Alongside the release of the DLC expansion Phantom Liberty,Cyberpunk 2077is also getting Update 1.7, adding new features and retooling parts of the game that have needed work since launch. This means that players who are not planning on buying the expansion will still receive comprehensive changes to the core experience that makes it closer to the game it arguably should have been at launch.
Cyberpunk 2077has had something of a redemption arc for the past year, kicked off by the release of the 1.5 update which was not only a next-gen update but added an assortment of fixes and additional content in the form of things like purchasable apartments and new gigs. What recently helped the game and franchise explode into popularity was the release ofCyberpunk Edgerunners, a prequel anime that stole the hearts of most people who saw it. While Update 1.7 might not have as much new content as previous updates, it will fix some pretty core issues with the base game.
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What’s Probably in Cyberpunk 2077 Update 1.7
Not much has been confirmed about what will be inCyberpunk 2077’s Update 1.7, as it will likely be released in the run-up to Phantom Liberty’s launch, which is a ways off. What has been stated is thatcore systems inCyberpunk2077 will be overhauled. These potentially include drastic changes to AI and skill trees alongside the addition of vehicle combat, but nothing further was specified beyond some of these features being in the main game too.
There have been glimpses into what thenew skill tree inCyberpunk 2077will look like, showing a completely different layout for the skills that designates them into primary and secondary nodes with an ultimate down at the bottom. Based on what has been seen, this revamped skill tree will be far easier to navigate than before, allowing players to see their options easily.
Another feature that has been confirmed is adding morerisk to installing cyberware inCyberpunk 2077. In previous versions, players can install as much cyberware as they desire, but a feature likely to come in Update 1.7 restricts how much can be installed at a time. Players can still surpass this limit with a perk but at the cost of severe debuffs. It has not been stated if this will release at the same time as the 1.7 update, but given how big of a change it is, there is a high likelihood that it will.
What could be the biggest game-changer forCyberpunk 2077’s Update 1.7 is the overhauled AI. Although this part of the update has not been elaborated on, it can be a massive shift regarding the game’s pacing and difficulty. Two remaining parts ofCyberpunk 2077that face criticism are the low difficulty and AI’s low intelligence. Fixing the latter can help make the game feel more like a challenge when paired with the new restrictions on cyberware. Depending on how extensivechanges toCyberpunk’s AIare, it could lead to a more substantial crime system, as NCPD can be far more aggressive in pursuing the player while also deploying strategies to hinder escape.
Based on what has been said about the free update coming out around the launch of Phantom Liberty, fans have much to be excited about when returning to Night City. Given howcomprehensiveCyberpunk 2077’s patches can bewithout including new features, there is still a lot to fix in the game, but it does show how committed CD Projekt Red is at finally having the game that should have come out back in 2020.
Cyberpunk 2077is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Phantom Liberty releases September 26 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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