2022 has been a great year for Cyberpunk. Not only has the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime been a huge hit on Netflix since its September release, but Cyberpunk 2077 is now looking greater than ever. It has been a long journey to this stage since the horrific launch that saw it released before it was truly ready, but now it looks more like a finished product.
The Edgerunners update has finalized this rescue mission and saved Cyberpunk 2077 from its previous reputation. Players are now flocking to the game in their droves, whether new or returning. All eyes will now be on what's next for Cyberpunk 2077 and if this will be the end of their updates and fixes.
10 The Edgerunners Anime Is The Perfect Advertisement For The Game
The Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime has given Cyberpunk 2077 a new lease of life. The fact that they are both set in Night City means that the anime can reconnect with familiar concepts that the game initially introduced.
With the anime impressing upon its Netflix release in September 2022, it has not only encouraged new players to try out the game, but also those who had previously given up on it to return. Studio Trigger has done a stellar job bringing the chaos of Night City to another format with such vibrant and beautiful execution.
9 Cyberpunk 2077 Rewards Viewers Of The Anime With References & Easter Eggs
Not only has the anime encouraged more players to experience or return to Cyberpunk 2077, but it has also coincided with the new Edgerunners update for the game. While the update has brought numerous fixes to gameplay and general polish, it has also brought various Easter eggs and references to the anime. This relationship goes both ways, as the anime also includes several nods to the game.
Players can now don David Martinez's jacket or find other familiar secrets. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners may be a separate narrative from Cyberpunk 2077, but its popularity seeps over to the game and adds a newfound layer of immersion.
8 The Roach Race Arcade Game Has Taken On A Life Of Its Own
Sometimes it is the simple things in life that bring the most joy. The Edgerunners update has brought a lot of joy with its fixes and new equipment, but there is another new introduction that could well steal the spotlight. It may just be an arcade game, but Roach Race is a game within a game that can take hours of the player's time.
The arcade mini-game can be found in the Northside, Japantown, and The Glen apartments, and features the loyal horse Roach from the Witcher universe. The game has the simple premise of controlling Roach and avoiding obstacles, with the aim of getting a respectable score on the in-game leaderboard. Players can even win cash prizes. Roach Race has also been released on iOS and Android, making it accessible to even more players.
7 The 1.6 Patch Is Finishing Up What 1.5 Started
The Edgerunners update and 1.6 patch have essentially put the cherry on top of the other fixes that have been made to Cyberpunk 2077 throughout 2022. The previous 1.5 patch had made extensive changes and fixes, including making the game fit for the latest-gen consoles.
Everything else was just fixes and general polishing to make it feel like the excellent game it was always supposed to be. The Edgerunners update and the 1.6 patch have reaffirmed this by cleaning up anything previously missed or not fixed properly.
6 Gameplay Fixes & Improvements Have Helped This Resurrection Immeasurably
The 1.6 patch has fixed many additional aspects of Cyberpunk 2077. It has cleaned up the habits of NPCs, changing their reactions to certain events to be more realistic. This ranges from shooting aimlessly if knocked over while firing to simply giving an appropriate response when pushed.
Camera maneuverability has also been tweaked, but the main highlights from a fixed gameplay perspective come from all the glitches and issues being smoothed over. Players just want a clean experience where all their brainpower and focus can be committed to a game as intended without having to worry about unexpected errors getting in the way.
5 New Weapons Are Always Welcome
The update also introduces several new weapons of varying classes to bolster an already-impressive selection. Players can pick up a Hypercritical Iconic Precision Rifle from one of the new gigs or seek out the new VST-37 power shotgun for more close-quarters situations.
In addition to the six new firearms, the update also brings five new melee weapons. The Cut-O-Matic chainsword is the pick of the bunch, but players can also pick up a new axe, machete, or two variants of the knife. New weapons and items are expected with any additional content, but it doesn't make the addition of these Edgerunners weapons any less exciting.
4 Three New Gigs Introduce Even More Action & Chaos
This update brings three new gigs for V to get stuck into. The fixer El Capitan will introduce the player to "Desperate Measures," a thievery job in Arroyo, which is also the location for Rogue's "Nasty Hangover" search and recovery job. Regina provides the third gig, "Concrete Cage Trap," where V will need to go and extract one of her guys from a sticky situation.
These gigs are standard additions at face value, but additional content that doesn't just rely on players entertaining themselves is always welcome. The hope is that more gigs will now follow at a steady rate.
3 Next Gen Players Get To Experience More Secrets Than Ever
In addition to the new gigs, players can discover more secrets dotted around Night City than ever before. Some of these are related to the Edgerunners anime, but more secrets, in general, give more motivation to explore this expansive city.
However, the patch notes specify that, unfortunately, these secrets will not be applied to the previous console versions on PS4 or Xbox One. While this will be tough news for some players to take, this is all in a bid to cut out bugs and glitches, with the game always stating its intentions to favor the newer consoles eventually. The lack of these secrets will only be a minor loss to those who miss out, but will be a fun bonus to those fortunate enough to have them.
2 Cross Progression Brings A New Ease & Flexibility To Playthroughs
The technological advancements of the last decade have done wonders for the video game industry and general accessibility. Cross-progression is one of many concepts that help to shape a player's gaming experience as they want. Cyberpunk 2077 now enables cross-progression, meaning that saved files can be transferred from PC to console, between PCs, and consoles.
While there are still restrictions that prevent full flexibility, what has been introduced cannot be taken for granted. Cyberpunk 2077 needed several fixes that turned original players off. While cross-progression wasn't necessarily high on that list, its existence now helps towards the new look of Cyberpunk 2077.
1 Clothing & Customization Are Now On A Whole New Level
It may not be a crucial part of the game for everyone, but many like their characters to look good while running around. The Edgerunners update has put a lot of time and focus into changing how outfits are obtained and put together. Players can now preview clothes before buying them, which should have been in the game since day one.
Another addition is outfit presets. Players can now mash together their choice of clothes into one outfit, making it easily accessible from a wardrobe. Crucially, changing these mashups no longer affects the player's armor stats, which had been a common complaint before. Customizing V has also been changed. V's hairstyle can still be altered when interacting with a mirror, but they will now need to travel to Ripperdoc clinics for face and body modifications. This is just another realistic adjustment that makes for a more immersive experience.