CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 will be coming out a bit later than fans were hoping. While the news of a delay from September to November is a shame, CD Projekt Red is sweetening the deal.
Confirmed via the official Cyberpunk 2077 Twitter account, all copies of the game will come with some digital "goodies." These will include the original score, an art booklet, a selection of wallpapers, a digital comic, and surprisingly, the Cyberpunk 2020 Roleplaying game sourcebook.
The original score and art booklet are usual additions through pre-orders, but the other three are more interesting. While wallpapers are nothing new, very rarely are they added as digital bonuses. The picture linked in the Tweet below specifically mentions that the wallpapers are "for desktop and mobile." Thus, fans hoping for a pre-order theme will have to hope it comes through the storefronts. As for the digital comic, it's not entirely unusual for one to come long with a game.
The most striking thing of the digital bonuses is the inclusion of the Cyberpunk 2020 sourcebook. Cyberpunk, the tabletop role-playing game, was originally released in 1988 and has gone through three revisions. Cyberpunk 2020 is the second and most renowned edition of the rule-set and credited as the the true genesis of the game's world. Since Cyberpunk 2077 is based on the tabletop roleplaying game, the sourcebook can actually serve as a primer for fans eager to dig into the backstory. Even before release, fans are analyzing the lore in relation to what has been shown.
While Cyberpunk 2020 is the most famous interpretation of the game, it was not the last. Cyberpunk V3.0 is the most recent version, havingv released back in 2005. So while the addition of Cyberpunk 2020's sourcebook is nice, it will be missing some of the events during the V3.0's 2030s. Yet Cyberpunk V3.0 will soon be an outdated version as this year will also mark the long awaited release of the fourth edition.
Cyberpunk Red will be the primer to the world of Cyberpunk 2077. Much like the game it is so closely linked to, the core rulebook was also delayed albeit for an indefinite amount of time. Those looking for a taste of the game before the release of the rulebook can check out the Cyberpunk Red Jumpstart Kit which provides the basics for players.
While Cyberpunk 2020 may not be the latest entry in the role-playing game, its source material is still worth a read. There are likely many nods and references within Cyberpunk 2077 that eagle-eyed fans can catch. Although some fans have already started to catch the smaller details from gameplay clips like the recently revealed character of Judy sporting a Radiohead tattoo.
If fans are eager to jump into the lore before Cyberpunk 2077 releases, all the rulebooks and supplementary world material are available online for purchase in PDF format. Those looking for some of the juicier details might want to dig into the history of Keanu Reeves' character of Johnny Silverhand. Although it might be best not to get too attached as the character is not romanceable.
Cyberpunk 2077 comes out on November 19 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, with PS5, Stadia, and Xbox Series X versions to follow.