Cyberpunk 2077 came out in December 2020 – almost a year and a half ago – and while it may have been saddled with cumbersome bugs, unfinished concepts, performance issues on old consoles, and burdened with living up to impossible expectations, one thing about the game did not falter in its presentation and execution: the visuals. Cyberpunk 2077 was a visual treat and arguably remains so even today.
Though Cyberpunk 2077's graphics at release were easily comparable with the very best gaming could offer at the time, one has to wonder if the hardware limitations of the old generation of consoles put the developers from CD Projekt Red in a situation where they had to compromise on their original vision for the streets of Night City. With the launch of Unreal Engine 5 and all the technological marvels it possesses, all it takes is one resourceful and diligent fan to offer a glimpse into what the game could have looked like in an ideal world.
Saher Tarek – a senior lighting and look development artist from Egypt – did just that. Using Unreal Engine 5, art assets from the Unreal Engine Marketplace, CG Trader, and Kitbash 3D, Tarek recreated Night City to results that echo the sentiment once famously spoken by Keanu Reeves in 2019: "breathtaking." The brief YouTube video of a character walking down the streets of this reimagined Night City is a delight to watch and serves to show just how far video game graphics have come in the span of the past decade or so.
While Cyberpunk 2077 was developed on REDengine 4, this may not be the case for its potential sequel due to the fact that the next Witcher is being built in Unreal Engine 5. There is very little doubt that Epic Games has established a new standard, as more and more developers flock to use the engine's groundbreaking technology.
How CD Projekt Red will make the most of Unreal Engine 5's potential for movie-quality visuals remains to be seen, but that should do little to prevent players from still enjoying Cyberpunk 2077 and its recent next-gen update. As a result of the post-launch support the game received, most of the bugs and shortcomings Cyberpunk 2077 suffered on release have been fixed, and the game stands tall with its captivating narrative, fun gunplay, and immersive atmosphere. As for new content set in the dark future, players can look forward to a new expansion for Cyberpunk 2077 in 2023.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.