When Cyberpunk 2077 launched in December 2020, expectations were astronomical. Hyped for nearly a decade, CD Projekt Red promised a revolutionary open-world RPG set in a neon-drenched dystopia that would redefine immersive storytelling. Instead, players were greeted with crashes, glitches, broken AI, and performance issues so severe that Sony removed the game from the PlayStation Store—a first in its history. The fallout was immediate: lawsuits, refunds, developer burnout, and a tarnished reputation for one of gaming’s most respected studios.
Yet, five years later, the narrative has shifted. With multiple major patches, free DLCs, and the upcoming standalone expansion Phantom Liberty, many are asking: Is Cyberpunk 2077 finally fixed? And more importantly, what went so wrong at launch?
The Perfect Storm: Why the Launch Failed
The failure of Cyberpunk 2077 at launch wasn’t due to a single mistake but a cascade of misjudgments, technical limitations, and corporate pressure. At its core, the game suffered from three critical issues: over-promising, under-delivering, and platform neglect.
CD Projekt Red spent years building anticipation through cinematic trailers, celebrity cameos (notably Keanu Reeves), and bold claims about player agency and world immersion. Marketing suggested a seamless, reactive world where choices had profound consequences—akin to their earlier success with The Witcher 3. But behind closed doors, development was chaotic.
“We were working on features that didn’t exist yet and showing them as if they were final.” — Anonymous CD Projekt Red Developer, via internal studio leak
Reports from former employees revealed a culture of “crunch,” with developers working 100-hour weeks in the months leading up to release. This unsustainable pace led to rushed coding, incomplete systems, and last-minute compromises. Features shown in demos—like dynamic traffic reactions or meaningful NPC interactions—were either simplified or scrapped entirely.
Technical Debt and Console Limitations
Perhaps the most damning issue was the game’s performance on last-generation consoles. While Cyberpunk 2077 ran acceptably on high-end PCs and newer PS5/Xbox Series X hardware, it was borderline unplayable on PS4 and Xbox One. Players reported frequent crashes, texture pop-ins, NPCs clipping through walls, and mission scripts failing to trigger.
This wasn’t unforeseen. Internal testing showed the game struggled on older hardware, but leadership pushed forward anyway, banking on post-launch patches to fix issues. That gamble failed spectacularly.
The Fallout: Reputational Damage and Financial Consequences
Sony’s unprecedented decision to pull Cyberpunk 2077 from the PlayStation Store forced a full refund policy and damaged trust between consumers and publishers. Share prices for CD Projekt dropped by over 30% within days. Class-action lawsuits followed, alleging misleading advertising.
Internally, morale plummeted. Key developers left the studio, including lead quest designer Patrick Mills and quest director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz. In a public letter, CEO Adam Kiciński admitted the launch was “below our standards” and apologized to fans, investors, and employees.
The damage wasn’t just financial—it was cultural. CD Projekt Red had built its brand on transparency and quality. The phrase “We are not jerks,” once a point of pride, became ironic shorthand for broken promises.
A Timeline of Recovery Efforts
Rebuilding trust required more than apologies. It demanded sustained action. Here’s how CD Projekt Red turned things around:
- January 2021: Released Patch 1.05, addressing over 500 bugs and improving stability.
- February 2021: Announced a two-year roadmap for fixes and updates, delaying new content until core systems were stable.
- June 2021: Launched Patch 1.23, significantly improving NPC behavior, vehicle handling, and quest logic.
- December 2022: Released Patch 1.6, which overhauled stealth mechanics, enemy AI, and weapon balancing—finally delivering features promised at launch.
- September 2023: Debuted Phantom Liberty, a spy-thriller expansion co-designed with narrative consultant Duncan Jones. Praised for tighter writing and improved gameplay, it marked a turning point in perception.
The studio also committed to transparency, publishing monthly developer blogs and hosting live Q&As. They even released a documentary-style video titled *The Making of Cyberpunk 2077*, acknowledging past mistakes without deflection.
Is Cyberpunk 2077 Fixed Now?
As of mid-2024, the answer is largely yes—but with caveats. On modern hardware (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S), Cyberpunk 2077 is a polished, visually stunning RPG with deep customization, compelling characters, and one of the most atmospheric worlds in gaming history.
The core issues that plagued the launch—game-breaking bugs, poor AI navigation, inconsistent physics—have been resolved through cumulative patches. Quests now progress reliably, dialogue trees function as intended, and fast-travel no longer teleports V into rooftops.
Performance Comparison Across Platforms
| Platform | Launch State (2020) | Current State (2024) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS4 / Xbox One | Frequent crashes, sub-15 FPS, broken quests | Playable with reduced settings; still limited by hardware | Not recommended |
| PC (Mid-tier) | Stuttering, texture issues, instability | Smooth 60+ FPS at high settings with latest drivers | Highly recommended |
| PS5 / Xbox Series X | Patchy performance, long load times | Near-native resolution, ray tracing, fast loading | Best experience |
Moreover, gameplay systems have evolved significantly. The combat overhaul in Patch 1.6 made shooting feel weighty and impactful. Melee combat, once clunky, now integrates fluidly with skill trees. Netrunning, initially shallow, was expanded into a fully-fledged hacking suite with dedicated missions.
“After patch 1.6, I started my second playthrough—and actually finished it. The game I’m playing now is nothing like the one I quit in 2020.” — Reddit user u/NightCityNomad, May 2023
Real Example: A Player’s Redemption Arc
Take Mark R., a longtime RPG fan from Chicago. He pre-ordered Cyberpunk 2077 the moment it was announced. On launch day, he booted it up on his PS4 Pro—only to encounter a crash during the prologue. After three failed attempts, he requested a refund.
Two years later, a friend convinced him to try the PS5 version. To his surprise, the game ran flawlessly. He immersed himself in side quests, explored Night City’s districts, and completed the main story in 40 hours. “It felt like a different game,” he said. “The characters had depth, the world reacted to me, and I didn’t see a single glitch.”
Mark isn’t alone. Steam reviews, once overwhelmingly negative, flipped to “Very Positive” in 2023. Metacritic user scores rose from 4.3 to 8.1. Even critics who panned the original release have revisited it favorably.
What Still Needs Work?
Despite progress, some limitations remain. The open world, while rich in detail, still suffers from repetitive side activities. Random encounters often boil down to “go here, kill these people,” lacking the narrative depth of main quests. Vehicle chases and driving mechanics, though improved, aren’t on par with dedicated racing titles.
Additionally, while Phantom Liberty raised the bar for storytelling, the base game’s ending remains divisive. Some players feel Johnny Silverhand’s arc overshadows V’s personal journey. There’s also no true “peaceful” playthrough—violence is almost always the default solution.
Checklist: Is Your Cyberpunk 2077 Ready to Play?
- ✅ Ensure you’re running the latest version (1.6 or higher)
- ✅ Use a next-gen console or PC with RTX 3060 / RX 6700 XT or better
- ✅ Install Phantom Liberty if interested in espionage-focused gameplay
- ✅ Disable resource-heavy mods if experiencing instability
- ✅ Back up saves regularly, especially before major updates
FAQ: Common Questions About Cyberpunk 2077 Today
Can I play Cyberpunk 2077 on PS4 or Xbox One now?
Technically yes, but not recommended. While patches improved stability, the hardware limitations of last-gen consoles prevent a smooth experience. You’ll face lower resolutions, longer load times, and occasional stutters. Upgrade to a newer system for the full vision.
Do I need to buy Phantom Liberty to enjoy the game?
No. The base game stands on its own and includes all post-launch fixes. However, Phantom Liberty adds ~20 hours of high-quality content, new endings, and gameplay upgrades like spy gadgets and enhanced facial animations. It’s considered essential by many fans.
Is CD Projekt Red trustworthy again?
Opinions vary. Their handling of Cyberpunk 2077’s recovery has been widely praised as a case study in accountability. They’ve since adopted a four-year development cycle for future titles and pledged to end crunch. Whether trust is fully restored depends on their next project—rumored to be a new IP, not The Witcher 4.
Conclusion: From Disaster to Redemption
Cyberpunk 2077 began as a cautionary tale about hype, ambition, and the perils of promising too much. But it has evolved into something rarer in gaming: a genuine redemption arc. Through relentless updates, humility, and a commitment to quality, CD Projekt Red transformed a broken release into a legitimate contender among the decade’s best RPGs.
The game isn’t perfect. It carries scars from its troubled birth. But for players willing to engage with it today—on the right hardware, with updated expectations—it offers an unparalleled blend of narrative depth, visual artistry, and mechanical refinement.
If you gave up on Night City in 2020, it’s worth another look. The city hasn’t changed, but the game has.
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