The launch of Cyberpunk 2077 was nothing short of a disaster, with the game being plagued by bugs, missing features, and facing a storm of online controversy. The reception of the base game was described as “absolutely crushing” by developers, particularly for those who had joined CD Projekt Red after the immense success of The Witcher 3. Pawel Sasko, the director of Cyberpunk 2 and Phantom Liberty, described the impact of the launch as devastating for the team, with many members feeling crushed by the negative feedback.
Following the tumultuous launch, the development team viewed the production of the Phantom Liberty expansion as a form of “group therapy.” The team, still reeling from the aftermath of the game’s release, used this opportunity to work through their issues and try to redeem themselves in the eyes of the players. Sasko highlighted the journey the team went through, with patches 1.2 and 1.3 serving as “stepping stones” towards improvement, but not significantly altering the public perception of the game.
It was the release of the Edgerunners 1.6 update alongside the Netflix anime series of the same name that truly turned things around for Cyberpunk 2077. According to Sasko, the anime served as a better introduction to the universe than the game itself, and combined with the previous updates, gave the team the motivation they needed to believe in the possibility of redemption. The positive feedback from players following the Edgerunners update signaled a significant shift in perception and provided the team with the confidence that they could indeed fix the game.
The culmination of the team’s efforts came with Cyberpunk 2077’s 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty expansion, which led to the game receiving an ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ review on Steam. This achievement validated the team’s belief that they could turn things around and restore the reputation of the game. Sasko reflected on the journey of the team, from the initial devastation of the launch to the eventual triumph of redemption, highlighting the resilience and dedication of the developers in overcoming the challenges they faced.
The story of Cyberpunk 2077’s redemption serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity. The team’s journey from the depths of a disastrous launch to the heights of critical acclaim demonstrates the importance of learning from failure and using it as a stepping stone towards success. Ultimately, Cyberpunk 2077’s road to redemption is a story of overcoming obstacles, believing in the possibility of change, and emerging stronger on the other side.
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