Cyberpunk 2 Director Discusses the Choice of First-Person Perspective: “You’re a Mind Trapped in a Decaying Body”

When the first-person perspective of Cyberpunk 2077 was unveiled in 2018, it raised some eyebrows among fans. For those who had spent countless hours admiring Geralt’s stylish ponytail in The Witcher 3, and for players eager to showcase their customizations of the main character, V, this shift sparked a wave of skepticism. However, the decision ultimately paid off, and now one of the game’s key figures has shared insights on the reasoning behind it.

Igor Sarzyński, who initially served as the Cinematic Director for Cyberpunk 2077 and has since stepped up to Creative Director for Cyberpunk 2, took to social media to discuss the team’s choice of a first-person perspective. In a thread on Bluesky, he explained, “From a narrative design point of view, I think subjective FPP [first-person perspective] works well with the story, genre, and world of ’77. You’re a mind trapped in a decaying body, with the only way to escape being through technological consciousness processing.”

Sarzyński further elaborated on how this perspective enhances the storytelling experience. He noted that third-person perspectives are better suited for well-defined characters like Geralt, Kratos, or Ellie, where players are essentially replaying someone else’s narrative. In contrast, first-person perspective allows for a more avatar-like experience, which fits V’s character. He believes that this approach was more effective for the themes of Cyberpunk 2077.

He also mentioned that the first-person camera enhances the immersion of encounters with Johnny Silverhand, describing him as a “thing existing only in your subjective perception,” which contrasts with the more objective view provided by a third-person camera.

Sarzyński made it clear that his comments are not indicative of the perspective that will be used in Cyberpunk 2, joking that it could be anything from a stop-motion RTS to something entirely different. While it may be a while before we receive more updates on Cyberpunk 2, it’s refreshing to hear from one of the leads about the thought process behind design choices, especially from a studio that could easily keep its development process under wraps.

Though the sequel is still on the horizon, we know it will take place in Night City once again, alongside a second city described as “like Chicago gone wrong.” Additionally, CD Projekt Red has reportedly started exploring some form of online multiplayer for the game since entering pre-production last year, though it remains uncertain if this feature will make it into the final product.