It didn't take much time for Cyberpunk 2077's launch to become disastrous. CD Projekt Red's ambitious action-RPG released with a plethora of game-breaking issues, which it continues to fix with subsequent patches.
Thankfully, the developer has been adamant about polishing Cyberpunk 2077 on various platforms. The game has certainly come a long way, although plenty of problems persists post-patch 1.31. Because of its issues, many fans have yet to experience Cyberpunk 2077 in all its glory. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players have to wait even longer than PC players to get this experience, as CD Projekt Red just announced it is delaying the next-gen version release. While many believe this to be a good decision, delaying the next-gen version of Cyberpunk 2077 could be both a boon and a bane.
The Next-Gen Upgrade Delay Could Make or Break Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is currently on its road to redemption, though it still has a long way to go. While CD Project Red is consistently releasing new updates to fix the base game, it has made little-to-no arrangements for players to stick around and fiddle around in Cyberpunk 2077's neon metropolis. The lack of promised story expansions means PC players who enjoyed Cyberpunk 2077 with raytracing enabled and uncapped FPS have no reason to return anytime soon. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players are still waiting for the promised next-gen upgrade, and it won't see the day of light until the first quarter of 2022.
The announcement of the Cyberpunk 2077 next-gen delay until 2022 should reduce the skepticism of fans who thought the next-gen upgrade would get canceled altogether or rushed into a broken state like the base game. Announcing the new release window rather than delaying it at the last moment, as CD Projekt did with the game's launch, is a good move and should give fans enough time to have realistic expectations of when they can play Cyberpunk 2077 in its full glory on consoles. It also indicates CD Projekt Red is taking time to make sure the eventual PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions are polished and optimized.
However, chances are the over-abundance of hype and excitement that surrounded the game in 2020 may fade completely by early to mid-2022. Many expected Cyberpunk 2077 to be the next generation of action-RPGs, set in a dense and vertical urban city with jaw-dropping visuals, multilayered quests and characters, and flexible gameplay. Given the success of The Witcher 3, such an expectation wasn't farfetched. While Cyberpunk 2077 certainly delivers on some aspects, the reality is that even without its bugs and glitches, Cyberpunk 2077 will never be the game fans hoped it to be.
Cyberpunk 2077 isn't a bad game, though it's not revolutionary. In fact, Cyberpunk 2077 dips its toes deep into cyberpunk genre tropes that only hold it back from being a unique experience. While the lingering curiosity of the game's hype would have still pulled in many fans and newcomers in 2021 with next-gen upgrades, 2022 is a different beast altogether.
The early 2022 video game lineup is looking solid, with February having multiple AAA releases. Some 2022 titles, like Starfield and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League are next-gen only games that may feature denser maps and better visuals than Cyberpunk 2077. Furthermore, if Cyberpunk 2077's next-gen upgrades drop in the midst of the crowded February lineup with Horizon Forbidden West, Elden Ring, and Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, it could drop off the radar altogether. As such, Cyberpunk 2077's next-gen upgrade may be a decent upgrade given the time, but could fail if its hype dies or if CDPR doesn't live up to expectations.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions currently in development.