For years, fans of Cyberpunk 2077 have debated a peculiar theory: are the elevators in Night City just cleverly disguised loading screens? This theory, which first took off in September 2020 after a Reddit user speculated that elevator rides might mask loading times—especially on slower HDD drives—has persisted despite repeated developer denials. The idea was simple and, to many, plausible: as players waited for the elevator to reach their floor, the game could be quietly loading the next chunk of the sprawling city behind the scenes.
But now, as reported by Game Rant, that long-running debate has finally been put to rest. On December 24, 2025, Igor Sarzyński, the creative director at CD Projekt Red, took to Bluesky to clear the air once and for all. "The elevators in Cyberpunk 2077 are not hidden loading screens," Sarzyński stated, addressing the fan theory directly and unequivocally. According to Sarzyński, the elevators exist in Night City simply because it makes sense for a city of that scale and verticality to have them. There’s no secret technical sleight of hand going on—just a bit of urban realism.
Sarzyński’s word carries weight. He’s been with CD Projekt Red since 2011, starting as a QA tester and climbing the ranks to become cinematic designer, then senior cinematic designer, and later a cinematic lead. By 2020, he was a cinematic director, and in January 2024, he was promoted to creative director. He’s now steering the narrative for Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty and is set to help lead the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077.
This isn’t the first time CD Projekt Red developers have tried to debunk the elevator theory, but it seems the myth had a life of its own. The theory’s persistence is perhaps a testament to the game’s technical ambition and the community’s fascination with how such a complex world is stitched together under the hood. Sarzyński even went so far as to defend the studio’s proprietary REDengine, calling it "a miracle" and refusing to accept criticism of it. He noted that, if they wanted, the developers could have made the elevators see-through, further emphasizing that there’s nothing hidden about their function.
Still, one Bluesky user couldn’t help but ask: if the REDengine is so miraculous, why is CD Projekt Red switching to Unreal Engine 5 for its future projects? Sarzyński’s answer was pragmatic. He explained that the studio wants to focus on making games, not building and maintaining engines. This echoes what Charles Tremblay, the company’s vice president of technology, told the press back in November 2024. Tremblay explained that the switch to Unreal Engine 5 would allow CD Projekt Red to manage multiple projects more efficiently—no small feat for a studio with as many irons in the fire as they have now.
Indeed, CD Projekt Red’s plate is full. The studio currently has seven games in development. Five of these are Witcher titles, including the much-anticipated The Witcher 4, which got a splashy reveal at The Game Awards 2024. There’s also a remake of the original Witcher game being handled by Fool’s Theory, and a spinoff project codenamed Sirius. None of these projects, including the next Cyberpunk game and a completely new IP, have official release dates yet.
The future of Cyberpunk is especially intriguing. According to an update from Polish investment house Noble Securities, as translated on Reddit, the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 ramped up development earlier in 2025, with 135 employees currently assigned to the project—a number expected to double in the next two years as the budget grows. The studio is placing significant emphasis on integrating a multiplayer mode, a decision that’s extended the production timeline beyond what was initially expected. The report states, "The desire to integrate multiplayer mode into the production prompted us to extend the production time beyond the state resulting from the progress of work on the benchmark W4."
Rumors now point to a release window in the fourth quarter of 2030, which would coincide neatly with the tenth anniversary of the original game. CD Projekt Red has already cautioned fans that the sequel may not arrive until 2030 or 2031, so patience will be required. The decision to prioritize multiplayer is a bold one, especially given the studio’s reputation for rich, story-driven single-player experiences. Fans are debating whether day-one multiplayer is worth the extra wait, especially since the original Cyberpunk 2077 only found its stride as a single-player title after a rocky launch.
Unofficial mods like CyberMP, which add PvP gameplay to the original, have become popular among the community, hinting at the demand for multiplayer features. Still, CD Projekt Red has never truly ventured into the online space in the way that, say, Rockstar Games has with GTA Online. The potential for added revenue from microtransactions may be too tempting for the studio to ignore this time around, and it’s clear they’re hoping to expand their reach with a robust multiplayer offering.
Traditionalists needn’t worry too much, though. The sequel is expected to deliver a deep narrative and improved AI for both NPCs and enemies. And in a bit of casting news sure to please fans, Keanu Reeves has expressed interest in returning as Johnny Silverhand, the iconic rocker-turned-revolutionary who became the face of the original game.
Meanwhile, the company’s move to Unreal Engine 5 marks a significant shift in its development philosophy. By leveraging Epic’s technology, CD Projekt Red aims to streamline its workflow and devote more energy to storytelling and gameplay innovation, rather than the technical upkeep of its own engine. As Sarzyński put it, those who want to see what the REDengine can do should experience the current game, which showcases its full potential.
With so many projects in the pipeline, including three new Witcher games planned for release within the next six years, CD Projekt Red is positioning itself for a busy decade. The studio’s ambition is clear, but so are the challenges. Balancing the expectations of a passionate fanbase, the demands of modern game development, and the realities of business will be no easy feat.
As the wait for the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel stretches on, speculation and anticipation will only grow. But for now, at least one mystery has been solved: sometimes, an elevator is just an elevator, even in Night City.
