What Cyberpunk 2077's original release date was can be easy to forget for those who have been following the game's development closely, as its launch timing shifted so frequently it became difficult to remember which window had been the first. Developer CD Projekt Red's open-world action-RPG is now available and has already dealt with plenty of problems that far outstrip the series of delays which plagued the game prior to release, which eventually ended up happening on December 10, 2020.
The story of Cyberpunk 2077's development up until that point is one filled with grand ambition and the disappointment that comes without meeting all those lofty goals. Cyberpunk 2077 reviews proved that, even with its many launch flaws, the game is still an enjoyable experience at its core, but there's also been a sense of what could have been lingering over every gameplay glitch in Cyberpunk 2077 that gets made into a meme on Reddit. It's difficult to imagine just how the game would've looked if what Cyberpunk 2077's original release date was remained the date CD Projekt Red committed to, but fans can at least appreciate that the delays surely saved them from a nigh-unplayable experience otherwise.
For those interested in a little bit of history, however, what Cyberpunk 2077's original release date was is surprising not because of how distant it was from the game's eventual launch, but rather how close its proximity is to that final date. Cyberpunk 2077's original release date was April 16, 2020, which was announced during an E3 2019 trailer that also gave fans a much closer look at the experience that was waiting for them. Fans will also be interested to learn that Cyberpunk 2077's original release date was first announced by none other than Keanu Reeves during the E3 2019 Xbox Conference, who came on stage to announce both his own participation in the game's cast as Johnny Silverhand and the title's eagerly-awaited launch day.
Cyberpunk 2077's Original Release Date Vs. Its Actual Release Date: What Happened?
So why was Cyberpunk 2077's original release date pushed back until December 10, 2020? There are likely a few reasons, and plenty of more fans will never learn based on internal decisions at CD Projekt Red, but here's a rough timeline. Cyberpunk 2077's first delay came in January 2020, when CD Projekt Red stated that the game was fully playable but that the developer wanted the title to be the "crowning achievement for this generation." The game was pushed back to September 17, 2020, but six months later, CD Projekt Red announced on June 18, 2020 that another Cyberpunk 2077 delay was coming, once again stating that it was finished but that the company needed to "fix a lot of bugs."
That announcement saw the game delayed until November 19, 2020, and that date is infamous among fans for being the one that was unfortunately doubled down on by the official Cyberpunk 2077 Twitter just before the game's last delay was announced. On October 27, 2020, Cyberpunk 2077's original release date never felt so distant, as the game was once again moved, this time to the release date that would be its real launch day of December 10, 2020. In the statement, CD Projekt Red announced that it needs to "make sure everything works well and every version runs smoothly," which, given the numerous bug reports following console players getting their hands on Cyberpunk 2077, was only achieved on some platforms rather than all.