CD Projekt Red partnered with WayForward — the studio behind the Shantae series — on a side game based on the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime, according to a report from MP1st.

The project was codenamed Gemini and was being developed at WayForward between 2025 and 2026, MP1st reported on July 27, 2026. Eurogamer corroborated the details the following day, attributing the original breaking report to the outlet.

Gemini was described as a "rollback-driven 2.5D brawler." In plain terms, that means a side-scrolling fighting or beat-'em-up game where online play uses rollback netcode — a technique that predicts player inputs to keep matches smooth, popular in competitive fighting games. The direction fits WayForward's track record on titles like Double Dragon Neon and River City Girls.

The project was built with online multiplayer in mind. References to "rollback-safe architecture" and "online transport integration" appeared in the development materials MP1st reviewed. It was, however, described as an R&D project — "very early" in development.

The details surfaced through the portfolio of a former WayForward developer. MP1st withheld the individual's identity for privacy reasons. The outlet was unable to confirm whether Gemini is still active, on hold, or cancelled at the time of its report.

Separately, MP1st noted that WayForward had been working on an Unreal Engine 5-powered project in the year prior. Funding delays reportedly led to a halt in development and a round of layoffs at the studio after the team delivered a vertical slice — a small, polished slice of a game meant to prove the concept to publishers or investors.

For fans of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, this report offers a look at a project that might never have surfaced otherwise. The anime, which aired on Netflix in 2022 and was produced by Studio Trigger, drew praise for its storytelling and animation, and has remained a touchpoint for the wider Cyberpunk 2077 universe. A brawler spin-off would have been a natural fit — a smaller, stylised game alongside CD Projekt Red's larger projects.

What remains unclear is whether Gemini ever moved beyond its early R&D phase. Neither CD Projekt Red nor WayForward has publicly commented on the partnership or the project's existence.