CD Projekt Redhas enjoyed immense success thanks to its most recent releases likeCyberpunk 2077and itsPhantom Libertyexpansion, with the Polish studio now being in charge of two massive AAA franchises:CP 2077andThe Witcher. TheCyberpunkIP has developed a huge amount of buzz and positive attention in more recent years thanks to the gameplay improvements made to2077andthe success ofCyberpunk Edgerunners, and it’s something of a shame that this hype is not being capitalized on in the near future.
The majority ofCD Projekt Red’s attention will instead be devoted toThe Witcherin the coming years, and Bethesda interestingly finds itself in a similar position. The two major historic franchises that belong to Bethesda areThe Elder ScrollsandFallout, with Bethesda largely gearing itself up for the long-awaited release ofThe Elder Scrolls 6. Despite this, theFalloutfranchise has generated a lot of hype and fresh fans in recent months, and yet the next mainline gaming release for the IP will sadly not be for some time.
Both Bethesda and CD Projekt Red’s Big Franchises Are Out of Sync
CD Projekt Red did extremely well to turn the tide of public opinion aroundCyberpunk 2077, with the game notoriously receiving a lot of backlash around the state of its release that followed it for years. Through well-crafted post-launch content updates and the massively successfulPhantom Libertystory expansion,2077is now regarded as a defining RPG experience within an IP that has endless possibilities going forward.
As well as this, the buzz around the franchise was only bolstered by the release ofNetflix’s popular show,Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, which further fleshed out the lore and locations of the franchise for fans. WithPhantom Libertyhaving only released in September 2023, theCyberpunkfranchise is still generating a lot of hype and discussion, although fans will be waiting a very long time before its codenamed sequel,Project Orion, sees the light of day.
CDPR is instead turning the bulk of its attention towards its flagshipWitcherfranchise, withThe Witcher 4being expected to release in the coming years. Of course, this fantasy title is massively anticipated in its own right, but that means that anotherCyberpunktitle is not likely to surface until around 2028 at the earliest. The franchise may inevitably lose a lot of the current hype surrounding it as a result.
Cyberpunk and Fallout Currently Share a Lot More Public Attention Than The Witcher and The Elder Scrolls
Bethesda is experiencing this same predicament with its own sci-fi and fantasy RPGs, withFalloutrecently being opened up to waves of new fans thanks to the massively successfullive-actionFalloutshow on Amazon Prime Video. This, combined with the continued popularity ofFallout 76, has created the perfect environment for a new mainlineFalloutgame to captivate new and old fans, but Bethesda’s attention is firmly placed on the upcomingThe Elder Scrolls 6.
The Elder Scrollsis arguably Bethesda’s most important and iconic franchise, and fans have been waiting for over a decade for its next installment.The Elder Scrolls 6was officially announced in 2018through a now infamous reveal trailer, although no new information has surfaced about the project or its state of development in the many years since. It is expected thatThe Elder Scrolls 6will not release for a few more years at least, meaning the next mainlineFallouttitle is more than likely a very long time away. While new entries toThe WitcherandThe Elder Scrollswill command huge amounts of attention across the industry, both CDPR and Bethesda have to grapple with the missed opportunities that this focus may cause regarding the recent popularity of their sci-fi franchises.
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?
