Cyberpunk 2077, the upcoming sci-fi RPG from CD Projekt RED, is based on the Cyberpunk 2020 pen and paper RPG. While the forthcoming project does share several similarities with its source material such as the player character's "Cool" stat, fans shouldn't expect the video game to remain completely faithful to the tabletop game.

In a new video documentary about the game's development, Doug Cockle (the voice of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Geralt) said that Cyberpunk 2077 doesn't just take place 50 years in the future of the pen and paper RPG. Cockle explained that the video game is set in a "parallel timeline." This has been done in order to give CD Projekt RED "the freedom to create a game that respected and referenced the source material, but also suited the shift to the video game medium."

The world of Cyberpunk 2020 is rich and full of lore. Its setting, Night City, features several different districts with their own histories, as well as factions with their own goals, objectives, and personalities. For players, this should mean that Cyberpunk 2077 will be a hugely entertaining game to play and that it provides tons of secrets to discover at every turn. However, it does mean that CD Projekt RED has a major challenge on its hands.

One example of this is that like the pen and paper RPG, the player character in Cyberpunk 2077 is fully customizable, with players able to customize their background and their appearance. This is true to the board game, but it's a shift for CD Projekt RED, which is famous for games that feature a sole protagonist, like The Witcher series' now-iconic Geralt.

In the video documentary, Miles Tost, Cyberpunk 2077's level designer, explained that the biggest difference between the video game and the pen and paper RPG is that "the freedom that you have in a pen and paper RPG is something that we have yet to achieve." Tost went on to say that one can't just take the source material and instantly turn that into a video game, and that "you have to be smart about it."

While the game may not be a complete recreation of the pen and paper RPG, CD Projekt RED is at least putting all of its effort into it. Cyberpunk 2077 will be full of character classes, and it's safe to say that fans have confidence the studio can successfully achieve its expectations.

Cyberpunk 2077 is currently in development for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, but lacks an official release date.

Source: PlayStation – YouTube