CD Projekt Red Thinks Cyberpunk 2077’s Terrible Launch Made It a Better Game

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CD Projekt Red believes that the significant criticism Cyberpunk 2077 faced upon release ultimately led to it becoming a stronger game overall. Rooted in the classic tabletop RPG series of the same name and boasting an impressive roster of well-known talents, such as Keanu Reeves playing the rebellious rockstar Johnny Silverhand, Cyberpunk 2077 generated enormous anticipation throughout its extended development phase and the buildup to its 2020 release. This excitement was fueled in part by CD Projekt Red’s positive reputation from their successful Witcher series.

The troubles that arose during the release of Cyberpunk 2077 made it stand out more significantly. Upon its console debut, the game encountered numerous issues causing game-halts, along with missing features as advertised. This led to intense backlash, even prompting platforms like the Xbox store to offer refunds temporarily. However, it took a few years of updates and additional content, such as DLC story expansions, for Cyberpunk 2077 to finally shed its negative image.

Charles Tremblay, senior VP of technology at CD Project Red, reflects on the initial release of Cyberpunk 2077 and suggests that the backlash may have ultimately benefited the game. In a conversation with The Mirror, he explained that while the negative reception the studio faced when the game first launched remains a difficult memory, it motivated them to pour more effort into resolving the numerous problems, eventually leading to a much improved final product compared to what might have been without the initial criticism. “In hindsight, if Cyberpunk 2077 had achieved the success we initially anticipated, would it be the same game we’re playing today? I don’t think so.

CDPR Credits Initial Player Reactions For Cyberpunk 2077’s Improvements

Previously discussed, it required numerous years and significant update packages to make Cyberpunk 2077 more aligned with CDPR’s initial player promises by addressing major technical problems and incorporating some missing features from its launch. The year 2023 marked the debut of Phantom Liberty, the first and currently only story-driven DLC expansion for Cyberpunk 2077, where the character V embarked on a mission to save the President of the New United States, delving deep into Dogtown’s shady underworld.

Reflecting on it from a different angle, one might wonder: If Cyberpunk 2077 had met our initial expectations, would it still be the game we’re currently playing? I’m inclined to say no.

Currently, CD Projekt Red is channeling their energies towards potential sequels for Cyberpunk 2077, a shift that may have been facilitated by the significant work they undertook to rectify issues with the initial release. Details about “Project Orion” remain scant, but it’s speculated that it could be set in a dystopian version of a city resembling Chicago. In addition, CD Projekt Red is collaborating with Netflix on another installment following the success of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, the 2022 anime series which significantly impacted the public’s view of Cyberpunk 2077, much like its post-launch content.

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2025-07-29 23:19