Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Returns for Second Season After Massive Fan Response
In a dramatic reversal of their previous position, CD Projekt RED and acclaimed animation studio TRIGGER have officially announced a second season of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. The announcement came during the 2025 Anime Expo in Los Angeles, marking a significant shift for the Polish game developer who had previously suggested a follow-up was unlikely.
The decision appears driven by the original series' extraordinary impact on both anime audiences and gaming communities. Since its September 2022 debut, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners achieved a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes and single-handedly revived interest in the troubled Cyberpunk 2077 game, which had struggled with player retention following its rocky 2020 launch.
Titled "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2," the new season will feature ten episodes set in the dystopian metropolis of Night City. The creative team includes returning showrunner Bartosz Sztybor alongside lead character designer Kanno Ichigo and Masahiko Otsuka, both known for their work on the visually striking sci-fi film Promare. Netflix will again serve as the streaming platform, though no release date has been announced.
During the announcement, Sztybor offered a glimpse into the new season's tone, describing it as "sadder, but it will also be darker, more bloody, and more raw." The official Cyberpunk website confirmed that the story will move beyond the original cast, stating "David is dead but Night City lives on." This suggests viewers can expect entirely new characters and storylines exploring different corners of the city's criminal underworld.
Anime Success Drives Gaming Renaissance
The original Cyberpunk: Edgerunners proved to be more than just a successful anime adaptation—it became a catalyst for the game's revival. Following the show's premiere, CD Projekt RED released Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 1.6, dubbed the "Edgerunners update," which introduced new missions, weapons, and easter eggs directly inspired by the anime.
The impact on player engagement was immediate and dramatic. According to SteamDB data, Cyberpunk 2077's concurrent player count surged to 85,000 in September 2022, eventually peaking at 136,000 players by month's end. These numbers represented the highest player activity since the game's original launch period, demonstrating the anime's power to rehabilitate the IP's reputation.
This cross-media success story highlights the growing importance of multimedia franchises in the gaming industry. By expanding beyond traditional gaming boundaries, CD Projekt RED managed to reach new audiences while rekindling interest among lapsed players who had abandoned Cyberpunk 2077 during its troubled early months.
The announcement of a second season suggests CD Projekt RED recognizes the value of maintaining this multimedia approach. With the game now stabilized and widely praised following numerous updates, the anime serves as both a marketing tool and a creative outlet for exploring the rich lore of Night City beyond the constraints of interactive gameplay.
For fans of both the anime and game, the second season represents an opportunity to dive deeper into the cyberpunk universe while potentially introducing new elements that could influence future game content. As Night City prepares for another chapter of chrome-enhanced mayhem, viewers can expect the same high-octane blend of corporate intrigue and street-level survival that made the original series a standout success.