Hideo Kojima’s Cyberpunk 2077 Cameo Returns for Edgerunners Season 2

If you are jumping back into the neon-soaked streets of Night City for the second season of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, you should keep an eye out for a very familiar face. CD Projekt Red has officially confirmed that the character Hideyoshi Oshima, a virtual figure modeled directly after legendary game director Hideo Kojima, is returning for another cameo in this brand-new season of the Netflix anime series. The show, which follows its critically acclaimed predecessor, is set to premiere tomorrow, offering fans another chance to dive into the dystopian world developed by the studio.

A Familiar Face in Night City

Players who spent significant time exploring the luxury of Konpeki Plaza during the iconic Heist quest in the video game Cyberpunk 2077 will likely recognize Oshima. Within the game, he appears as a braindance producer visiting the city. Because his character model is explicitly based on Kojima’s actual likeness, he is quite easy to spot for anyone familiar with the director of the Metal Gear series and Death Stranding. As reported by Kotaku, the official social media channels for the show confirmed the character’s return, and the cameo was further verified by CD Projekt Red as the review embargo for the show lifted early this morning. It has been six years since his initial appearance in the game, marking a fun, meta-narrative bridge between the interactive medium and the anime production.

Connecting the Stories

While the appearance of Oshima serves as an entertaining easter egg, the production team behind the anime has indicated that Edgerunners Season 2 maintains deeper, more meaningful ties to the broader Cyberpunk 2077 narrative. According to the reporting from Kotaku, while the new season’s connections to the game are not always overt in terms of constant cameos, the show features significant narrative links to the storylines that players previously experienced during their time in the game. For those who have not visited Night City in a while, the creators suggest that refreshing your memory on the game’s core plot points might make it easier to catch these subtle, world-building connections. The season consists of a 10-episode story that aims to expand upon the lore that fans have grown to love since the game’s release.

Why it matters

For fans of the Cyberpunk franchise, this cameo highlights the continued integration between the game and its expanded universe. Seeing recurring characters, even minor ones like a braindance producer, helps maintain a cohesive sense of continuity across different media formats. As you prepare to watch the new season, look for these specific world-building details as you go. Given the show’s focus on broader Night City storylines, keeping an eye out for these nods to the game’s past events may help you flesh out the world beyond what was originally playable. If you feel a bit rusty on the lore, it is recommended to look up a quick recap of the game’s major events before diving into the next chapter of the Edgerunners saga.