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Cyberpunk 2077 continues to perform exceptionally well for CD Projekt Red, but as we wait for news on its (still faraway) sequel, it's been reported the studio had a smaller Cyberpunk 2077 game in the works at one time too.

According to MP1st, CD Projekt and Shantae developer WayForward were, at one point, collaborating on a "smaller side game" based on Cyberpunk 2077 anime spin-off Edgerunners. Details of the unannounced R&D project - codenamed Gemini and believed to be "very early" in development - were found in the portfolio of a former WayForward developer, whose identity the publication withheld for privacy reasons.

Wuthering Waves x Cyberpunk 2077: Edgerunners - Official Release Date Trailer | IGN Summer of GamingWatch on YouTube

While information is limited, Gemini was reportedly conceptualised as a "rollback-driven 2.5D brawler" in line with the Double Dragon Neon and River City Girls studio's expertise, and it's easy to see how the show's heavily stylised anime aesthetic is perfect for such a retro-inspired beat 'em up. There's also talk of "rollback-safe architecture" and "online transport integration", indicating the game was being built with online multiplayer in mind.

Gemini is said to have been in the works at WayForward between 2025 and 2026, and while MP1st wasn't able to confirm the current status of the game, it highlighted "separate findings", revealing WayForward was working on an Unreal Engine 5-powered project last year. Funding delays for this latter project reportedly led to a halt in development and a round of layoffs at the studio after the delivery of a vertical slice.

This latest report comes at a busy time for the recently rebranded CD Projekt Red. Edgerunners Season 2 and the upcoming Cyberpunk trading card game are keeping the series on the move while we wait for more news on that Cyberpunk 2077 sequel. Additionally, the studio has announced the Songs of the Past expansion for The Witcher 3 over a decade after the game's original release, and The Witcher 4 is also on the way.

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