Cyberpunk 2077 Preview

Cyberpunk 2077 is an upcoming role-playing game developed by the same folks behind The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. However, this upcoming action RPG is a much more ambitious project, as CD Projekt Red has more resources to use thanks to the success of the last Witcher game. While some sites have reported a possible 2016 release date, the company has recently confirmed a 2017 (at the earliest) release window.

We first heard about Cyberpunk 2077 in May of 2012, and just this month they have confirmed the game is still in early development.

Setting and Gameplay

Set in a dystopian futuristic environment, Cyberpunk 2077 features a time where incredibly advanced technology exists alongside a degenerated human society. So far we know that it will feature a non-linear story, multiple character classes, and the ability to see in both first-person and third-person views.

You will play as your own custom character built from a class of your choice, and we’re expecting mercenaries and hackers to be featured as classes. They will both be able to equip cybernetic implants and weapons from what we’re expecting to be a large selection of gear.

Just like in “The Witcher” series, you will be faced with making morally ambiguous choices, and everything you do will influence the world around you.

There are will be multiple languages featured in the game, and some non-player characters are speaking in non-English languages, so you might not always understand them. However, you will be able to buy a translator implant to understand them.

The voice-acting is going to be authentic, and Sebastian Stępień has mentioned how you “can’t reliably recreate street slang of Los Angeles or some other American city; you can’t simply dub it and reproduce those emotions, rhythm of speech, mannerisms… Otherwise we’d simply hear that Polish actors are trying to imitate American. That won’t work.”

So CD Projekt Red is definitely taking this game very seriously, even claiming it to be “even better, even bigger, even more revolutionary” than The Witcher, which by the way, sold over 10 million copies.

Set in the metropolis of Night City, Cyberpunk 2077 is also expected to feature sandbox elements, although details are scarce for now.

An Ambitious Action RPG

In a recent interview with GI.biz, Iwinski from CD Projekt Red spoke on how they’re modeling their development studio after Rockstar Games, who have created the Grand Theft Auto series, as well as Red Dead Redemption… even if it takes them a long time to develop their games, but don’t disappoint once they’re released.

CD Projekt Red has made a wise choice to follow a similar path, and it really shows how the studio is more concerned with releasing awesome video games than it is making a quick buck.

Iwinski discussed this, saying “Yes, we deliver results, but we always explain to our investors that we have a long-term perspective. They shouldn’t expect us to annualise, or suddenly start releasing games just because there’s a business opportunity.”

Release Information

Cyberpunk 2077 isn’t expected to arrive in stores and for download until next year, and platforms have not been announced yet. It seems reasonable to expect a release on XBOX One, PS4 and PC – but it is possible Microsoft or Sony will try to make it an exclusive on their platforms, so only time will tell.