It didn’t take much time forCyberpunk 2077’s launch to become disastrous. CD Projekt Red’s ambitious action-RPG released with a plethora of game-breaking issues, which it continues to fix with subsequent patches.
Thankfully, the developer has been adamant about polishingCyberpunk 2077on various platforms. The game has certainly come a long way, although plenty of problems persists post-patch 1.31. Because of its issues, many fans have yet to experienceCyberpunk 2077in all its glory. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players have to wait even longer than PC players to get this experience, as CD Projekt Red just announced it is delaying the next-gen version release. While many believe this to be a good decision, delaying the next-gen version ofCyberpunk 2077could be both a boon and a bane.
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The Next-Gen Upgrade Delay Could Make or Break Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077is currently on its road to redemption, though it still has a long way to go. While CD Project Red is consistently releasing new updates to fix the base game, it has made little-to-no arrangements for players to stick around and fiddle around inCyberpunk 2077’s neon metropolis. The lack ofpromised story expansionsmeans PC players who enjoyedCyberpunk 2077with raytracing enabled and uncapped FPS have no reason to return anytime soon. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players are still waiting for the promised next-gen upgrade, and it won’t see the day of light until the first quarter of 2022.
The announcement of theCyberpunk 2077next-gen delay until 2022should reduce the skepticism of fans who thought the next-gen upgrade would get canceled altogether or rushed into a broken state like the base game. Announcing the new release window rather than delaying it at the last moment, as CD Projekt did with the game’s launch, is a good move and should give fans enough time to have realistic expectations of when they can playCyberpunk 2077in its full glory on consoles. It also indicates CD Projekt Red is taking time to make sure the eventual PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions are polished and optimized.
However, chances are the over-abundance of hype and excitement that surrounded the game in 2020 may fade completely by early to mid-2022. Many expectedCyberpunk 2077to be the next generation of action-RPGs, set in a dense and vertical urban city with jaw-dropping visuals, multilayered quests and characters, and flexible gameplay. Given the success ofThe Witcher 3, such an expectation wasn’t farfetched. WhileCyberpunk 2077certainly delivers on some aspects, the reality is that even without its bugs and glitches,Cyberpunk 2077will never be the game fans hoped it to be.
Cyberpunk 2077isn’t a bad game, though it’s not revolutionary. In fact,Cyberpunk 2077dips its toes deep into cyberpunk genre tropesthat only hold it back from being a unique experience. While the lingering curiosity of the game’s hype would have still pulled in many fans and newcomers in 2021 with next-gen upgrades, 2022 is a different beast altogether.
Theearly 2022 video game lineupis looking solid, with February having multiple AAA releases. Some 2022 titles, likeStarfieldandSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueare next-gen only games that may feature denser maps and better visuals thanCyberpunk 2077. Furthermore, ifCyberpunk 2077’s next-gen upgrades drop in the midst of the crowded February lineup withHorizon Forbidden West,Elden Ring, andDestiny 2: The Witch Queen, it could drop off the radar altogether. As such,Cyberpunk 2077’s next-gen upgrade may be a decent upgrade given the time, but could fail if its hype dies or if CDPR doesn’t live up to expectations.
Cyberpunk 2077is available on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions currently in development.
