‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ is sad on purpose: “We’re Polish, and we’re born sad”

At this year’s Anime Expo in Los Angeles, CD Projekt Red officially confirmed that 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ is getting a second season. The announcement came with a panel featuring writer Bartosz Sztybor, who returned to discuss the emotional weight of the series, and why it left so many fans devastated.

Sztybor, who also serves as creative director for the Cyberpunk 2077 franchise, didn’t shy away from the show’s reputation for emotional trauma. In fact, he leaned into it with a bit of dark humor:

“We’re a company from Poland. I’m from Poland. And Polish people are sad. We’re born sad, and we die sad. So I wanted to make everyone else feel the same.”

The crowd laughed, but Sztybor’s point was clear: 'Edgerunners’ was always meant to hurt.

Season 2: same Night City, new heartbreak

While Season 2 won’t continue the story of David and Lucy, it will return to Night City with a brand-new cast and storyline. The creative team remains the same: CD Projekt Red handling the narrative, Studio Trigger in charge of animation, and Netflix as the global distributor.

“Edgerunners was a romanticized vision of being an Edgerunner,” Sztybor explained. “This time, we’re showing the truth.”

Expect a darker, more grounded take on the Cyberpunk universe, one that digs even deeper into the emotional and psychological toll of life in Night City.

What we know so far

• Season 2 is in production, with no official release date yet
• Kai Ikarashi, director of the fan-favorite Episode 6, is stepping up as lead director
• The story will be completely new, with fresh characters and conflicts
• The tone will be more violent, more emotional, and even more devastating than Season 1

Sztybor added, half-jokingly:

“I wasn’t satisfied with the sadness I got from the audience. So I want you to be even more sad now.”

You can stream the first season of 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ now on Netflix. Season 2 is expected to premiere sometime in late 2026, though no exact date has been confirmed.

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