Summary

  • CD Projekt Red's Update 2.1 marks the final major update for Cyberpunk 2077, concluding the three-year journey of fixing bugs and improving gameplay.
  • Despite its troubled launch, Cyberpunk 2077 was the biggest digital game launch in history at the time and received predominantly positive feedback from players.
  • CD Projekt Red's focus now shifts to other projects, including the development of the next game in The Witcher franchise and a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 codenamed Orion.

With the December 5 release of Update 2.1, developer CD Projekt Red is officially done with its dystopian action RPG Cyberpunk 2077. The game’s highly anticipated launch in 2020 was generally considered disastrous, with a plethora of bugs and graphical and performance issues that greatly damaged the Polish developer’s reputation and caused its stock to tank. Despite this, Cyberpunk 2077 was the biggest digital game launch of all time, and discounting the technical problems, the game received predominantly positive feedback.

Up until the launch of Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red had earned a reputation of being for gamers, by gamers, and many fans were rooting for the company to turn things around. In the three years since the game’s release, the studio has done just that, releasing patches and updates, along with the well-received Phantom Liberty DLC. And Cyberpunk 2077’s Update 2.1 is promising to bring a final slew of quality-of-life changes and gameplay features to the RPG.

A screenshot of Geralt of Rivia amid a sunset in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
The Witcher 4 Game Director Teases Possible Return of Geralt

Sebastian Kalemb, the game director for The Witcher 4, hints at the possibility of Geralt of Rivia returning in CD Projekt RED's new RPG trilogy.

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When announcing the update, Community Director Marcin Momot stated that CDPR had “one more patch…up our sleeve.” And it turns out that December 5 will indeed be a big day for Cyberpunk 2077. Not only will it mark the release of Update 2.1, but it will also signify the closing of a three-year-long chapter on the game. The developer confirmed to IGN that this update “is meant to be the last big update.” After that, the game studio will turn its attention to other projects.

Namely, development on the next game in The Witcher franchise AKA Project Polaris is ramping up, according to a recently released financial report. The project is now a primary focus for the developer, with almost half of its employees working on it as of October 31. The game is expected to be the first of a new trilogy set in The Witcher universe and will not focus on the adventures of Geralt, the much-loved monster-hunting mutant.

It will also be the first game developed using Unreal Engine for CDPR, and for this reason CEO Adam Kiciński stated in 2022 that its release was at least three years away. However, Senior VP of Business Development Michał Nowakowski noted that the number would probably be closer to four or five, if the company’s previous development cycles are anything to go by.

And fans of CDPR’s rendition of Night City will be happy to learn that the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 is also already in the works, though it’s unclear at exactly what stage of development. Codenamed Orion, the futuristic follow-up will aim to build upon what was delivered in Cyberpunk 2077 while also transforming it into a “coherent, total immersion experience.” This evolution will echo the gameplay improvements that The Witcher 2 and 3 offered over the original game.

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Cyberpunk 2077 Tag Page Cover Art
6 /10

Cyberpunk 2077
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RPG
Action
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Systems
PlayStation-1 Xbox-1 super greyscale 8-bit logo PC-1
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Top Critic Avg: 76 /100 Critics Rec: 66%
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Released
December 10, 2020
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
Developer(s)
CD Projekt Red
Publisher(s)
CD Projekt Red
Engine
REDengine 4
Cross-Platform Play
ps, xbox, pc
Cross Save
yes
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.

Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.

Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades. 

The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?

Genre(s)
RPG, Action