Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Video Game (Codenamed Gemini) - What Happened to the Cancelled Brawler?

When Cyberpunk: Edgerunners hit Netflix in 2022, it did more than win Anime of the Year, it reignited love for Night City and left fans dreaming of a game that would let them step directly into its neon-soaked, trigger-happy world. Rumors of a 2.5D brawler codenamed "Gemini" seemed to promise exactly that: a side-scrolling brawler from the studio behind River City Girls, set in the Edgerunners universe. But the project's future is now murky, with reports suggesting it may be dead. This article explores what we know, why it might have been cancelled, and what the silence tells us about CD Projekt Red's priorities.

The Rumors, What Was 'Gemini' Supposed to Be?

A single-source report from Polygon claims that CD Projekt Red outsourced development of a 2.5D side-scrolling brawler to WayForward, the studio best known for River City Girls and the Shantae series. Codenamed "Gemini," the game would have been directly inspired by Studio Trigger's Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime, featuring a similar art style and fast-paced, combo-heavy combat. The idea of translating the anime's kinetic violence and hyper-stylized visuals into a 2D brawler is an appealing one, it could have captured the show's essence without the enormous scope of a full RPG.

WayForward has a proven track record with licensed action games, including Contra Advance, DuckTales: Remastered, and the aforementioned River City Girls. Their expertise in tight, responsive combat and vibrant pixel art would have been a natural fit for Night City's chaotic underbelly. The rumored scope was smaller and more focused than Cyberpunk 2077, a spin-off rather than a flagship title. Yet despite the logical pairing, neither CD Projekt Red nor WayForward has ever confirmed the project's existence. The rumor remains unsubstantiated, and as of now, it sits in that frustrating middle ground between credible and hearsay.

What We Don't Know, The Uncertain Future

The Polygon report describing Gemini also labels its future as "uncertain." That could mean cancelled, indefinitely paused, or simply in a pre-production state with no green light. No independent corroboration has emerged from other leakers or outlets, and CD Projekt Red has never publicly commented on an Edgerunners game, even as they have openly discussed "Project Orion," the full Cyberpunk 2077 sequel.

Potential reasons for cancellation are plentiful. Shifting internal priorities following the dramatic turnaround of Cyberpunk 2077 may have led CDPR to focus its resources on the next-generation RPG. Budget reallocation is another plausible factor, smaller spin-offs often get shelved when a company needs to concentrate on marquee projects. There is also the possibility that WayForward was simply never involved, and the rumor originated from a misunderstanding or a false leak.

Until an official statement emerges, everything remains conjecture. The silence from both companies is conspicuous, but it doesn't confirm anything. It is equally possible that Gemini is still in development under a different name, or that it was cancelled so early that no announcement was ever warranted.

Why It Made Sense, The Anime's Success and Fan Demand

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was a massive hit. It won Anime of the Year at The Game Awards 2022, earned glowing reviews, and directly drove a surge in Cyberpunk 2077 sales. The show's blend of tragic ambition, violent setpieces, and emotional character arcs resonated with audiences far beyond the existing fanbase. For CDPR, capitalizing on that momentum with a game adaptation seemed like an obvious move.

A 2.5D brawler is a low-risk, high-reward genre for a licensed property. It is accessible to a wide audience, can be developed more quickly than a AAA RPG, and perfectly suits the fast-paced, action-heavy tone of the anime. WayForward's River City Girls proved that brawlers can still succeed in a modern market, especially when they feature strong art direction and responsive combat. The Edgerunners universe, with its cybernetic implants, unique weapons, and flashy abilities, would have provided a rich canvas for creative movesets and boss fights.

Fan appetite for more Edgerunners content remains high. Online forums like r/cyberpunkgame saw threads speculating about playable characters and combo systems, with many lamenting that the project might never see release. The anime's ending left a lasting impression, and many players wanted to explore the world of David Martinez and Lucy from a different angle. A brawler starring new or familiar characters could have filled that void while keeping the franchise alive between major RPG releases.

The Corporate Reality, CDPR's Post-2077 Priorities

After the rocky launch of Cyberpunk 2077 and its eventual redemption through patches and the Phantom Liberty