What Happened to Cyberpunk 2077 (Video Game)?
Cyberpunk 2077, an ambitious open-world RPG, launched in December 2020 to widespread criticism for its numerous bugs and poor performance on last-gen consoles, leading to its temporary removal from the PlayStation Store. Through years of dedicated patches, major updates like 2.0, and the critically acclaimed Phantom Liberty expansion, CD Projekt Red successfully redeemed the game, transforming it into a highly regarded title that has sold over 40 million copies by July 2026. The franchise continues to expand with a successful anime series, recent game collaborations, and a confirmed sequel, 'Cyberpunk 2' (Project Orion), currently in pre-production.
Quick Answer
Cyberpunk 2077 experienced a notoriously troubled launch in December 2020 due to significant technical issues, especially on older consoles. Developer CD Projekt Red committed to a major turnaround, releasing numerous patches, a comprehensive 2.0 update, and the successful Phantom Liberty expansion in 2023, which drastically improved the game's stability and critical reception. By July 2026, the game had sold 40 million copies, cemented its redemption, and expanded its universe with the 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' anime and recent collaborations, while a sequel, 'Cyberpunk 2', is now in pre-production.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Initial Release and Troubled Launch
Cyberpunk 2077 is released to widespread criticism for numerous bugs, performance issues, especially on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and missing features.
Removed from PlayStation Store
Sony removes Cyberpunk 2077 from the PlayStation Store due to its poor performance and offers full refunds, an unprecedented move for a major title.
Initial Lawsuit Settlement Announced
CD Projekt announces its intention to settle investor lawsuits regarding the game's launch for $1.85 million.
Next-Generation Update (Patch 1.5) Released
A major update is released, optimizing the game for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S with graphical improvements, faster loading times, and ray tracing.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Anime Premieres
The standalone anime series 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' premieres on Netflix to critical acclaim, significantly boosting the game's sales and player count.
Update 2.0 Released
A massive free update overhauls core game systems, including perks, cyberware, vehicle combat, and AI, laying the groundwork for the upcoming expansion.
Phantom Liberty Expansion Released
The highly anticipated spy-thriller expansion, featuring Idris Elba, is released for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, receiving critical acclaim.
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition Launches
The Ultimate Edition, bundling the base game, all updates, and the Phantom Liberty expansion, is released digitally and physically.
Patch 2.12 Released
A minor patch is rolled out for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, focusing on fixing issues experienced after Patch 2.11, including key bindings and various bugs.
Sequel 'Cyberpunk 2' Enters Pre-Production
CD Projekt Red announces that the sequel, previously codenamed 'Project Orion,' has officially entered the pre-production phase and is now internally referred to as 'Cyberpunk 2'.
40 Million Copies Sold Milestone
Cyberpunk 2077 officially reaches a new sales milestone, having sold 40 million copies worldwide, highlighting its successful redemption.
Apex Legends Collaboration Announced
CD Projekt Red announces a crossover event with 'Apex Legends,' bringing Cyberpunk 2077 and Edgerunners-themed skins, a new map, and cyberware mods to the battle royale game, launching July 14.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 Anime Release
A standalone sequel series to the acclaimed 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' anime, 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2,' is set to be released on Netflix, featuring a new story and characters.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Cyberpunk 2077, developed by CD Projekt Red, was one of the most anticipated video games of its generation, building immense hype over nearly a decade. However, its release on December 10, 2020, was met with widespread disappointment and controversy. The game was plagued by severe performance issues, numerous bugs, and glitches, particularly on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, rendering it 'virtually unplayable' for many players. This led to an unprecedented move by Sony, which removed the game from the PlayStation Store, and CD Projekt Red offered refunds.
The initial backlash was a significant blow to CD Projekt Red's reputation, previously lauded for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Investor lawsuits were filed, alleging the company misled them about the game's state. These class-action lawsuits were eventually settled for $1.85 million, with final approval in November 2023.
In the years following its disastrous launch, CD Projekt Red embarked on an extensive redemption arc. They released numerous patches and updates aimed at fixing bugs and improving performance. A significant turning point came with the next-generation update (Patch 1.5) in February 2022, which optimized the game for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, introducing features like ray tracing, faster loading times, and visual enhancements.
The game's resurgence was further bolstered by the release of the critically acclaimed Netflix anime series, 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners,' in September 2022. The anime's success led to a significant increase in Cyberpunk 2077's sales and player count, drawing new audiences into Night City.
The culmination of these efforts arrived with Update 2.0 in September 2023, a massive overhaul that revamped core game systems, including the perk system, cyberware, vehicle combat, and enemy AI. This was followed shortly by the release of the 'Phantom Liberty' expansion on September 26, 2023. This spy-thriller DLC introduced a new district, Dogtown, new characters (including Idris Elba as Solomon Reed), and a fresh storyline, receiving widespread critical acclaim. The 'Ultimate Edition,' bundling the base game and expansion, was released on December 5, 2023.
As of July 3, 2026, Cyberpunk 2077 has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, marking a remarkable commercial and critical comeback. The franchise continues to expand, with 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2' anime slated for Q4 2026. CD Projekt Red also announced a collaboration with 'Apex Legends' in July 2026, introducing Cyberpunk-themed content. Looking to the future, a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, codenamed 'Project Orion' and now referred to as 'Cyberpunk 2,' entered pre-production in May 2025 and is being developed on Unreal Engine 5, with a new setting described as 'Chicago gone wrong.' The game's journey from a heavily criticized launch to a celebrated title is a testament to persistent post-release support and strategic franchise expansion.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Cyberpunk 2077 (Video Game) made different choices?