We at NerdLeaks have been following a fresh round of claims about a smaller Cyberpunk project that, if true, would have teamed CD Projekt with the studio behind Shantae classics. Take this with a pinch of salt, but the details on what was reportedly in the works are specific enough to make this one worth watching.
What Was Reported
According to MP1st, CD Projekt and WayForward were allegedly collaborating on a compact side game tied to the Cyberpunk 2077 anime spin-off Edgerunners. The unannounced R&D project was reportedly codenamed Gemini and believed to have been at a very early stage of development.
Per those claims, Gemini was conceptualised as a rollback-driven 2.5D brawler — language that directly nods to the expertise of WayForward, the team behind titles such as Double Dragon Neon and River City Girls. The project was said to favour the show’s highly stylised anime look, positioning a retro-inspired beat ’em up format as a natural match for the IP’s aesthetics.
There are also specific technical claims attached to the project: references to a rollback-safe architecture and online transport integration suggest the build was being considered with online multiplayer in mind. MP1st indicated that Gemini was in the works at WayForward between 2025 and 2026, though the current status of that project was not confirmed.
The Source & Credibility
These details were uncovered, reportedly, in the portfolio of a former WayForward developer. MP1st withheld the individual’s identity for privacy reasons. I should stress that the information comes through that portfolio discovery and MP1st’s reporting of it—so we’re not looking at an official announcement from CD Projekt or WayForward.
MP1st also highlighted separate findings that WayForward was working on an Unreal Engine 5-powered project last year. That second thread reportedly involved funding delays that led to a development halt and a round of layoffs at the studio after delivery of a vertical slice. Again, these are claims surfaced via portfolio evidence and reporting, not studio confirmation.
Given how specific some of the technical language is — rollback-safe architecture, online transport integration — the leak reads like someone with exposure to technical briefs or design documents may have been involved in the disclosure. Still, take this with a pinch of salt: the information remains unverified by CD Projekt and WayForward, and MP1st was unable to confirm the present status of Gemini.
What It Could Mean
If these claims are accurate, a few interesting possibilities open up. A smaller, stylised beat ’em up set in the Edgerunners universe would be a logical way to expand the IP without diverting resources from larger, long-term projects. The reported focus on a rollback-driven architecture and online transport hints at ambitions for tight online play or co-op features rather than a strictly single-player affair.
On the other hand, the suggestion that WayForward faced funding delays on a separate UE5 project and that development was halted after a vertical slice raises questions about the practical feasibility of undertaking another partnership-based side project at the same time. If funding and staffing were strained, that could explain why the fate of Gemini is uncertain.
- Allegedly early-stage R&D work suggests the game may never have reached a full production phase.
- The use of rollback and online transport terminology implies multiplayer intent, but that does not guarantee a shipped product.
- Portfolio evidence can be informative but is not equivalent to an official confirmation.
Why This Matters
Whether Gemini ultimately exists or not, the claim matters because it shows how CD Projekt’s Cyberpunk 2077 universe continues to attract different kinds of projects beyond its flagship RPG ambitions. The wider CD Projekt slate — currently buoyed by things like Edgerunners Season 2, a reported Cyberpunk trading card game, an announced Songs of the Past expansion for The Witcher 3, and work on The Witcher 4 — leaves room for smaller experiments within the IP.
If true, a WayForward-built 2.5D brawler would be a neat example of an established studio applying its retro brawler chops to a modern, stylised anime license. If false, the leak still highlights the appetite for spin-off projects within the Cyberpunk ecosystem and the kinds of technical considerations — rollback networking, online integration — contemporary smaller-scale action games often need to address.
We’ll keep digging and will report firm confirmations if and when CD Projekt or WayForward make any official statements. Until then, treat this as an intriguing rumour with specific details worth watching — but unproven for now.
