CD Projekt says the ‘full-blown, next-gen’ Cyberpunk 2077 won’t be a launch game

CD Projekt intends to release a “proper, full-blown next-gen version” of Cyberpunk 2077 – but it won’t be an Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 launch game.

In February the company confirmed its support for the Xbox Series X cross-buy scheme, Smart Delivery, which lets players buy a game once and play it across multiple Xbox generations.

“Gamers should never be forced to purchase the same game twice or pay for upgrades,” the Cyberpunk 2077 Twitter account said at the time. “Owners of #Cyberpunk2077 for Xbox One will receive the Xbox Series X upgrade for free when available.”

However, speaking during an earnings call this week, CD Projekt SVP of business development Michal Nowakowski suggested that a separate, significantly enhanced version of the game will also be released for next-gen consoles, but that it won’t be a launch title for Xbox Series X and PS5.

UPDATE, APRIL 10: A CD Projekt Red spokesperson has clarified that the “full-blown next-gen version” Nowakowski referred to is the previously announced Xbox Series X upgrade.

UPDATE, JUNE 18: The Cyberpunk 2077 release date has been delayed again, by two months to November 19, while the company intends to release the “robust update for next-gen” in 2021 – and it will be free for both Xbox One and PS4 owners of the game.

ORIGINAL STORY CONTINUES: During a Q&A session, CD Projekt was asked whether Cyberpunk 2077 “will be immediately available” on the new consoles or if the company will take some time to finish the next-gen version after the hardware launches.

“In terms of Microsoft’s console, like I said, we have officially confirmed both the update and the cross-gen availability, meaning that you’ll be able to play the game from the get-go on the next-gen,” Nowakowski said.

“However, when it comes to a proper, full-blown next-gen version, that’s going to come later, we haven’t announced when and I don’t have a new comment here on that.

“But a patch will be available to everybody who purchases the Xbox One version here and now from the get-go, once that update is live they’ll be able to download that free of charge. That’s the announcement we have officially made and again, I cannot really comment on the policies of the first parties before they officially announce them.”

“There’s no official announcement coming from PlayStation so we really can’t confirm or deny anything,” he added. “It’s PlayStation that first needs to address these issues and then we’re happy to make a comment, but we can’t jump the gun ahead of them.”

During the earnings call, Nowakowski also reiterated that CD Projekt feels “comfortable” it’s on track to hit the game’s September release date.

However, working from home and the closure of recording studios due to the coronavirus pandemic has held up the localisation process, meaning some voice work might have to be added to Cyberpunk 2077 in a launch day patch.

Original story continues: Cyberpunk 2077 DLC and story expansions will be announced before the game’s release, CD Projekt suggested this week. Company president Adam Kiciński also confirmed that the title will have “no less DLC than The Witcher 3 had.”