Summary
It is no secret thatCyberpunk 2077had a less than stellar launch back in 2020. It was probably one of the most anticipated games of the year since CD Projekt Red seemed to be promising the world. However, players quickly discovered that the game was lacking in many areas and filled to the brim with problems. Plus, it was practically unplayable on some hardware. While the studio could have just moved on, it decided to rectify its mistakes with the massiveCyberpunk 20772.0 update as well as the game’s only DLC pack, Phantom Liberty, which seems to have done the job.
Now,Cyberpunk 2077feels like a lot closer to the game that was promised three years ago. While it may still have a few rough edges, it delivers a fantastic experience that RPG fans will not want to miss.The Phantom Liberty DLCmakes it even better by adding an entirely new zone, new mechanics, and a whole new story to the mix. This is all great to see, but the entire thing feels bittersweet as it also marks the end of the post-launch support.
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Cyberpunk 2077 is Going Out With a Bang
At release,Cyberpunk 2077and CD Projekt Red became embroiled in controversy. The studio was accused of misleading consumers and downplaying the technical problems while the game was marred with countless glitches. This led to class-action lawsuits, a riled fanbase, and the game’s removal from the PlayStation store. It was probably one of the most disappointing games of 2020, especially since the studio had garnered much acclaim withThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntfive years prior. However, instead of dropping the game, the studio got to work fixing it.
After years of patches, CD Projekt Red has recently released the massive 2.0 update as well as the Phantom Liberty DLC. The update has overhauled many of the game’s system while also fixing countless bugs, which has helped create a much stronger RPG experience. At the same time, the DLC has expandedthe world of Night Citywith a fresh storyline to follow and brand-new things for players to discover. Because of this, players on every platform seem to be returning toCyberpunk 2077in droves.
While it is great to seeCyberpunk 2077have a resurgence, the release of Phantom Liberty also means the end of the post-launch content stream. There may still be bug fixes, but there is not going to be any more major content. Instead of building off of Phantom Liberty’s popularity, CD Projekt Red is moving onto new projects including a brand-newWitchergame andanotherCyberpunk 2077title. Even though new titles are exciting, it is a shame thatCyberpunk 2077’s content ends here.
At the same time,endingCyberpunk 2077’s content with Phantom Libertymeans that the game will be going out with a bang. No one really expected that after its extremely controversial launch, but CD Projekt Red has proven the doubters wrong. It was able to finally deliver the game that was promised, which makes it the perfect time to leaveCyberpunk2077behind. It is better to leave a game at its peak rather than to release too many DLCs to the point that no one cares anymore. Sometimes less is more, andCyberpunk 2077may be benefiting from that approach.
While it may be sad to seeCyberpunk 2077go, fans can get excited about what CD Projekt Red is planning next. If it takes its time to craft another stellar experience, then the studio may be able to putCyberpunk 2077’s launch behind it. It has shown it knows how to make a great game, so now it just needs to replicate that model going forward.
Cyberpunk 2077:Phantom Libertyis available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
