Unlike its predecessor, the narrative of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners II is set after the events of CD Projekt Red's role-playing game, Cyberpunk 2077. This timeline placement has led fans to scrutinize the anime for appearances of characters from the RPG, particularly V, the customizable protagonist. However, showrunner Bartosz Sztybor has clarified that the series does not intend to canonize or invalidate any of the game's multiple potential endings.
During an interview with IGN, Sztybor addressed fan theories regarding a cameo by V in the new season. Viewers noted a figure in an Arasaka database featuring a female character with a red undercut, resembling the default version of V seen in promotional artwork for the game. While some interpreted this as evidence that V is alive in Night City's post-game timeline, Sztybor dismissed these interpretations as fan speculation rather than confirmed fact.
The showrunner explained that the creative team engaged in extensive discussions with the lore department to ensure the story could satisfy all possible outcomes of the game without establishing a single canonical path. "We don't want to set a canon ending," Sztybor stated. He noted that while the series offers suggestions about the state of the world, these details are intended to be explored further in comic books and other media rather than being definitive within the anime itself.
Critics have also pointed out inconsistencies between the database image and the actual appearance of V in the game's marketing materials, noting differences in hairstyle and cyberware. Ultimately, the show deliberately avoids directly addressing V's fate to respect the various directions a player's choices could take. Sztybor highlighted that while the canon before the game was well-defined for the first season, the post-game era relies on broader strokes, such as the fact that Arasaka is weakened, without detailing specific character fates.
This approach allows the franchise to maintain continuity across different media without rendering any player choice incorrect. Consequently, characters like Rogue, who owns the Afterlife nightclub and appears in the first season but not the second, are omitted because their survival depends on specific endings in the game. By keeping these characters out of the narrative, the creators ensure that fans can enjoy the new content without feeling their personal playthroughs have been invalidated. As CD Projekt Red continues development on Cyberpunk 2, it remains to be seen if future projects will adhere to this principle of non-canonical endings.
Sources: Kotaku.