Hideo Kojima Returns to Night City in First Look at His ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ Season 2 Role

Few anime collaborations have left a mark on gaming quite like ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’, and its long-awaited follow-up is just about here. Produced by CD Projekt Red and Studio Trigger, the original series premiered on Netflix in September 2022 and drew critical acclaim for its writing, characters, action, animation, and music.

Its impact stretched well beyond streaming. The anime cracked Netflix’s top 10 in its first week and helped spark a reappraisal of ‘Cyberpunk 2077’, with the game seeing a significant boost in sales and players after the show’s release.

Now, the show’s official account has revealed a surprise addition to ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2’. Legendary game creator Hideo Kojima is reprising his role as Hideyoshi Oshima, the character he first played in ‘Cyberpunk 2077’.

The first-look image pairs a photo of Kojima with his anime counterpart, who shares his signature glasses, hairstyle, and trimmed facial hair. A character card describes Oshima as a Japanese braindance director played by Kojima, while his birthday and blood type are cheekily listed as confidential.

How big his role will be remains a mystery. It could be a brief appearance or something more substantial, as neither CD Projekt Red nor Netflix has shared further details. Players may already know Oshima from the game. He appears in Konpeki Plaza during the mission “The Heist,” sitting at a table at the back of the hotel bar and talking to people about his work.

First look at Hideo Kojima as Hideyoshi Oshima in ‘CYBERPUNK: EDGERUNNERS’ Season 2. https://t.co/eWcju7NsMm

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 19, 2026

In the game’s lore, Oshima is a braindance producer from Tokyo who hopes to forge strong human connections through his creations. Fans have also pointed out a playful detail in the name itself, as Oshima means “big island” while Kojima means “little island.”

The cameo also fits Kojima’s long history with the genre. Before the ‘Metal Gear Solid’ series made him a household name, he created a cyberpunk-themed visual novel that remains a cult classic today.

The final trailer for ‘CYBERPUNK: EDGERUNNERS’ Season 2 has been released. Releasing October 20 on Netflix. https://t.co/XWdNm512aH

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 14, 2026

‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2’ premieres on Netflix on Tuesday, October 20, with all 10 episodes dropping at once. Rather than continuing David Martinez’s story, the series introduces an entirely new cast whose intertwining lives unfold across Night City.

CD Projekt Red describes the new season as a raw, human story of revenge and redemption. Kai Ikarashi directs, with character designs by Ichigo Kanno and a story written by Bartosz Sztybor and Masahiko Otsuka. The music is just as intriguing. The opening theme is “10:15 Saturday Night” by The Cure, while “Watson” by Petite Meller closes out each episode.

Critics have started weighing in ahead of the premiere. GamesRadar+ awarded the season 4 out of 5 stars, calling it a worthy follow-up that doesn’t quite top the original. IGN found the sequel less epic in scope but still enjoyable, while Kotaku felt the storylines took too long to come together, even as it praised Studio Trigger’s animation.

Kojima had already hinted at future appearances in a big live-action movie and a major anime title, and this reveal appears to confirm the anime half of that tease. He has also said he doesn’t like playing himself, which makes stepping into a character like Oshima a natural fit.

With Night City also heading to the big screen through Paramount’s live-action ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ film in development, the franchise is clearly expanding fast, and Kojima is happily along for the ride.

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