Is V in Edgerunners 2? Is There a Cyberpunk 2077 Canon Ending? And What About Season 3? We Asked the Showrunner in a New Interview

Is there an official Cyberpunk 2077 canon ending that dictates the future of Night City? Showrunner Bartosz Sztybor addresses game lore, the mysterious female V teaser in Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 2, and what lies ahead for Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 3.

When Netflix released Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 2, fans immediately started searching for clues about how the anime connects to the video game. Set in 2078, exactly one year after the main events of Cyberpunk 2077, the show expands the world of Night City in exciting new directions while wrapping up its own self-contained story.

However, eagle-eyed viewers quickly noticed a brief image in a data archive scene that appeared to feature female V. This discovery sparked massive debate across the gaming community regarding whether CD Projekt RED has established an official Cyberpunk 2077 canon ending to serve as the foundation for post-game spinoffs.

The Female V Teaser and the Mystery of the Data Archive

During a crucial moment in Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 2, characters access a data archive filled with a wall of mysterious images. Among those files, sharp fans spotted what appears to be female V, the iconic protagonist of Cyberpunk 2077. This quick detail led many to believe that the show was confirming V's ultimate fate following the events of the game.

At the Lucca Comics and Games festival, showrunner Bartosz Sztybor was asked directly about this image and whether it was intentional. Sztybor explained that the detail was intentionally left open for viewer interpretation. He emphasized that the dialogue taking place during that specific scene holds critical significance for understanding the context.

Yeah I ain't crazy that's deadass V https://t.co/3XC5KtlrDa

- Mori Asse (October 20, 2026)

Social media exploded with reactions after fans spotted the image, with viewers sharing screenshots and theories. While the appearance of V feels like a major reveal, Sztybor noted that the team intentionally avoids giving direct answers. Instead, the scene provides hints that encourage the audience to analyze the surrounding Night City lore on their own terms.

Does CD Projekt RED Have an Official Cyberpunk 2077 Canon Ending?

One of the most pressing questions for fans following post-game media is how the studio manages timeline progression without invalidating player choices. Because Cyberpunk 2077 features multiple distinct endings, declaring one path as absolute truth could alienate players who chose different outcomes for V.

Sztybor clarified that CD Projekt RED did not establish a single Cyberpunk 2077 canon ending when writing post-game content. Instead, extensive conversations took place between the show creators and the internal CDPR lore team to determine a world state that satisfies all potential game outcomes. This approach ensures that no matter which ending a player experienced in the game, the events of Edgerunners 2 could naturally follow.

By avoiding a definitive Cyberpunk 2077 canon ending, the development and writing teams maintain maximum creative flexibility. The lore team focused on broader structural shifts in Night City rather than forcing a narrow storyline based on specific character choices. This abstract balance allows the universe to grow naturally across comics, anime, and future game titles.

Arasaka Weakened: The Post-2077 Canon State of Night City

While CD Projekt RED refrains from declaring a specific path for V as canon, there is one major established fact about the world after 2077. According to Sztybor, the single most critical piece of official canon regarding the post-game era is that the megacorporation Arasaka has been significantly weakened.

Throughout the events of Cyberpunk 2077, Arasaka stands as an overwhelming force dominating Night City. Regardless of the choice V makes during the game's finale, the consequences deal a massive blow to Arasaka's influence and authority. This shift in the corporate power balance creates power vacuums across the city that storytellers can explore in Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 2 and beyond.

A weakened Arasaka opens up unique narrative possibilities for Night City lore. With the primary corporate giant struggling to maintain control, rival corporations, mercenary groups, and underground fixers gain new opportunities to assert power. This shifted dynamic provides a fresh background for new anime seasons and graphic novels without depending on a single Cyberpunk 2077 canon ending.

Why Easter Eggs Are Built for Worldbuilding, Not Fan Service

Many franchise adaptations rely heavily on fan service and overt Easter eggs to satisfy core gaming audiences. However, Bartosz Sztybor views worldbuilding in the Cyberpunk universe through a very different lens. He explained that inclusion of recurring characters or minor details is never done simply to make fans happy in a superficial way.

Instead, every reference serves to make Night City feel like a living, breathing, interconnected world. For instance, the character Sal Bigelow appears in Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 2 after being introduced five years prior in the comic book Cyberpunk: Big City Dreams. Sztybor pointed out that Sal was brought back only because there was a legitimate narrative reason for his inclusion.

CD Projekt RED strives to create standalone, self-sufficient stories across all media formats. A reader or viewer should be able to pick up a single comic book or watch an anime season and experience full emotional catharsis without needing prior knowledge of games or TV shows. The connective threads exist so dedicated fans can discover subtle details and piece together the broader narrative puzzle on their own.

Connecting the Dots: Character Cameos Across Cyberpunk Media

To demonstrate how lore connections operate across the Cyberpunk timeline, Sztybor shared an example involving the graphic novel You Have My Word. In that comic series, readers met a fixer named Arthur Cormac. That same fixer previously made a brief appearance in Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 1 and popped up in another comic set at a completely different time.

Surprisingly, Sztybor noted that only about 20 to 30 fans noticed Arthur Cormac's presence across all three separate releases. This subtle continuity rewards attentive audience members without creating entry barriers for casual viewers. The goal is to present interesting questions rather than spoon-feeding absolute answers.

By letting fans connect the dots independently, the creators build a richer relationship between the audience and the universe. This strategy allows Night City lore to feel expansive and immersive across multiple mediums without requiring endless exposition scenes that explain prior lore.

Will There Be a Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 3?

With the success of the anime series, fans are naturally eager to learn whether Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 3 will happen. Bartosz Sztybor revealed that he was already brainstorming future concepts while writing the first season. However, CD Projekt RED operates under a strict principle: projects only proceed when there is a compelling story and an exceptional creative team ready to deliver it.

Following the release of Season 1, animation studio Studio Trigger initially expressed that they were too exhausted to tackle an immediate continuation. However, during discussions at the Lucca Comics and Games festival shortly after release, the studio indicated they were refreshed and open to new ideas. Studio Trigger explicitly stated they did not want to create a standard, conventional sequel.

Two months later, Sztybor presented a fresh pitch that blew the studio away, paving the way for Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 2. Regarding Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 3, Sztybor confirms he already has story ideas prepared. However, making another season depends on securing a director with a distinct creative vision, similar to director Ikarashi. Without the right vision, CDPR prefers not to create anything mediocre, maintaining that Season 1 and Season 2 currently form a complete and satisfying package.

The Expanding Cyberpunk Universe: Games, Movies, and Beyond

The Cyberpunk franchise continues to grow well beyond the world of anime. CD Projekt RED has officially confirmed that a sequel video game, currently codenamed Cyberpunk 2, is actively in development. While details regarding the game's setting, timeframe, and location remain unannounced, it promises to expand the universe even further.

Additionally, a live-action Cyberpunk film project is currently in the works. CD Projekt RED confirmed that the Cyberpunk 2077 movie won't retrace the game's steps. Instead of adapting V's story directly, the film will tell a brand new story within the established lore of Night City.

Whether exploring timeline events in anime form, through live-action cinema, or in future game titles, the creative team remains committed to fresh perspectives. Every project aims to add another layer to the overarching world state without being constrained by a single rigid storyline.

Key Takeaways from the Bartosz Sztybor Interview

• No Canon Game Ending: CD Projekt RED has deliberately avoided establishing a single Cyberpunk 2077 canon ending to preserve player freedom and satisfy all possible player choices.
• Timeline Setting: Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 2 takes place in 2078, one we know is set just a year after the events of the main game.
• V Teaser Interpretation: The potential appearance of female V in the data archive wall is left open to interpretation, with dialogue playing a critical role in understanding the context.
• Post-Game World State: The primary confirmed piece of canon lore post-2077 is that Arasaka has been significantly weakened.
• Standalone Philosophy: Adaptations like comics and anime are designed to be self-sufficient standalone stories rather than simple fan service.
• Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 3 Status: Ideas for Season 3 exist, but production will only occur if the right director and creative team are in place.

Conclusion

The decision to avoid establishing an official Cyberpunk 2077 canon ending reflects CD Projekt RED's commitment to both player agency and rich, expansive worldbuilding. By keeping the main game's conclusion flexible while establishing key world shifts like Arasaka's decline, showrunner Bartosz Sztybor and his team have created a dynamic landscape where standalone stories like Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 2 can thrive. As fans eagerly await news on Cyberpunk 2, the live-action movie, and potential future anime seasons, Night City remains as unpredictable and alluring as ever.

from IGN India
-via DynaSage