The initial reception to the first episode of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2 suggests that CD Projekt Red and Studio Trigger have another critical hit on their hands. Lucky fans and members of the press who attended Anime Expo in Los Angeles were treated to a preview screening ahead of the season's fall 2026 premiere on Netflix.
The debut episode has been described as both an expansion of the Cyberpunk universe and an intimately focused narrative. Gizmodo's Isaiah Colbert called the episode "exhilarating," noting that it "expands itself outward, weaving a bigger, bolder, ambitious tale, while also feeling viscerally intimate and small-scale."
Early impressions highlight a shift towards a darker thematic tone, building upon the stylish and bold presentation of the first season. Polygon's Ryan Epps characterized the first chapter as a "stunner" with "incredible colors, gorgeous framing, and punchy sound design." This more striking visual and narrative approach, potentially emboldened by the success of the original, aims to push the IP further while fans await the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel.
Social media reactions have echoed this positive sentiment. Comments from creatives have drawn comparisons to the tone of Michael Scorsese's films, indicating a potentially more mature or complex direction. Kotaku also noted that the new season is "a very different beast from its predecessor."
CD Projekt Red's global PR director, Radek Grabowski, expressed gratitude to attendees for refraining from recording or spoiling the episode, preserving the surprises for the wider audience. The news arrives as Cyberpunk 2077 has surpassed 40 million sales and seen a resurgence in player numbers, reaching a one-year peak of over 100,000 concurrent players on Steam.