okay, so real talk. if you've been living under a rock (or just avoiding the internet to protect your brain cells, respectable), you might've missed the Anime Expo 2025 absolute chaos. because netflix, with their eternal side hustles CD Projekt RED and Studio TRIGGER, legit just dropped the ultimate bombshell: 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2' is happening. like, officially, officially happening. they even gave us a teaser trailer. it's not a drill.
and before anyone starts huffing that sweet, sweet copium about david martinez pulling a Lazarus, bestie, pump the brakes. the official word, loud and clear, from multiple sources and the very vibe of the teaser, is that david's arc is done-done. as in, he's dead. for real. his main character energy has fully logged off. this isn't a direct continuation. his chapter is closed. you can grieve now. 😭 so yeah, this isn't 'Lucy's Revenge Tour: Season 2.' while we might get a glimpse of some familiar traumatized faces (because night city never lets you forget), the ten-episode series is apparently a completely standalone story. meaning: new cast, new problems, new reasons for night city to chew 'em up and spit 'em out like a piece of stale gum. get ready to invest your emotional energy in a whole fresh batch of doomed souls. your therapist bill is already preparing itself.
New Faces, Who Dis? (Seriously, They're All New. Mostly.)
They Said 'Darker.' My Therapist Said 'I'm Booked.' 🙃
remember how the first season was, like, a masterclass in emotional damage? well, showrunner bartosz sztybor (bless his heart, or curse it) just casually dropped that this new batch is gonna be "more emotional, brutal," and get this, "even sadder and bloodier." like, how?! were we not already weeping into our keyboards by the finale? the themes for this fresh hell are "redemption and revenge," which, honestly, feels on-brand for cyberpunk, but also, prepare your tear ducts. this isn't your grandma's cozy crime drama. it's gonna be a vibe-check straight to your soul.
The Director Flex: Kai Ikarashi Stepping Up
the big brain behind the lens this time is kai ikarashi. if that name rings a bell, it's because they were an animation director on the original 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners'-specifically, for Episode 6. if you know, you know. that episode ate with its visuals and intensity. so, while it's a new director, it's not like they just pulled someone off the street. there's some lineage there. we're giving it a cautious nod of approval.
The Teaser: Does It Bang? (Spoiler: It's Night City)
they dropped a teaser, of course. because what's a big announcement without a little visual stimulation to trigger that FOMO? it's exactly what you'd expect: more chrome, more explosions, more night city looking like a gorgeous, murderous playground. the main takeaway from the trailer, beyond the shiny new characters, is a stark reminder: even though certain legends are gone, "Night City lives on." and honestly, that's the scariest part. it’s a perpetual engine of despair and cool explosions.
The Million-Eurodollar Question: Release Date?
hahaha. you thought. bestie, this is how they play us. they announce the thing, drop a spicy teaser, and then they're like, "it's in production!" and peace out. so, no, there's no release date yet. your hype meter is currently running on fumes. just know it's coming... eventually. classic rich kid energy from Netflix, dangling the carrot.
anyway, that's the tea, hot and fresh. new 'Edgerunners,' same chaotic energy, different (definitely dead) main character. are we excited? begrudgingly. are we ready for more trauma? absolutely not. but will we be there day one, probably sobbing into our chips? you already know. it's the law.