCyberpunk. There is even more lore available from the source material, added on top of everything that was shown in the game. This gives plenty of room for new stories to be written, new characters to be created, and new adventures to be had.
BecausePhantom Libertywill beCyberpunk 2077’s only DLC, the world will not likely get any more stories told within the game itself. While there is already one novel that exists, andCyberpunk Edgerunners, there is still room for more. A sequel to the original game was hinted at back in 2022 (under the code name “Project Orion”), but there are no further details available about that at this time. If everyone is going to get moreCyberpunk 2077content, anime is the perfect form for it.
Anime Can Do What Live-Action Cannot
Cyberpunk Needs to Not Be Held Back
While a live-action movie or TV series could easily be based on theCyberpunk 2077world,making something likeAltered Carbon, anime is the best art form to explore the world further.Cyberpunk 2077has so many things that would be hard (and expensive) to try to replicate in a live-action series or movie, and would require extensive use of computers, green screens, and prosthetics. Anime is not held back by such limitations, allowing the characters and setting to look however the artist wants them to, without having to think about what is actually possible.
First, more anime set in theCyberpunk 2077world can accurately reflect the canon already set by the game. The backgrounds and locations can be the same, since they would be drawn. The characters can easily have all thecyberware upgrades that make the game’s styleso distinct. Everyone can have whatever hairstyle and color the artist dreams of, and can wear wacky, futuristic fashion that may or may not be viable in real life. Flying cars, talking vending machines, crazy weapons, and the bending of the laws of physics are only held back by the artists' own imaginations.
A new anime (or two) set in the world ofCyberpunk 2077but exploring a new story would be great. It can build on the lore of the game,exploring an established characteror gang in more detail, or tell a totally new story likeEdgerunnersdid. Anime can stay true to the source material, keeping fans of the game happy while giving them something new while they wait for a sequel to the game. And as it has already been two years sinceEdgerunnerspremiered, no one will complain that there is too muchCyberpunk 2077on the market.
Cyberpunk 2077
WHERE TO PLAY
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?
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Phantom Liberty is a new spy-thriller adventure for Cyberpunk 2077. When the orbital shuttle of the President of the New United States of America is shot down over the deadliest district of Night City, there’s only one person who can save her — you. Become V, a cyberpunk for hire, and dive deep into a tangled web of espionage and political intrigue, unraveling a story that connects the highest echelons of power with the brutal world of black-market mercenaries.
