CD Projekt RED; PC, PS5, Xbox
The stylish RPG has undergone a radical transformation, and the expansion starring Idris Elba makes the best of the game’s new features
Like a Night City gangster after a botched cyberware installation, Cyberpunk 2077 emerged from development as a half-finished pariah. When it was released in the dismal winter of 2020, the game’s stunning virtual metropolis and cinematic storytelling were spoiled by its fundamental inability to satisfy as an RPG. Its open world lacked dynamism and didn’t reward exploration. Its progression systems were tedious and uninspired. It had more bugs than a dead Netrunner. The PlayStation 4 version barely worked at all.
Given that Polish developer CD Projekt RED built one of the best games in existence with The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk was a comparative disappointment and the studio took a reputational pounding. Yet CD Projekt was known for improving its games post-release and in this regard, we were assured, Cyberpunk would be no different.
About Author
More Stories
The anxiety secret: how the world’s leading life coach stopped living in fear
Memo to Trump: US telecoms is vulnerable to hackers. Please hang up and try again | John Naughton
How to deal with Zoom calls in 2025: in smaller groups with static backgrounds