CD Projekt Red has established a reputation of being one of the best AAA developers around — a reputation that came about with the launch of what is undoubtedly one of the best video games of all time, The Witcher 3. With the launch and subsequent expansion packs of this excellent game, CD Projekt Red has completely knocked it out of the park when it comes to showing other developers how to develop and sustain their titles. Their latest title, Cyberpunk 2077, is shaping up to be a landmark title in its own right, allowing gamers to experience an intriguing futuristic landscape where they can roleplay as a unique character and embark on missions that can be accomplished through a bevy of strategies and methods.
However, if the game seems too good to be true... then chances are that this might just be the case. While CD Projekt Red has been fairly transparent when it comes to the development of this title, fans still need to manage their expectations lest they end up disappointed with an end product that has been delayed. We've added a few more reasons to the following list as to why gamers should be simultaneously hyped...and worried about what the final vision of Cyberpunk 2077 will turn out to be.
Updated on December 10th, 2020 by Derek Draven: As mentioned above, there are a few more reasons why gamers should be excited for Cyberpunk 2077 and want to go grab it immediately, and why they should err on the side of caution before rushing out to buy it today. Any AAA triple runs the risk of alienating its fan base with a crushing letdown, so here's to hoping that CD Projekt Red brings their signature excellence to yet another game.
15 WORRIED: The Hype Machine
The very thing that has made gamers so excited for Cyberpunk 2077 may also turn out to be its Achilles Heel. Overabundance of hype can be detrimental to any AAA title that is put on so high a pedestal as to be unreachable in its final form. Expectations can soar well beyond what CD Projekt Red initially intended.
Of course, it may turn out that this worry was completely unfounded thanks to a game that knocks it right out of the park. However, gamers would be wise to temper their expectations and take hype with a grain of salt until the final product lands in their laps. Otherwise, the letdown could be severe.
14 HYPED: Mods, Mods, So Many Mods
PC gamers must be especially thrilled with the hype surrounding Cyberpunk 2077— especially those who love to mod their titles. If the game hits its projected fever pitch, mod authors will pour out of every nook and cranny to make new content for the game.
Expect ENBs and Reshades for days, not to mention texture upgrades, gameplay mods and expanded content. There's no telling how large the modding community will be for Cyberpunk 2077, but it's a safe bet that gamers will have plenty of reasons to play through it multiple times.
13 WORRIED: Stealing From Other Franchises
An oft-overlooked worry regarding Cyberpunk 2077 is its familiarity in comparison to other game franchises. Indeed, it's a hodgepodge of stuff gamers have seen before. It has the future tech-noir feel of Deus Ex, the tactical RPG gameplay of System Shock, and driving mechanics similar to Grand Theft Auto.
Story is going to have to take center stage if CD Projekt Red wants to distinguish the game from the competition. In its quest to be a jack-of-all-trades title, Cyberpunk 2077 might end up being a master of none. That could be problematic for gamers who are holding it up side-by-side against other titles it's creatively stealing from.
12 HYPED: A Potential Franchise In The Wings
It's highly possible that CD Projekt Red will turn Cyberpunk into a full-fledged franchise if this first outing is as massive a success as many are predicting. That will give the company two extremely popular IPs (the other being The Witcher) to build on.
Future installments of the franchise could see the story moving even further into the future, or perhaps a different world setting. If story balances well with open-ended freeform gameplay, Cyberpunk could take off in a very big way.
11 WORRIED: The Deus Ex Effect
Cyberpunk's closest spiritual competitor would undoubtedly be the Deus Ex series of games which took the genre over and ran with it for a solid two decades. However, with the lack of a Deus Ex sequel in the works, Cyberpunk 2077 is poised to take the mantle for itself.
That doesn't mean it can't fall victim to the same issues that plagued Deus Ex— namely its gameplay flaws. Both Human Revolution and Mankind Divided stuck to a very outdated formula, and if Cyberpunk 2077 goes the same way, that could spell trouble for gamers looking for a much more realistic play experience.
10 HYPED: The Game Seems Like A Technical Marvel
The reveal of Cyberpunk 2077's 50-minute gameplay showcased a lot of things, with one overarching statement being able to encompass all of the elements on display — the game looked like an incredible technical marvel in every sense of the word.
From the hustle-and-bustle of Night City to the branching questlines, there's no end to the sheer brilliance that was on display in what is perhaps the most awe-inspiring 50 minutes in gaming history.
9 WORRIED: A Downgrade Is Very Much Possible
Cyberpunk 2077's reveal definitely did look good — in fact, it looked so good that one can understandably be wary about how this demo will shape up as compared to the end product.
After all, even a game as beautiful as The Witcher 3 ended up facing somewhat of a downgrade upon release. While this wasn't enough to hamper the game's quality, it's still a situation that one needs to be wary of regardless.
8 HYPED: The Gameplay Looks Incredible
The combat and gameplay mechanics present in Cyberpunk 2077 looks incredible, allowing gamers to access a wealth of skills and abilities at their behest to wreak havoc, whether violently or otherwise.
From rebounding bullets off walls to exploring innovative hacking opportunities, there's no end of options available at your behest when it comes to tackling any given situation in the video game — or at least, that's what seems to be the case for now.
7 WORRIED: The Boss Fights Seem Somewhat Hamfisted
Cyberpunk 2077 shares some glaring similarities with the Deus Ex franchise, with Human Revolution even featuring somewhat of the same color palette as CD Projekt's upcoming title. However, Deus Ex: Human Revolution had one glaring problem that prevented it from being an excellent game — its boss fights.
While the major gripe with these forced encounters was that you couldn't proceed without being lethal against them — a problem that Cyberpunk 2077 definitely won't be facing — the hamfisted nature of these encounters is what makes their inclusion somewhat iffy.
6 HYPED: The Questing System From Witcher 3 Is Making A Return
Out of the numerous facets for which The Witcher 3 was lauded for, one of its shining jewels was definitely the questing system. This landmark title was one of the first AAA games to truly make their sidequests matter, with some of them rivaling the main quest's narrative in quality if not surpassing it altogether.
So, it wouldn't be all that unrealistic to expect that the same questing system might feature in Cyberpunk 2077 as well. If anything, the system might be even more refined and engrossing!
5 WORRIED: It's Possible That The Story Might Lose Focus
One of the things that The Witcher 3 had going for it was its protagonist. Geralt Of Rivia is one of the best characters around, and his presence adds all the more weight to the narrative of The Witcher 3.
With a protagonist that you're meant to project on, it's possible that the impact of the narrative might lighten as a result. The onus of forming a great story will fall solely on the narrative and not the character in such a situation, which can prove to be quite a hindrance.
4 HYPED: Genuinely Looks Like You Can Play Exactly The Character You Want
However, being able to project yourself onto your character doesn't sound bad at all — if anything, the sheer variety of playstyles available at your behest means that you can definitely choose to go all out and play the game exactly the way you see fit.
Do you want to exclusively identify as a Netrunner, Solo, or Techie? If not, then you can always opt for a mix of these classes to employ the playstyle that suits your fancy!
3 WORRIED: Minor Hiccups Already Noticeable In The Roleplaying Experience
However, not all is sunshine and roses when it comes to the roleplaying experience that CD Projekt Red is promising in Cyberpunk 2077. The mere fact that all cutscenes will play in first-person has already sent fans into an uproar, with their concern being that they won't be able to enjoy the looks of their custom character to the fullest.
While this issue might seem small and the outrage somewhat fabricated, one can't deny that this small problem might be part of a bigger picture where your roleplaying expectations might not be met as you'd hoped.
2 HYPED: The Delay Might Help Develop A More Polished And Nuanced Title
The biggest news around Cyberpunk 2077 right now is its delay, pushing the release date by 5 months to September 17, 2020. While this has generally upset fans, one needs to look at the bigger picture and realize the benefits that can arise from such an endeavor.
From polishing all the kinks to performing as much bug testing as possible during this time, it's clear that CD Projekt Red wants Cyberpunk 2077 to be the very best title they can possibly offer.
1 WORRIED: Bugs Can Severely Marr A Great Experience
However, regardless of how long the delay might be, the sheer scope of Night City implies that there's bound to be a few bugs and glitches upon launch that the developers have just not managed to kink out.
The Witcher 3 was delayed to remove bugs but still had some issues at launch, some of which were significant enough to leave a bad taste in the mouth of gamers who wanted an enjoyable experience without any bumps. To expect Cyberpunk 2077 to evade these problems would be quite unrealistic.