Just in case youโve never heard, Cyberpunk 2077 has a chaotic history. Its initial release was nothing short of a disaster. It was a game that promised to revolutionize the genre but stumbled out of the gate with crippling technical issues and a long list of absent features. With how developer CD Projekt Redโs games did well such as The Witcher game series, it is not surprising that many had high expectations for Cyberpunk 2077. Many players who had eagerly anticipated this ambitious project found themselves not only disappointed but also frustrated.
Despite this, developer CD Projekt Red has been hard at work trying to mend the game’s reputation through numerous patches and updates, addressing technical issues, missing features, and by adding small extra features in the game. As we step into the year 2023, it may sound strange to talk about Cyberpunk 2077โs rocky past. However it opportune to take a closer look at whether the game has been successfully rectified and whether it’s worth giving this open-world RPG another chance, especially with the impending release of Phantom Liberty DLC.
The Playstation 4 and Xbox One Versions
One of the most significant concerns during the initial release was the poor performance of Cyberpunk 2077 on last-gen consoles, particularly the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Gamers trying to play the game on these platforms encountered a slew of issues, ranging from game-breaking bugs like broken AI, missing entities, and a ton of visual glitches. In response, Sony even decided to remove the game from its digital store.
Fast forward to today, and while the PS4 and Xbox One versions are not flawless, they have seen substantial improvements. CD Projekt Red released several patches, transforming the game from “unplayable” to “functional.” Players can now experience Cyberpunk 2077 on these consoles without the game-breaking bugs and fewer technical issues, though some visual shortcomings and framerate hiccups still persist.
It is also crucial to note that CD Projekt Red has stated that the current update for these consoles represents their final intended patch. So, while the game is undoubtedly in a better state now, it has reached its peak โqualityโ on last-gen hardware.
Next-Gen Consoles Improvements
The PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of Cyberpunk 2077 received a highly anticipated next-gen upgrade and surprisingly, it delivered fair results. Playing in Performance Mode provides a largely stable experience with vastly improved framerates, addressing many of the game’s previous technical problems. This makes the game feel complete with little to minimal visual bugs. However, while the Ray Tracing feature certainly makes the game such an eye-candy to look at, there are also many disadvantages when it comes to gameplay performance as there are many parts of the game where Ray Tracing give little to no change yet still cause frequent frame-drops. Still, the Ray Tracing is still a good option worth trying out to admire the gameโs visual potential.
Overall, in terms of performance, both PS5 and Xbox Series X offer satisfactory experiences, with slight advantages to each, depending on personal preferences. Notably, loading times have been drastically reduced, improving overall gameplay in both consoles. Plus, developer CD Projekt Red still continues to work on improving and updating the game in next-gen consoles, meaning it could still keep getting better.
The PC Advantage
Throughout the rough journey of Cyberpunk 2077, the PC version remained the most stable and visually impressive option. With fewer performance upgrades needed, CD Projekt Red focused on optimizing the PC version early on. As a result, the game runs smoothly on a range of PC configurations, providing a superior experience to its console counterparts.
High-end PC gamers, in particular, can enjoy the game’s full graphical potential, maintaining consistently high framerates with all graphical settings enabled. Additionally, the PC version benefits from an active modding community, allowing players to customize and enhance their experience in ways that official updates cannot.
New Contents and Updates
CD Projekt Red has embarked on a dedicated mission to bolster Cyberpunk 2077‘s content and mechanics. This commitment to improvement is evident in the numbers of updates and patches that have graced the game throughout its release. These include additional vehicles, weapons, gigs, perks, and the ability to “transmog” your appearance. Some updates have improved the game’s AI, driving, and shooting systems, offering new ways to approach missions and tasks.
While these incremental additions enhance the overall experience, they may not be substantial enough to warrant a return if you’ve already completed the game. However, the highly anticipated Phantom Liberty DLC has given us new significant content and features, providing veterans and newcomers a compelling reason to return to the neon-lit streets of Night City.ย
Soโฆ Is Cyberpunk 2077 โReallyโ Fixed?
Cyberpunk 2077‘s rollercoaster ride of a journey from a disastrous launch to a more stable state in 2023 has been an arduous one. The technical issues that plagued its launch have been addressed to a significant extent, allowing the game’s strengths to shine finally through. If these problems were the reasons that stop you from playing the game, it is now safe to revisit Night City, especially with the new content coming this month of September 2023. If you are a new player, this is the best time for a fresh start you can have in Cyberpunk 2077.
If you are a returning player, while the game has undoubtedly improved, it remains a polarizing title that may or may not align with your gaming preferences. If you felt that Cyberpunk 2077 was fundamentally flawed in terms of its design, storytelling, or open-world experience, the current state of the game may not change your opinion, but if you’re willing to explore the neon-soaked streets of Night City once again, you’ll find a more playable experience.
To keep it short, the historical technical issues are fixed and the game is functioning as intended but not as optimal in terms of its consistency in high graphics settings in consoles. Whether it is really โfixedโ or not really depends on the playerโs own perspective and gaming preferences.