CD Projekt Red was supposed to redefine the RPG genre withCyberpunk 2077, though that is not how anyone will remember the months leading to its launch nor its actual release. While the game had a lot to offer, it simply failed to deliver on multiple fronts. It was lacking a lot of what was promised, it was almost unplayable for most players, and it was a far cry from what CD Projekt Red fans had come to expect afterThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. While the studio has madeCyberpunk 2077a lot better, with Phantom Liberty redeeming much of this controversy, its launch will cast a long shadow over the burgeoning video game franchise.
Even with all that controversy, CD Projekt Red is hoping to kick off a brand-new franchise withtheCyberpunk 2077IP. Not only was the world further explored through Netflix’sCyberpunk: Edgerunners, but the studio is also working on a sequel. Nothing is known about this new project, as it is likely years away, but getting out from under that shadow (especially as details about the game emerge) would be hard for any franchise.
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Cyberpunk 2077’s Sequel Needs to Both Manage Expectations and Deliver on Them
CD Projekt Red had built up so much goodwill with players duringThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s lifespan. The game brought players on an incredible journey through a beautiful open world that is often heralded as one of the best in the industry. The studio was able to craft a fantastic ARPG that is still talked about to this day, and it was made even better by its two massive expansions. DLC is often a risky endeavor, but CD Projekt Red was able to craft new adventures worth the price of admission that gave players a reason to keep coming back for more.
It felt like CD Projekt Red could do no wrong, but then everything came crashing down withthe release ofCyberpunk 2077. The hype for the RPG was unreal, it would go on to be a massive success, but the game’s release did not go as expected, to say the least. Not only was the gameplay a bit lackluster, which would have been acceptable if that’s all it was, but the game was also filled with technical issues that made it impossible to play on many platforms. Things were so bad that PlayStation actually removed it from its storefront, which is incredibly, incredibly rare in this industry.
While CD Projekt Red has madeCyberpunk 2077playable after numerous updates, it is still a far cry from what players had wanted.Phantom Liberty promises to overhaul the game, and while there’s a lot of promise there, many are still understandably wary. Even with all this controversy, the studio is still going forward with moreCyberpunk 2077adventures, and that could prove extremely risky.
FutureCyberpunk 2077gameswill need to deliver a stellar RPG adventure, as well as shake off the immense controversy of the first one. The entire marketing campaign will be haunted by the failures of the first game, and players may be unwilling to buy into the title until it actually hits store shelves. CD Projekt Red’s fans have already been burnt once, being burnt twice is off the table. The nextCyberpunk 2077game is likely a ways off, but even the nextWitchergame will likely be affected by the failures ofCyberpunk 2077. The studio has used up the goodwill it garnered withThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and it may be a while before fans trust it again. Trust is hard-earned, but here’s hoping it manages to do that.
Cyberpunk 2077is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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