Cyberpunk 2077 has been a highly anticipated game for fans and critics alike, with every delay being just a bit more painful for excited gamers. The latest pushback for Cyberpunk 2077 was only a 21-day change, but the new release date has had an unfortunate impact on the game’s consideration for The Game Awards 2020.
The latest Cyberpunk 2077 delay came out of nowhere and shocked just about everyone given how close the game was to launch day. With the CD Projekt Red game being pushed to December 10, the delay will undoubtedly have some negative effects on those involved with the game. While the time to polish the many versions of Cyberpunk 2077 may indeed lead to a better product at launch, more work must be done, promotional material containing the old date must be remade, and the game has lost eligibility for this year’s Game Awards.
The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley, who recently took to Twitter to show off the weight of the PlayStation 5, confirmed that Cyberpunk 2077 would not be eligible for this year’s version of The Game Awards. Geoff says that “much like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate a few years ago, Cyberpunk 2077 will first be eligible at next year’s Game Awards.” While it is a bit disappointing to see Cyberpunk 2077 lose its eligibility, it is hardly unexpected.
As mentioned by Geoff Keighley a few weeks back, older games can qualify for 2020's Game Awards. Cyberpunk 2077 seems to be in a similar position now, so hopefully the game gets the recognition it deserves come 2021's award season. Recency bias could certainly come into play, however, with the new December release date having a negative impact on the huge CD Projekt RPG come next year’s show.
Regardless, November’s major releases like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Spider-Man: Miles Morales are likely seeing the delay as a positive, as one less open world game in November means less sales competition. Likewise, Game Awards favorites like Ghost of Tsushima, FF7 Remake, and The Last of Us Part 2 should have an easier pathway to success come showtime. While it does make this year’s Game Awards a bit less competitive and a bit more predictable, the delay will hopefully prove worthwhile come December.
While most critics and gamers have been incredibly patient through the years of delays and waiting, some “fans” have taken to sending death threats to Cyberpunk 2077 developers. While this is undeniably shameful and speaks for a ridiculously small part of the gaming community, it is yet another negative consequence of the latest (and hopefully final) delay of the game.
Cyberpunk 2077 releases December 10th for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X versions also in development.