CD Projekt Red Reportedly Builds a Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2.5D Multiplayer Brawler

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CD Projekt Red is reportedly developing a Cyberpunk 2077 spin-off rooted in the Edgerunners anime, with indie studio partners and a gameplay direction that would be noticeably different from the mainline RPG. The project has been described as a 2.5D brawler, built with multiplayer features in mind.

Report: An Edgerunners-based spin-off in a new genre

  • CD Projekt Red has reportedly approved a Cyberpunk 2077 spin-off.
  • The project is said to be based on the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime.
  • Instead of matching the main game’s genre, the spin-off was reportedly planned as a brawler.
  • Multiple Edgerunners characters were reportedly expected to be playable.

WayForward named in an unannounced CDPR project

  • Information tied to a developer portfolio has been used to claim CDPR worked with WayForward on the spin-off.
  • WayForward is best known for titles such as Shantae and River City Girls.
  • The report describes the game as a 2.5D brawler in the style of River City Girls.
  • Rollback and online play were referenced, suggesting the game was being built with multiplayer functionality from the start.
  • The developer also reportedly listed an “unannounced CDPR Cyberpunk R&D project” on their resume.
  • The project was codenamed “Gemini.”

Timing and status: “Gemini” spans 2025–26

  • The developer’s portfolio reportedly states work on “Gemini” took place from 2025 to 2026.
  • It remains unclear whether that timeframe indicates the project was canceled, or whether it simply reflects when the developer left WayForward.
  • Because the project is unannounced, there’s no confirmed update on whether development is still active.

Why CDPR may be leaning into Edgerunners—and what’s next

  • The report notes that Edgerunners’ success helped drive the series further into other games, with its cast appearing in additional releases.
  • It also points to CDPR capitalizing on that momentum by publishing another Edgerunners-focused game featuring characters such as David and Lucy.
  • The spin-off’s brawler structure is framed as a genre fit for the Edgerunners cast.

Outsourcing and support between bigger releases

  • The report says CDPR has increasingly used outside studios for major work.
  • It cites the first Witcher remake as being handled by Fool’s Theory.
  • It also says recent Cyberpunk 2077 updates were delivered with help from Virtuos.
  • The reasoning offered is that outsourcing can help keep franchises moving while mainline development takes longer.
  • Even if the brawler spin-off was ultimately canceled, the report suggests CDPR previously saw value in an Edgerunners game.
  • Separately, another season of Edgerunners is described as arriving this fall.