Pixel Sundays: Cyberpunk 2077 – From False Start to Digital Legend

Today, we’re talking about a game that will be celebrating its 5th anniversary this year. That game is Cyberpunk 2077.

Summary

Cyberpunk 2077 is an RPG from the Polish studio CD Projekt Red set in the future, specifically in the year 2077. People have implants, and the streets are filled with poverty and violence. Today, we’ll talk about the ups and downs the game has experienced over time and what it has evolved into today.

The Origins of Cyberpunk 2077 – From Announcement to Release

In May 2012, CD Projekt officially announced Cyberpunk 2077. The game is based on the pen-and-paper RPG “Cyberpunk 2020” by Mike Pondsmith. The first teaser trailer was released in January 2013 and garnered 12 million views in its first week. This generated massive anticipation among gamers, who could hardly wait for the release. However, the wait turned out to be quite long.

The development of Cyberpunk 2077 faced several complications. Initially, the game was supposed to launch on April 16, 2020. However, due to various issues, it was repeatedly delayed. It was then scheduled for release on September 17, 2020, then postponed to November 19, 2020, and finally launched on December 10, 2020. The community was frustrated by these continuous delays, and things got so bad that the developers even received death threats. The game was eventually released for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series.

The Rocky Launch – Technical Challenges and Criticism

When Cyberpunk 2077 launched in December 2020, it faced numerous technical issues despite all the delays. The problems were especially severe on older-generation consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. There were many bugs, graphical glitches, and performance problems that severely affected the gaming experience. The situation was so bad that Sony temporarily removed the game from its store and offered refunds. Even on the new console generation and PC, there were countless bugs and issues that ruined the experience.

As a result, the reaction from players and the media was overwhelmingly negative. Many were disappointed, having waited so long for a game that was nearly unplayable on older consoles. The media heavily criticized the game for its numerous bugs and performance problems. The launch of Cyberpunk 2077 was regarded as one of the most disastrous in gaming history.

The Road to Improvement – Patches, Updates, and Community Engagement

Following the troubled launch, CD Projekt Red continuously worked to fix technical issues and improve the overall experience. In February 2022, an update was released that optimized performance on new-generation consoles and fixed many bugs. Then, in September 2023, the massive Update 2.0 arrived. This update improved nearly every aspect of the game. As a result, player reviews suddenly became very positive. The update introduced missing quality-of-life features and significantly enhanced gameplay.

Through transparency and active community engagement, CD Projekt Red managed to regain the trust of many players. The studio listened to player feedback and, with Update 2.0, delivered a game that truly satisfied players. Thanks to this continuous effort, Cyberpunk 2077 was transformed into a highly rated game, now considered by many as one of the best games ever. By November 2024, the game had sold over 30 million copies.

Cyberpunk 2077 Gameplay – What is it all about?

So far, we’ve talked a lot about the rough launch, but we haven’t actually discussed the gameplay itself or what Cyberpunk 2077 is all about. Let’s dive into that before we continue.

Cyberpunk 2077 is an action role-playing game played from a first-person perspective. You take on the role of V, a customizable mercenary in the futuristic metropolis of Night City. At the start, you can freely design your character, including gender, appearance, background story, and clothing. You can also set certain attributes at the beginning: Body, Intelligence, Reflexes, Technical Ability, and Cool. These attributes influence your gameplay style.

The world of Night City is a vast open world consisting of six districts: the Corporate Center, the immigrant-populated Watson, the luxurious Westbrook, the suburban Heywood, the gang-controlled Pacifica, and the industrial Santo Domingo. You can explore these areas on foot or with vehicles. There is also a day-night cycle and changing weather conditions, which affect NPC behavior.

The combat system includes both melee and ranged weapons, which can be customized and modified. There are three types of ranged weapons: Power (standard), Tech (penetrates walls and enemies), and Smart (uses homing bullets). Additionally, you can acquire cyberware implants to gain extra abilities. It is even possible to complete the game without using lethal force by opting for non-lethal weapon and cyberware options (your implants).

Missions in the game are triggered through dialogues with NPCs, and you’ll quickly realize that many elements in Cyberpunk 2077’s world are interconnected. Throughout the game, you’ll need to make choices that affect the game’s ending. Main missions grant experience points, allowing you to upgrade your character’s stats. Meanwhile, side missions increase your Street Cred, unlocking new skills, vendors, locations, and additional missions. There are also mini-games like hacking, boxing, car racing, martial arts, and shooting ranges.

Phantom Liberty – The Major Expansion

Alongside the major 2.0 update, the new Phantom Liberty expansion was released on September 26, 2023 for PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5. In Phantom Liberty, you continue playing as V, and the DLC begins with a distress call from Song So Mi (“Songbird”), an advisor to the President of the New United States of America, Rosalind Myers.

The President’s aircraft was shot down over Night City and crashed into the lawless district of Dogtown. Your mission is to rescue the President from this dangerous area, where you become entangled in a web of intrigue and power struggles.

In addition to the new Dogtown area, which features new missions, activities, and challenges, several gameplay mechanics have been introduced. One of them is the Relic Skill System, a new skill tree offering unique abilities. These abilities can be unlocked by progressing through the main story or by discovering special data terminals in Dogtown.

The level cap has also been raised to 60, allowing for even more character customization. New weapons and vehicles have been added, and vehicle combat now allows you to fire weapons like rocket launchers and machine guns from your car, adding a new dynamic to gameplay. Lastly, new quickhacks have been introduced, enabling abilities such as air dashing, seeing through walls, or instantly changing your appearance to evade the police.

Reception and Success of Phantom Liberty

The Phantom Liberty expansion was received positively by both players and critics. According to Metacritic, the DLC earned a “generally positive” rating. Many praised its multiple endings and how update 2.0 further expanded the game. The recognition the DLC received was significant, and this was reflected in its sales numbers.

Within the first week of its release in October 2023, the DLC had already sold over 3 million copies. By November 2023, sales had reached 4.3 million units. A year later, in November 2024, the DLC had sold over 8 million copies. These numbers further highlight the success of “Phantom Liberty” and demonstrate how the game, which initially launched with numerous bugs, has evolved.

The Current State of Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 continues to receive updates. While updates are less frequent now and fewer major changes are made, it’s clear that the developers still care about the game. The latest update is Version 2.21, and over time, many small additions have been introduced, such as over 100 new nail designs, eye variants, and facial plates. There are also many new vehicle paint jobs and more.

A MacOS version of Cyberpunk 2077 is also expected to be released later this year, exclusively for Macs with Apple Silicon. This version will only be available in the Ultimate Edition, which includes the base game and the Phantom Liberty DLC.

Cyberpunk Edgerunners – The Series That Captivated Millions

Let’s take a step away from the actual game and talk about the Netflix series Cyberpunk Edgerunners. This series was released on September 13, 2022, as a result of a collaboration between CD Projekt Red and the Japanese animation studio Trigger. The series is set in Night City within the Cyberpunk 2077 universe. Thanks to this series, many players rediscovered Cyberpunk 2077 in 2022.

The year is 2076 in the dystopian metropolis of Night City. At the center of the story is David Martinez, a talented but impulsive teenager who, after a personal loss, decides to survive as an “Edgerunner” – a black market mercenary. As he delves deeper into the city’s criminal underworld, he encounters the mysterious netrunner Lucy, who introduces him to the world of cyberpunks.

The series was well received by both fans and critics. It was particularly praised for its character development, stunning animation, and intricate world-building. The series is a standalone, self-contained story, meaning that no prior knowledge from the games is needed. This anime even won multiple awards, including the title of “Anime of the Year” at the 7th Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2023.

As previously mentioned, the success of the series led to a surge in the game’s sales. By October 2022, Cyberpunk 2077 had sold over 20 million copies. Many former players also returned to the game, creating characters inspired by those from the series and experiencing the game once again.

The series wrapped up its story, but fans wanted more. Then, in September 2024, exciting news was announced – a second Cyberpunk series is coming. It will take place in the same universe but feature different characters and storylines. Definitely something to look forward to in the future!

Outlook – The Future of the Cyberpunk Universe

In October 2022, CD Projekt Red announced the development of a Cyberpunk 2077 sequel. This project is operating under the codename “Project Orion” and is being handled by CD Projekt North America, which includes studios in Vancouver and Boston. As of February 2024, the game was still in its early development phase. To accelerate the project, key developers were relocated to Boston. The project is being led by Gabe Amatangelo, who previously directed “Phantom Liberty.” The game is being developed in Unreal Engine 5, with CD Projekt promising “high-quality, photorealistic” graphics.

With Project Orion, CD Projekt Red aims to set new standards in the gaming industry. The development team wants to create a realistic and reactive crowd system. These ambitions require significant resources, but the studio is willing to invest in them. With GTA 6 expected to set new benchmarks this year, the developers aim to surpass those with the next Cyberpunk installment.

Conclusion – The Revival of a Modern Classic

The launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in December 2020 was rough, plagued with numerous technical issues and disappointed players. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions, in particular, were nearly unplayable. Despite the disastrous start, CD Projekt Red never gave up on the game. Instead, they worked tirelessly to turn it into one of the best modern titles. Through numerous updates and patches, the game steadily improved, and with Update 2.0, it became almost unrecognizable compared to its initial release.

When the Cyberpunk Edgerunners anime reignited interest in the game in September 2022, the developers doubled down on their efforts. Along with Update 2.0, the Phantom Liberty DLC was released in September 2023, further expanding the game world and selling over 30 million copies.

The story of Cyberpunk 2077 clearly demonstrates the importance of listening to player feedback and continuously improving a game. No one could have predicted that, after its disastrous launch, it would go on to sell 30 million copies – but here we are. Over time, the game transformed into a massive success and one of the best games of the last five years. This effort not only restored CD Projekt Red’s reputation but also proved that a rough start doesn’t have to mean permanent failure.

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