Cyberpunk 2077 is a year old, what's different?

Cyberpunk 2077's launch went down as one of the worst releases in modern video game history despite immense hype and anticipation from fans. However, in what can only be described as an utter nightmare, developers CD Projekt RED (CDPR) have somehow managed to turn things around, well... sort of.

Admittedly, it took nearly a year before the game reached a playable state after CDPR resolved many of the game-breaking bugs and glitches that embroiled it. Despite this, Cyberpunk 2077 still lacks many of the next-gen features promised pre-launch.

Furthermore, the developers indicated that they would not release further updates to Cyberpunk 2077 this year. Instead, they are working "intensively on the version for the latest generation of consoles," which is expected to release with a major update, Patch 1.5, early next year. Indeed, this statement sounds promising, but is it really?

Cyberpunk 2077 went from trash to playable

According to the developer's 2021 roadmap, Cyberpunk was intended to release three post-launch hotfixes. Then, starting in Q1 of 2021, CDPR was meant to release a series of patch updates and hotfixes to improve gameplay, in addition to free DLCs and next-gen console updates.

Of course, this timeline was grossly inaccurate, and the patch updates and hotfixes were significantly delayed. For example, the free DLCs were meant to arrive in Q1/Q2 of 2021, while the next-gen updates were slated for release in the following two quarters.

However, these, notwithstanding the more minor DLC updates released in August, were delayed or never materialised in the case of the next-gen update.

However, the latest roadmap suggests that the free DLC and next-gen update promised post-launch would arrive during the first quarter of next year; however, given their poor track record, fans are left somewhat sceptical, and we don't blame them.

Despite this, Cyberpunk 2077 has a primarily positive score on Steam, presumably due to new players unfamiliar with the botched launch discovering the game in its present, playable state. Indeed, this inspires some confidence for the game's future.

In a statement to a Polish news source, CDPR's CEO Adam Kiciński said, "We are proud of many aspects of the game, but - as we know - not everything went our way. [...]  We believe that in the long term, 'Cyberpunk 2077' will be perceived as a very good game and, like our other titles, it will sell for years."

Indeed, while CDPR is undoubtedly on the right trajectory, boasting a 74% positive review score on Steam, the question begs whether the upcoming next-gen update for consoles might inspire the same confidence. But we'll have to wait and see.

• Read more: Cyberpunk 2077 to get 'major update' alongside next-gen version in Q1 2022

For more Cyberpunk 2077 news, guides, and leaks, check out our dedicated Cyberpunk 2077 section.

Featured image courtesy of CD Projekt Red.