Not much more needs to be said about the tough year that CD Projekt Red has had, but a year later, things finally seem to be turning around. The launch of Cyberpunk 2077 back in December of last year unleashed a storm of bad press for the developer and publisher, much of it based on what fans and players are already abundantly aware of. The marred launch of the game turned many potential players and fans away, leaving only the hardcore fans of the cyberpunk genre waiting to see if CD Projekt Red can implement fixes to restore the game. Almost a year later, some fans are returning to Cyberpunk 2077, and coming away with newly positive impressions.
CD Projekt Red has been working on updates on the title, despite remaining relatively tight-lipped in the aftermath of the game's controversy. Throughout the year, CD Project Red has implemented several updates and hotfixes (with thorough corresponding patch notes) that have addressed some of the major issues with Cyberpunk 2077. Regardless, while the majority of players who left the game behind haven't returned in droves, hardcore fans are coming away with a renewed reception on Steam recently. CD Projekt Red is planning an expansion for the game in 2022, which means Cyberpunk 2077 could carry its renewed momentum into the game's next chapter.
Positive Recent Reviews of Cyberpunk 2077 on Steam
While several updates and hotfixes were implemented to Cyberpunk 2077 throughout the year, fans who didn't already refund the game still maintained a critical distance until further patches. However, it wasn't until Patch 1.3 this August where players started to slowly return to the game in an attempt to gauge how far Cyberpunk 2077 had come since launch.
Thanks to a recent Black Friday sale that discounted Cyberpunk 2077 to $29.99 on all platforms, and as of Patch 1.31 released on September 18, numerous new reviews posted on the game's Steam page have been highlighted as "Mostly Positive" and "Very Positive." On November 25 alone, there were 17,099 Mostly Positive reviews overall, with 5,589 Very Positive reviews posted by players on Steam.
A lot of the highlighted recent reviews on Cyberpunk 2077's Steam page note significant improvements to the game's performance and playable state. Several reviews, including Game Rant's review of Cyberpunk 2077, noted that there was a genuinely compelling RPG submerged underneath the discourse surrounding the numerous technical issues. Reviews from players and critics continued to point out issues from a gameplay and balance standpoint, but one correlation between a majority of the game's reviews was praise for the narrative and characters. With a new expansion on the way for Cyberpunk 2077, players may get to witness that narrative firsthand.
Cyberpunk's 'Redemption' is Contingent On the Expansion
Putting aside the potential for the game's expansion to have a fantastic story, a Cyberpunk 2077 expansion is also going to bring in players experiencing the base game's story for the first time. That's why the reception of the game's expansion will be pivotal to Cyberpunk 2077's renewal, not just for the brand new content, but for the game itself. Fans and pundits are placing expectations of a No Man's Sky-esque "comeback story" for Cyberpunk 2077, which is a double-edged sword for CD Projekt Red. On the one hand, a "major update" and expansion to Cyberpunk 2077 will be great for existing fans and hopefuls, but could also bring in those who skipped the game as well.
Technical issues were obviously a huge barrier for those who wanted to play Cyberpunk 2077, especially for those on last-gen consoles. While an improved reception on PC is not inherently indicative of the game's state on console, it is an encouraging sign that CD Projekt Red is making significant improvements. Patches and updates aren't enough to bring players back, but a well-received expansion alongside a renewed playable state for Cyberpunk 2077 could be enough to get players interested. Cyberpunk 2077's future expansion and update(s) needs to emphasize how the game has improved in tandem with impressive new content refreshing the experience.
The potential is certainly there for Cyberpunk 2077; CD Projekt Red is moving staff away from game support to work on the expansion directly, next-gen enhanced console versions are on the way, and news of the positive reviews on Steam has been trending as well. Given the widespread marketing, news, and controversy of Cyberpunk 2077's launch, gaming enthusiasts are likely aware of the recent buzz surrounding the game currently.
If CD Projekt Red can capitalize on this with a new Cyberpunk 2077 expansion in 2022, alongside any new updates along the way, the game could receive its expected renewal. However, that possibility will be heavily contigent on the reception of Cyberpunk's expansion.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available now on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
Source: Steam