Cyberpunk 2077's side quest, "The Hunt," was intentionally crafted to evoke the tone and investigative style of the acclaimed TV series True Detective. Paweł Sasko, associate game director on Cyberpunk 2, explained that the quest, which involves tracking a serial killer named Anthony Harris, was designed as a psychological thriller with minimal combat and a focus on "authentic police work."
Sasko detailed on social media that "The Hunt" aims to immerse players in a detective narrative within a cyberpunk setting, intertwined with the story of the character River Ward. The quest's disturbing elements are delivered through subtle narrative tools such as in-game files, emails, and most significantly, a braindance sequence. The goal was to create a "shocking revelation" through careful investigation rather than action.
The quest's unsettling atmosphere is amplified by details like a "creepy cartoon" found on the killer's computer. This cartoon, Sasko explained, serves as a key to understanding the villain's past trauma and psychological state. The developers sought to make players feel uncomfortable and disturbed through the narrative, with elements like "discovering cow in feeders makes the skin crawl," alluding to the killer's abusive childhood and his disturbing practice of "farming" teenage boys to "fix" them. The narrative avoids showing explicit violence, instead relying on implication and psychological horror.
This approach aligns with Cyberpunk 2077's broader tendency to explore dark and disturbing themes through its side content, similar to quests like "Sinnerman" and "They Won't Go When I Go." Sasko highlighted the flexibility of the cyberpunk genre to blend different themes and genres to surprise players.
Development on Cyberpunk 2 is underway, with 163 staff members working on the project as of April. While details remain scarce, creator Mike Pondsmith has offered some insight into his involvement. However, players will likely have to wait some time for the sequel, as CD Projekt Red is currently prioritizing The Witcher 4, and Cyberpunk 2 is not expected to release until at least 2030.