While the games industry has mostly moved on, CD Projekt Red remains at work fixing the many issues that plague Cyberpunk 2077. Even if it manages to address all of Cyberpunk's problems, the game's future is uncertain. Still, there's a possibility for at least partial redemption in Cyberpunk 2077's upcoming "next-gen" version on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
The trials and tribulations of Cyberpunk 2077 are well known. Prior to launch, it was one of the most anticipated video games ever. While, realistically, it could never have lived up to those expectations, Cyberpunk's launch was nothing short of catastrophic. The game hardly functioned on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and playing it via backward compatibility on PS5 or Series X wasn't much better. Even those who managed to play through the litany of bugs and crashes found a game not as deep as was promised.
The widespread issues with Cyberpunk 2077 led to many costly refunds, but CD Projekt Red doubled down, promising to fix its game. Looking past its many problems, there's some substance in Cyberpunk. The voice acting, animations, and world design are phenomenal. Large chunks of its storytelling are compelling, and the combat provides a decent amount of variety in playstyles. If the current-gen console rerelease is solid, CD Projekt Red could turn Cyberpunk 2077 into something admirable.
Cyberpunk 2077 Can't Rush Its PS5, Xbox Series X Versions
CD Projekt Red has been squashing bugs with fairly regular Cyberpunk 2077 patches since it released, but it was clear at launch that the game is just too big to reach its full potential on PS4 and Xbox One hardware. This isn't to say the developer should abandon the last-gen versions; CD Projekt Red arguably has an obligation to at least make Cyberpunk operate serviceably on the old hardware. Even if it results in empty Night City streets or lackluster lighting, the game should still be playable.
If there's one lesson to be learned from the controversial launch, it's that the current-gen version of Cyberpunk should only be released when it's good and ready. Cyberpunk's upgrade still has no release date, and VGC reports it won't be ready by the end of the year. Quotes from CDPR employees about lessons learned in the last year are promising, but the marketing leading up to the game's initial release was promising, too. The only way CDPR can fully make up for the broken launch is releasing an unbroken version of Cyberpunk 2077, and the best time to do that would be with the quasi-reset of the new console versions.
Simply a game that doesn't crash constantly would be a step up, but Cyberpunk 2077 could still use a lot of work, namely in regards to its AI. NPC drivers, police, and enemies are woefully braindead, and making improvements is probably the only way a rerelease will get anything other than a lukewarm reception. The handling of CD Projekt Red's developer crunch can't be rectified, but - along with better internal policies - a strong rerelease of Cyberpunk 2077 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S could help the developer move past its most infamous chapter.
Source: Video Game Chronicle