What has been detailed regardingCyberpunk 2077’s first and only planned expansion shows CD Projekt Red going well above and beyond what fans were anticipating with its release. Perhaps even more exciting than the additional story content and the new district to explore is the fine-tuning and overhauling of nearly every one ofCyberpunk 2077’s core systems and features, hopefully bringing it in line with the expectations players had for the game before its catastrophic launch in late 2020.
The release datetrailer for Phantom Libertypreceded a more in-depth look at the 2023 Xbox Games Showcase. What dazzled fans even more than the Dogtown district of Night City and the tale of corporate espionage headlined by Idris Elba was CD Projekt Red’s wide-reaching rennovations forCyberpunk 2077. Every single facet of the game in its original incarnation is receiving some much-needed upkeep up to and including complete reworks. Given the studio’s recent earnest admission that it needs to fix the relationship with its fans, Phantom Liberty seems to be the beachhead in that pursuit.
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Cyberpunk 2077 Has Been Polished, But Still Needs That Fresh Coat of Paint
Approaching three years since its initial launch, with a series of patches and small content updates,the allure of replayingCyberpunk 2077is high, especially with its uptick in relevance with the marketing campaign for Phantom Liberty and the critically laudedCyberpunk Edgerunnersseries on Netflix. The game is in a much better place than it was at launch, with the next-gen upgrade patch 1.5 thought by many to be its turning point, as the most egregious bugs were squashed and some added quality-of-life features bolstered the game’s quality.
For all intents and purposes, however, the game is stilltheCyberpunk 2077that debuted in 2020: a captivating narrative let down by the shallow depth of its RPG elements and the dissonant lifelessness of Night City. It has absolutely received a commendable face-lift since its initial release, but is still hampered by core immersion-breaking issues. Police AI and pathing is still wonky as ever, pedestrian pathing routines are overtly simplistic, and progression is still mired in useless perks and half-baked concepts. Its graphics are near-unparalleled, especially since its DLSS 3 update, but Night City remains a visual feast of empty calories.
Phantom Liberty Is Way More Than Just an Expansion
For those looking to dive intoCyberpunk 2077, whether for the first time or the fifth, it is hard to recommend any path but that of holding off until the September 26 release date of Phantom Liberty. The three life paths players can choose give the game some degree of replayability, but beyond the game’s first act, they really do not have much impact of variance onthe story ofCyberpunk 2077. For those who are interested in just how much the game will be transforming with Phantom Liberty, it might be worthwhile to start a playthrough ahead of its release, as a sort of before-and-after snapshot of the game. Otherwise, there is not much sense in playing what will likely be a far inferior version of the same product.
Despite being rough around the edges and far less than the product that was advertised prior to release,Cyberpunk 2077was a game worthy of player’s time and had some incredible highs to match its underwhelming lows. The prevailing theory is that the game needed a few more years in the oven, but already pressed from multiple delays, was rushed out the door undercooked. Phantom Liberty, by all accounts, appears to be the finishing touches the game desperately needed to live up toCD Projekt Red’s sublime pedigree, and for those looking to explore the game for the first time - or give it another go after being let down in 2020 - September 26 is a date to mark on the calendar.
Cyberpunk 2077is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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