The release of Cyberpunk 2077 was one of the most contentious in 2020. After years of hype surrounding CD Projekt Red's newest RPG, the game was released in an extremely buggy state that spawned various controversies, including the game's removal from the PlayStation Store, lawsuits, and more. Ever since, the developers have worked towards improving Cyberpunk 2077 and getting it to a place where fans are happy with it, alongside developing the versions for next-gen consoles and a planned expansion.
The efforts of the developers have helped Cyberpunk 2077 attract back many of the fans who were interested in checking the game out when it launched, while improving it in a number of impactful ways. However, there is a lot of pressure on Cyberpunk 2077's expansion, as a very solid release could help redeem the game, while a poor one could very well damage its reputation even further. CD Projekt Red has yet to detail what players can expect from the expansion, but there are a number of improvements that it could introduce to the game. One of the possibilities that the developers should focus on, however, is customizable cars.
The Current State of Cars in Cyberpunk 2077
As one might imagine, Cyberpunk 2077 players spend a lot of time driving around Night City. Whether it be during missions, driving to a store, or even just enjoying the scenery of the city, players become very familiar with their vehicles throughout their playthrough.
The game features dozens of cars that are split up across five distinct classes. These include motorcycles, supercars, trucks, and even vans. Each one is uniquely modeled and controls differently with its own handling and speed attributes. While many players may want to chase down the car with the highest top speed in Cyberpunk 2077, others may instead go for one with better handling or health, giving players some variety.
Players also have two distinct ways of getting V different vehicles to use. The first is to simply hijack any vehicle that they see, similar to what players are familiar with doing in Grand Theft Auto. Any car on the street can be hijacked and used by the player if they have a high enough body stat, but most of those cars cannot be kept in Cyberpunk 2077.
Permanent cars that players can actually keep are either purchased or gained through missions. These cars are automatically stored for players and can then be summoned through their cell phones. However, once a player owns a car there is nothing else that they can do with it. The cars can be purchased, but there are no options to even just change their color.
Why Cyberpunk 2077 Should Add Car Customization
With how much time players spend driving around Night City, it is disappointing for many players that they are unable to customize cars. Each car has a uniquely modeled interior that could add a lot of unique customization options for each vehicle, while also letting players really invest in their favorite vehicles. Doing so would take a lot of resources from the developers, but with CD Projekt Red ramping up development on Cyberpunk 2077's expansion, such a feature seems like it would be possible.
Personalization is a massive part of the game's world, with people being able to modify their bodies at Cyberpunk 2077's ripper docs and fit into their own distinct style. Players can also do this to some extent, and being able to take that even further to their vehicles would be a great way to reward players for putting the time into the game to customize their version of V. Being able to customize cars would also help players feel more connected to them, as they would see themselves in it whenever they would use it, rather than just the stock version that everyone gets when they buy it.
What Car Customization in Cyberpunk 2077 Could Look Like
There are a lot of examples that the developers could draw from when designing car customization in Cyberpunk 2077. Games like Grand Theft Auto 5 and Forza Horizon 5 both could provide a lot of ideas as far as the sheer variety of car liveries, mechanical components, and personalization that could be made available. However, it would also be wise for the developers to allow players to customize the interiors of their car as well, since Cyberpunk 2077 is a first-person RPG.
The customization could also allow players to upgrade the components of their cars to improve their performance, or give them bonuses to actions like shooting while driving, or more protection when being pursued by the cops. This would help make a player's vehicle choice play a bigger role in the game, while rewarding players who take the time to plan out what car they will most likely need for a mission.
Cyberpunk 2077 could also add a location in Night City where players have to go to upgrade their cars. Upgrades would still have to be bought, but the owner of the garage could also include some new side quests in Cyberpunk 2077 that have to be completed to upgrade the shop and unlock more options. Hopefully, car customization is being considered for the game's future, especially with such an emphasis on vehicle traversal and exploration in-game.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S releases planned for 2022.