Off the back of CD Projekt Red announcing that Cyberpunk 2077 is being delayed to November 2020, a variety of important questions have been asked. A November launch for Cyberpunk 2077 means the game will be launching alongside the PS5 and Xbox Series X, after all. Players will want to know whether Cyberpunk 2077 is either forward or backward compatible, or if the game will have any next-gen improvements. So far, CD Projekt Red has most of the right answers.
In a series of posts in Twitter Friday morning, CD Projekt Red acknowledged that Cyberpunk 2077 would likely be launching alongside the PS5 and Xbox Series X. And while it didn't confirm whether there would be PS5 and Xbox Series X-branded retail copies available at launch, it did the next best thing. CD Projekt Red has confirmed that the current-gen versions of Cyberpunk 2077 will work on their next-gen counterparts.
Further, CD Projekt Red confirms that Cyberpunk 2077 will have next-gen optimizations for improved performance at launch for both the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Those improvements haven't been characterized, but given the scale of the next-gen consoles' power the improvements should be meaningful. That said, the improvements may not be robust. Framerate and resolution seem like the most likely improvements.
These launch improvements for next-gen consoles will amount to what CD Projekt Red can put together in a hurry before launch. The studio has bigger plans for substantial next-gen console support, but this update will not be ready in time. It'll come later instead, and while a date isn't provided 2021 can be assumed.
What doesn't have to be assumed is that CD Projekt Red will be giving PS5 and Xbox Series X Cyberpunk 2077 players this update for free. When the robust next-gen update for both PS5 and Xbox Series X is ready, all Cyberpunk 2077 players will get it for free.
As an example, someone could buy Cyberpunk 2077 at launch for their PS4. Then, when they get a PS5 for Christmas, they'll be able to pop in the disc, receive a free update and play Cyberpunk 2077 with improve performance immediately. Then, several months later, CD Projekt Red will release a robust update for Cyberpunk 2077 on PS5 that will enable a ton of new optimizations and improvements. That player, with their PS4 copy of the game, will get that update for free, too. Buy one copy of the game and get the full Cyberpunk 2077 experience across generations.
Cyberpunk 2077 releases November 19 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, with PS5, Stadia, and Xbox Series X versions also in development.