Summary
CD Projekt Red’sCyberpunk 2077was highly anticipated before its release, in part thanks to the hyping-up the studio indulged in. What was meant to be a futuristicGrand Theft Autoquickly turned into a source of scorn and mockery when the game was finally released.
Filled with bugs and unmet promises,Cyberpunk 2077had a very unceremonious release. This killed a good chunk of the good faith the studio had built with fans throughThe Witcherfranchise. Even though CDPR worked hard to rebuild the game’s image, theCyberpunksequel still has to earn trust, and there’s one great way that can be done.
Cyberpunk 2077’s Disastrous Launch
WhenCyberpunk 2077was released in December 2020, it was not what fans were expecting. The product was extremely buggy, running particularly badly on the PS4 and Xbox One, and multiple features that were promised were missing. The debacle was so bad,Sony removedCyberpunkfrom its storefrontas waves of gamers demanded refunds. Slowly but surely, CD Projekt Red worked on the game to bring it up to par, and it eventually made its way back to the PS Store, but there was still a lot of trust broken between gamers and the studio.
The launch served as a lesson that a bad release can ruin the credibility of a game and a studio, and that sometimes, a delay is the superior choice if a game hasn’t reached the level of performance it should. With the nextCyberpunkgame,CD Projekt Red has a huge task aheadof it to convince gamers that things are different this time, and this can be done through early access privileges.
There are a few theories surrounding why the launch was substandard. Some argue the game was rushed out so that it could be released during the holiday season to maximize sales. According to CD Projekt Red, it should have paid more attention to last-gen console performance, which it did not.
How Early Access Could Help Cyberpunk’s Sequel
The Polish studio needs to prove to fans that it can deliver apremium product on par withThe Witcherfrom day one. There’s no better way to do this than to allow early access. By letting gamers get a taste of the product, playing the unfinished game early in its last few months of development, CDPR can demonstrate that it is everything it was promised to be and that it won’t repeat the previous debacle.
Cyberpunk 2077’s launchwon’t be forgotten easily, which makes it essential that the studio does everything to regain the trust of its fans. Reviewers are useful in this regard, but sometimes experiencing something first-hand is the best way to judge its quality. Of course, this plan only works if the sequel is actually of good quality, or else it could backfire badly.
Is There a Cyberpunk Sequel on the Way?
The studio has announced that a sequel is in development.Codenamed Project Orion, the game will be developed on Unreal Engine 5. Outside of this, nothing is known regarding what to expect from CD Projekt Red’s next foray into the cyberpunk world.
Early access comes with its own risks, but that may be what CD Projekt Red requires to convince fans that the mistakes ofCyberpunk 2077won’t happen again. A little sneak peek via early access could do a world of good for Project Orion, even more so than rave reviews that come post-release.
Cyberpunk 2077
WHERE TO PLAY
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades.The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?
