CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 has been topping news headlines consistently, but unfortunately not for all the right reasons. Following a years-long wait riddled with delays, Cyberpunk 2077 released in an unplayable state for many. The situation worsened to the point that Sony had to pull the game off of its PlayStation Store on account of a plethora of bugs and glitches.
In the months following the game's launch, CD Projekt Red has continually been working on updates across all platforms to alleviate reported issues. After a number of sizable updates and hotfixes, the game has returned to Sony's storefront - with warnings. That likely leaves some wondering whether now is a good time for players to finally pick Cyberpunk 2077 back up.
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Among the handful of platforms on which Cyberpunk 2077 released, PS4 and Xbox One fared the worst. Launch day was filled with reports of performance that reached single digits, along with what seemed to be an onslaught of bugs and glitches rendering the game unplayable. According to CD Projekt Red, Cyberpunk 2077 had issues with data not streaming fast enough on these platforms, leading to extensive work down the line.
As of this writing, Cyberpunk 2077 running on a base PS4 or Xbox One at Patch 1.23 is certainly an improvement over the original state, but is only just on the verge of being playable. The framerates aren't steady and asset streaming is still a glaring issue at times, with characters and environments loading much later than they should. Fans who already own the game for these platforms are welcome to give it another shot, but it's still best to wait a little longer to purchase it if they haven't.
At launch, Cyberpunk 2077 also suffered from performance issues on these upgraded last-gen consoles. While it did fare better than base versions of these machines, bugs and glitches still made it an unpleasant experience. However, the game seems to be in much better shape thanks to the continued support.
With the latest patch installed on both these machines, Cyberpunk 2077 does hold its target of 30 FPS more comfortably than on base versions. That's not to say there aren't any drops in performance, but it's arguably a more playable experience across the board. There's still a way to go, but fans on the verge of buying Cyberpunk 2077 with the intent of playing on either PS4 Pro or Xbox One X can likely pull the trigger now.
Next-gen versions of Cyberpunk 2077 are still on the way, but these platforms do provide the best avenue for playing. Cyberpunk 2077 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S is currently the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X version running via backward compatibility, with a few new bells and whistles. Most importantly, the frame rate is bumped to a target of 60 FPS.
The game holds its target well enough on these next-gen machines, with minimal frame rate drops and pop-in. Cyberpunk 2077's updated roadmap suggests dedicated next-gen versions may be pushed to next year, so fans willing to invest in the game for these platforms should keep their expectations in check.
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PC is inarguably the best platform to play Cyberpunk 2077. The game does require some serious horsepower to run smoothly, but avenues for customizing visuals to balance fidelity and framerate are unparalleled. Ray-tracing features, high framerates, and DLSS 2.0 support are a few other aspects that make the PC platform a lot more flexible and superior.
While Google Stadia itself seems to be heading in a spiral descent, the platform is a viable option for fans wanting to experience Cyberpunk 2077. Stadia reportedly fared the worst when it comes to Cyberpunk 2077 sales, but triumphs in terms of performance. Much like how it is to play Cyberpunk 2077 on a high-end PC or a next-gen console, Stadia provides great performance and visual fidelity. A lot of it is dependent on the player's network stability and quality, but it is a notable option for interested fans.
Following the controversies surrounding the game at launch, many fans started raising questions about the game's overall quality. Whether the bugs, glitches, and performance issues are reflective of the game's quality is a debate of its own, but it's hard to argue with the merits of Cyberpunk 2077.
Despite many technical hiccups, Cyberpunk 2077 paints a picture of a truly dystopic future in Night City. A bevy of interesting characters compels players to form meaningful relationships, as they fight and explore all of what Night City has to offer.
Cyberpunk 2077 is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions scheduled to release in 2021.