The Launch Disaster 🥲
When Cyberpunk 2077 dropped in December 2020, it was the most hyped game of the year—hell, probably the decade. But what we got was a trainwreck. The game was riddled with bugs, crashes, and performance issues. Last-gen consoles were basically unplayable. People were getting stuck in walls, NPCs would act like they were having a breakdown, cars would disappear... and that was just the beginning. The backlash was insane. Sony pulled it from the PlayStation Store, CD Projekt RED’s reputation took a nosedive, and it seemed like Cyberpunk 2077 was going to be remembered more for its failures than its potential.

The hype was there, but the delivery? Not so much. It was clear the game had a ton of promise, but it wasn’t even close to being ready.

The Road to Redemption 😎
Despite all the disaster, CD Projekt RED didn’t just walk away. They owned up to their mistakes, apologized, and promised to fix it. The team went full throttle, working on patches and fixes for months. Slowly but surely, the game improved. Cyberpunk 2077 wasn’t perfect right away, but with each update, it got better. Patch 1.5 in February 2022 was a big turning point—it fixed a lot of the glaring issues, and the game started feeling like something worth playing again. It didn’t hurt that the performance on next-gen consoles finally made the game look and run as it should have from the beginning.

Still, there was a long way to go. The game had potential, but it was clear CDPR had a lot of work ahead to fully deliver on it.

Then came Phantom Liberty in September 2023. This expansion didn’t just add a new chapter to the story it changed the game. Idris Elba joined the cast, bringing life to the new character, Solomon Reed, and the DLC expanded the narrative in a way that felt fresh and exciting. But it wasn’t just about the story. Phantom Liberty revamped core mechanics. The combat got better, the AI improved, and the police system was completely overhauled. It felt like the game was finally starting to hit the mark.

Cyberpunk 2077 Today 😲
Fast forward to now, and Cyberpunk 2077 is a completely different beast. The game that launched in 2020 feels like a distant memory. Night City is vibrant, alive, and fully realized in a way it never was before. The bugs are mostly gone, the performance is smooth, and the world is so much more immersive. Every corner of the city feels real, with bustling crowds, dynamic weather, and NPCs that feel like they’re living their own lives.

The updates have refined everything from the story to the side missions, to the combat. It's no longer just a flashy world with a cool premise; it’s a solid RPG with meaningful choices, a fantastic narrative, and real depth. There’s a sense of freedom that wasn’t there at launch, and the customization options have given players even more ways to shape their character. Whether you want to go full cyberpunk with implants or focus on good old-fashioned gunslinging, there’s a way to make V feel truly unique.

And the best part? The game finally feels like the experience we were promised in the first place. The flaws have been ironed out, the world is beautiful and functional, and the storyline is gripping. Cyberpunk 2077 is now a game you can get lost in for hours (like me lol), and it actually feels like it’s worth your time.

Final Verdict 💯
If you gave up on Cyberpunk 2077 when it first launched, now’s the time to come back. The game has undergone one hell of a transformation. The devs listened, fixed the issues, and created the game that should’ve been there from the start. With the latest updates and Phantom Liberty, Cyberpunk 2077 is finally the game we all wanted it to be.

It's one of the best RPGs you can play right now (in my opinion), and Night City is waiting for you.

🤖 9.5/10 – The Cyberpunk experience we were promised, and more! 🤖