Cyberpunk 2077’s Redemption Story: From 2020 Launch Disaster to 2025’s Final Update
When Cyberpunk 2077 launched on December 10, 2020, it was supposed to be the next big revolution in open-world gaming. Instead, it became one of the industry’s most infamous launches, riddled with bugs, performance issues, and missing features—especially on last-gen consoles like PS4 and Xbox One.
But CD Projekt RED (CDPR) didn’t abandon the game. Over the next few years, through relentless patches, free updates, and a massive paid expansion, Cyberpunk 2077 transformed into a true RPG masterpiece. The journey from broken to brilliant is one of the greatest comebacks in gaming history.
December 2020: The Troubled Launch
Despite years of hype, Cyberpunk 2077’s initial release was plagued with problems:
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Crashes and severe frame rate drops on PS4/Xbox One.
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Bugs ranging from funny glitches to game-breaking issues.
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Missing features that were promised in pre-launch trailers.
The backlash was severe, leading CDPR to offer full refunds and temporarily pull the game from the PlayStation Store. The company's stock also took a major hit.
2021-2022: The Patch Years — Slow But Steady Fixes
Throughout 2021, CD Projekt released several hotfixes and patches (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) addressing stability and bug fixes. However, the game still felt incomplete to many players.
In February 2022, the Next-Gen Update (Patch 1.5) launched for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, bringing:
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Ray-traced shadows.
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60 FPS performance mode.
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Improved NPC AI.
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Apartment customization.
This was the point where players started noticing Cyberpunk 2077 evolving into the game it was meant to be.
Phantom Liberty: The Turning Point (September 26, 2023)
CDPR took a bold step by developing a massive paid expansion, Phantom Liberty, which essentially served as a soft reboot for the game. This expansion introduced:
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A brand-new district, Dogtown, with fresh side quests.
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Idris Elba as a new key character, Solomon Reed.
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Revamped vehicle combat.
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A complete overhaul of the police system and AI behaviors.
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New cyberware mechanics and redesigned skill trees.
Phantom Liberty wasn’t just DLC; it redefined the core gameplay experience. Alongside the expansion, Update 2.0 was released as a free update, which revamped much of the game’s core systems for all players.
December 2023: Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.1 — The Final Touches
CDPR surprised fans with Update 2.1 in December 2023, which brought several long-requested features:
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Fully functional Metro System (NCART) for immersive fast travel.
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Partner hangouts — allowing players to spend time with romanceable characters after the main story.
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Boss fight improvements and quality of life upgrades.
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Improved bike physics and vehicle chases.
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Additional accessibility options.
This update was seen by many as CD Projekt's final polish pass, transforming Cyberpunk 2077 into a truly complete product, fulfilling promises that had been left hanging since launch.
2024-2025: CD Projekt Moves On, But Cyberpunk's Legacy Remains
While CDPR confirmed that Update 2.1 would be the last major update for Cyberpunk 2077, they also announced that a Cyberpunk sequel (codenamed Project Orion) is in early pre-production, planned to be built on Unreal Engine 5.
Cyberpunk 2077 is now widely regarded as a prime example of a studio's dedication to redemption, much like No Man’s Sky and Final Fantasy XIV before it.
As of 2025, Cyberpunk has sold over 25 million copies worldwide, and its once-tainted reputation has shifted to that of a beloved, albeit hard-earned, classic.
