Edgerunners, the massively in style Netflix anime set in CD Projekt’s Cyberpunk 2077 world, takes what’s nice concerning the online game and expertly interprets it into the world of animation. The just lately launched Season 2 instructed its personal story — one we all know is about only a yr after the occasions of the primary sport, in 2078 (extra on this later) — and all of it wraps up properly. However wait! Was {that a} tease for V within the present? And, if that’s true, does that imply there’s an ending of Cyberpunk 2077 that CD Projekt considers canon, and thus acts because the leaping off level for all post-game spinoffs like Edgerunners 2?
On the Lucca Comics and Video games competition, we acquired the prospect to place all this to Edgerunners author, producer, and showrunner Bartosz Sztybor, who did his greatest to reply with out giving a lot of the sport away. And talking of giving the sport away, what about that Season 3?
The world of Cyberpunk is about to develop additional, after all, with the in-development Cyberpunk 2 (the place and when the sport takes place is but to be introduced). There’s additionally a live-action movie within the works, though based on CD Projekt, the Cyberpunk 2077 film will not retrace the sport’s steps.
IGN: Eagle-eyed followers noticed that within the scene within the knowledge archive, there is a wall of photographs and there is one that appears like it could be feminine V. Was that intentional, or one thing left to interpretation?
Bartosz Sztybor: It is left for interpretation. But additionally the dialogue that they are having there may be, I believe, crucial. So yeah, it is left for interpretation.
Yeah I ain’t loopy that’s deadass V https://t.co/3XC5KtlrDa
— 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗶 𝐀s̸s̸ꏳ𝐄 🇯🇲 👽 (@_morijinn) October 20, 2026
IGN: Easter eggs from the sport, is that an vital factor for you all to incorporate?
Bartosz Sztybor: It is not vital in any respect. That is why I would not name it Easter eggs. I believe that is the way in which we are attempting to create a franchise for Cyberpunk. So, to create standalone tales which are self-sufficient, you can simply learn one comedian e book and you’re having the catharsis and also you need not know another comedian e book or a sport or different stuff. However we’re placing these issues that aren’t as a fan service, however for the viewers or the readers to really feel that this world is alive. That is why we do not wish to create anime or animation or a comic book e book that can want the viewers to learn three different comedian books and two TV reveals to grasp why this man is a villain. However I prefer to put these many issues like Sal Bigelow in Edgerunners 2, who was what, 5 years earlier within the comedian e book Cyberpunk: Huge Metropolis Desires. However provided that there’s a purpose.
So it is by no means pondering that, oh, what we should always put on this scene to make followers blissful? It is about constructing an even bigger narrative.
IGN: If you find yourself setting one thing after the sport, after 2077, do you could have conversations with CDPR a few canon ending for the sport, that may arrange a world state for Edgerunners 2? Or is it extra form of summary than that?
Bartosz Sztybor: It is each, I’d say. It is not like tremendous summary, but in addition, we do not wish to set a canon ending. So there have been a whole lot of conversations once more with the lore workforce to see what we will do to by some means fulfill all of the endings, and what would be the state of the world after the sport. That is why the scene that you just requested about, we do not wish to be simple, however we’re giving some recommendations that can in all probability reveal the state of the world in additional comedian books and different stuff. So there are discussions. There are discussions, however we aren’t setting one form of ending.
IGN: If you’re writing these tales, do you could have a set canon in thoughts, or is it somewhat bit extra variable than that?
Bartosz Sztybor: There’s canon, after all. However once more, once we had been creating Edgerunners 1 and a number of comedian books and board video games, the canon was earlier than the sport. So we knew the state of the world. And for the issues post-game, it isn’t that there are tremendous detailed canon issues, however one vital canon info is that Arasaka is weakened and that is it. And it offers us a whole lot of alternatives to indicate town differently.
However once more, it isn’t detailed. So it does not make any of the endings canon. However the issues that occurred within the sport may result in that, no matter your alternative was.
IGN: Is that one thing in your thoughts that you just’re attempting to steer clear of issues that may be too particular by way of establishing new canon?
Bartosz Sztybor: Yeah. It is the identical factor that I answered concerning the characters. There are some IP which are created in a means — I will not point out the identify — which are created in a means… And I believe that the aim of CDPR, the way in which we wish to create franchises for The Witcher and Cyberpunk is to, once more, create standalone tales. So you could have a graphic novel and you’ll learn it from the begin to end. You need not know something concerning the world, however you may have the Easter eggs or some connections that construct the world, that present you that, okay, this world exists. And I choose to create a franchise like that.
I like followers who discover these issues. There’s a comic book e book known as You Have My Phrase, and there was a fixer [Arthur Cormac] that you just noticed in Edgerunners 1. And I believe solely 20 or 30 followers discovered that. After which that fixer additionally had a cameo in one other comedian e book. And people three issues occur at completely different occasions.
In order a fan, you may create their story, you may join the dots. And I believe that is the easiest way to create a franchise, since you let the followers stick with the story, take into consideration the story, and you do not give them solutions. You simply give them questions and so they can join issues.
So I do not know if I answered the query, however I believe that is the way in which we wish to create the franchise.
IGN: What are your ideas proper now on a possible Edgerunners 3? Is it one thing that you’re open to and perhaps simply ready for a narrative? What are your emotions on that proper now?
Bartosz Sztybor: When writing Season 1, I used to be already fascinated with different seasons, about different tales as a result of there’s a whole lot of tales to inform. All the time once I’m creating, I am trying to find solutions to questions that I do not know find out how to reply. So I knew that after Season 1, I did not reply all of the questions. So there was a dream of making extra seasons.
However I believe it is all the time with CDPR, provided that there’s an ideal story and excellent individuals to ship, then we will do it. And after Season 1, Studio Set off stated, “No, we’re simply too drained.” However then right here in Lucca, proper after the discharge of Season 1, we talked with Studio Set off and so they stated, “Okay, we aren’t that drained anymore, so perhaps we should always do it.” And I already had concepts. So two months later I introduced a pitch to them, as a result of additionally they stated we do not wish to do a sequel, like a traditional sequel.
And we have now CDPR and we as properly, we did not wish to do this as properly. We wished to do one thing completely different. So once I introduced them a pitch for Season 2, they had been tremendous impressed and that is why Season 3 occurred. I believe that is the identical story with Season 3. So I’ve some tales, however we have to see. If there is not any studio or director with a imaginative and prescient like Ikarashi, it does not make sense. We do not wish to do issues that will probably be mediocre or not ok. So the concepts are there, however I’m additionally with how Season 2 completes Season 1. So I believe as a package deal, it already works.