In the lead-up to its release, Cyberpunk 2077 showed great promise. CD Projekt Red had established a reputation for itself thanks to The Witcher series, and gamers were eager to see what else the studio was capable of. The game also has an intriguing premise; based on the Cyberpunk tabletop game by Mike Pondsmith, Cyberpunk 2077 is set in the futuristic urban sprawl of Night City, and it centers on a mercenary named V who is after an implant that grants immortality.
Despite the high anticipation for the game, upon release, Cyberpunk 2077 failed to satisfy everyone. Fortunately, slowly but surely, CD Projekt Red has been rolling out updates, and as a result, the game is in a much better state. Those who did enjoy the game probably should not hold their breath for a Cyberpunk 2077 2, as if CD Projekt Red does decide to explore Night City more, it will likely wish to start a new story instead of making a sequel.
Cyberpunk 2077 Did Not Pan Out as Expected
Signs that Cyberpunk 2077's release would be rocky came when the game began facing numerous delays. However, this was not too much cause for concern, as delays are common in the gaming industry. When the game eventually hit stores on 10 December 2020, the internet was flooded with reports of glitches and performance issues, particularly on the PS4 and Xbox One. While the issues were not universal, and some gamers reported having a great time with the game, there were enough unhappy customers for the launch to be considered a disaster.
It cost CD Projekt Red dearly in many ways. The company's stock fell 9.4%, and it faced lawsuits from investors, forcing it to settle for $1.85 million. Many stores offered refunds to gamers, and the Microsoft online store gave a warning about Cyberpunk's performance. Sony pulled the game from the PS Store for over a year, and when the game returned, Sony warned gamers not to purchase it for the PS4. Perhaps the biggest cost was to the company's reputation, something which it had built over years. In response to the fallout, CD Projekt Red issued a public apology, admitting that it prioritized optimizing the game for the PC over the last-gen consoles.
CD Projekt Red is still pouring a lot of effort into Cyberpunk 2077. In February this year, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S upgrades for the game were released, and gamers can also expect DLC in 2023. Nevertheless, after the game's lifecycle, the company may want to move on, as the game has left a sour taste in many mouths. There is already evidence that the company's Cyberpunk vision has shrunk, as the promised standalone Cyberpunk 2077 multiplayer game has disappeared. On its YouTube channel, CEO Adam Kiciński reveals that while there were plans to make the multiplayer game a reality, the developers "have decided to reconsider this now."
A New Cyberpunk Game May Not Be a Direct Sequel
It is worth taking into account the fact that starting a new IP is difficult and costly, as well as exceptionally risky, and CD Projekt Red may decide that it is wiser to salvage what it has than to roll the dice again. In an interview with a Polish magazine, Kiciński highlights that the company is focused on its two franchises, The Witcher and Cyberpunk, and they "both have enormous potential," suggesting that it may not be the end of CD Projekt Red's time in Night City.
Cyberpunk 2077 has different endings depending on what choices players make. While this does give it a little extra replayability, it also makes releasing a direct sequel a little harder, as every player will have a different version of events. Consequently, while a Cyberpunk 2077 2 is unlikely, CD Projekt Red could still explore the Night City world in a new Cyberpunk game that does not serve as a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077.
Night City is bursting with personality; the neon-lit billboards, bustling streets and futuristic cars swerving by all make it an easy world to get immersed in. Having another go at the Cyberpunk IP would give gamers the chance to explore Night City once more, and CD Projekt Red would have the opportunity to fix many of the issues people complained about with Cyberpunk 2077. Most importantly, the developers would no longer be held back by last-gen consoles, allowing them to flesh out their ideas more fully while learning from past mistakes.
CD Projekt Red Needs to Focus on the Next The Witcher Game
With Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red made many mistakes that it likely does not want to repeat ever again, especially with a prized IP. The company has announced that it is working hard on the next entry in The Witcher series, and while no details have been given yet, anticipation is sky-high. It will take a flawless, well-polished product to win back the trust of gamers, and The Witcher 4 could be the title to do it.
It would be wise for CD Projekt Red to focus on the next Witcher game to ensure that it has a perfect launch, and that it exceeds the expectations of fans. If done correctly, the game could be a wonderful comeback story for the company. If not, it could be yet another nail in its coffin. Although CD Projekt Red is a large company, making modern AAA takes large teams, and it may decide that investing its resources in its tried and tested franchise is far better than attempting a sequel to a franchise that had a rocky beginning.
Cyberpunk 2077 came with a lot of lessons, both for gamers and for CD Projekt Red. Although the game was ultimately profitable for the company, there are reasons why it may decide to ditch the IP in favor of something new or to focus on the highly anticipated The Witcher game. If the company does decide to revisit Night City, however, the odds of a direct sequel seem low.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available now for Google Stadia, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.