Cyberpunk 2077 had bad beginnings, but CD Project Red has been able to rescue the game, turning it into a fan favorite. Although it would have been easy to abandon the project following its embarrassing launch, the developers instead chose to continue working on it, and the benefits of that hard work have begun to show. The game's sales have been nothing short of healthy, and they have been further boosted by the animated series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.

With the recent announcement of an upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, gamers can look forward to more exploration of the hi-tech world Mike Pondsmith created with his tabletop game. However, that isn't the only project the developers have on their hands, as they also have more The Witcher games planned in addition to a new IP. Though it may have stumbled, CD Projekt Red has shown that hard work can turn a failure into a phenomenal success.

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Cyberpunk 2077's Catastrophic Launch

Image from Cyberpunk 2077 showing a close-up of Johnny Silverhand, played by Keanu Reeves.

Following the success of The Witcher 3, the announcement that CD Projekt Red was working on a cyberpunk open-world game was met with excitement from the gaming world. Trailers were first shown in 2013, and they revealed a version of Night City that was both inviting and dangerous. As the years went on, gamers started hearing more about what the open-world game held, and it was beginning to sound like a worthy competitor to open-world juggernauts like Grand Theft Auto.

Signs of trouble started brewing when the game experienced several delays. This is not unheard of in the gaming industry, though the frequency of Cyberpunk 2077's delay was out of the ordinary. Eventually, the game was released in December 2020, and while many gamers enjoyed the studio's latest offering, many were left less than pleased. Some gamers, especially those playing on last-generation consoles, complained that the game was laden with bugs and glitches and that the performance was so poor that it was unplayable in some parts. Other gamers complained that some features promised never made it to the game's final cut.

These issues caused Cyberpunk 2077's launch to be controversial, and the backlash was worsened by the fact that the studio had only given PC review copies out, preventing last-generation gamers from knowing about the issues that were present before the game's release. Due to the high number of customer complaints, many stores began offering refunds for Cyberpunk 2077. This includes Sony, which is notable as the company is usually very reluctant to do so. However, the game also got yanked off PS Store, depriving CD Projekt Red of a lot of sales. The studio, which had previously been in the good graces of gamers, was suddenly receiving a deluge of negative press that severely tarnished its reputation.

CD Projekt Red issued public apologies, but the damage had been done, and to this day, Cyberpunk 2077 is still regarded as an example of one of the most disastrous video game releases ever. It would have been easy for the studio to scrap the game and focus on The Witcher which has proven itself to be a safe bet. However, developers instead chose to continue working on the game, and it appears that the hard work is beginning to pay off.

Cyberpunk 2077's Rehabilitation

Judy Alvarez Cyberpunk 2077 head tilted with black nails

Since the terrible launch, CD Projekt Red has been pushing out patches and updates to improve gameplay on last-gen consoles. Although this hasn't resolved all problems, it has made the game far more playable, leading to more satisfied gamers. Developers also released free next-generation upgrades for the game, which once again boosted its popularity.

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Though gamers are easily annoyed, they have shown themselves to be capable of overlooking mistakes if reconciliatory steps are taken. CD Projekt Red appears to have done that through the many patches it has released, even years after the game's launch. When Cyberpunk 2077 returned to PS Store, it quickly ascended the charts, and according to the developers, the game has sold over 20 million copies globally on all platforms, making it an undeniable hit.

The studio is not done with Cyberpunk 2077 just yet, as there is still an expansion set to release in 2023. Titled Phantom Liberty, it will be available on PC and current-generation consoles. As fans wait for the expansion to come, they can also indulge in the hit animation series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners which serves as a prequel to the game. Since the series aired in September 2022, Cyberpunk 2077 has seen yet another boost in popularity, suggesting that the game's lifespan is far from over.

Success Is a Slow Process

cyberpunk 2077 logo

Cyberpunk 2077 wouldn't be the only game to benefit from a tie-in series, as The Witcher 3 also saw increased sales following the release of the Netflix series The Witcher. If the developers had not been constantly updating and improving the game, it would not have been in the position to reap the benefits it is currently enjoying. Steam charts show that the game has seen a 200% increase in players in recent weeks, making it one of the most-played games on the platform. Had someone mentioned in December 2020 that Cyberpunk 2077 would be one of the most popular games of 2022, it would have been impossible to believe.

CD Projekt Red undoubtedly made some mistakes which led to a disappointing launch for Cyberpunk 2077. However, the studio also demonstrated that with hard work, all obstacles can be overcome. The Polish developers will be busy for the next few years, as they have announced that a Cyberpunk 2077 sequel is on the way, along with three more The Witcher games. The upcoming Cyberpunk game currently just called Project Orion already has gamers excited, and if the studio can pull off a successful launch, it could be a monumental hit.

Cyberpunk 2077 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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