Cyberpunk 2077: From Broken Beginnings to a Modern Classic

Written By Ryan Hayden

Introduction

When Cyberpunk 2077 launched in December 2020, I was one of the many players who had pre-ordered the game. At the time, I regretted that decision. The release was plagued with bugs, crashes, and performance issues, especially on consoles. Yet five years later, my perspective has completely changed. Thanks to consistent updates, patches, and the Phantom Liberty expansion, Night City has transformed into one of the most compelling open-world RPGs of 2025 (Expert Game Reviews, 2025).

A World Worth Exploring

Night City is a beautiful and fascinating world, filled with memorable NPCs and hidden quests. On both PC and PS5, I found myself constantly distracted by side stories, random encounters, and hidden events that made the city feel alive. Each revisit revealed something new, whether it was a quirky NPC interaction or a secret questline tucked away in the neon-lit streets (Steam Community, 2025).

Combat That Delivers

Combat in Cyberpunk 2077 is now fluid and satisfying. On PC, the responsiveness of the mouse and keyboard made gunplay sharp and precise, while on PS5, the DualSense controller added immersion with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Whether using swords, guns, or bare-knuckle brawls, the game offers diverse playstyles that feel rewarding after years of refinement (Expert Game Reviews, 2025).

Phantom Liberty: A Spy Thriller in Night City

The Phantom Liberty DLC elevated the game further, delivering a tense spy‑thriller narrative with espionage, betrayal, and cinematic flair. Playing through it felt like stepping into an action spy movie, with Idris Elba’s performance as Solomon Reed adding gravitas. The expansion extended the main quest with new endings, giving me fresh reasons to dive back in (PC Gamer, 2023; Rock Paper Shotgun, 2023).

Graphics That Still Impress

Even in 2025, Cyberpunk 2077’s graphics hold up against modern heavy hitters. On PC, ray tracing and high-end hardware make Night City breathtaking. On PS5, recent updates introduced Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support, allowing smoother performance with average frame rates of 80fps in performance mode on PS5 Pro (GamesRadar, 2025; Digital Foundry, 2025).

Commercial Success and Legacy

Despite its rocky start, Cyberpunk 2077 has now sold over 35 million copies, surpassing The Witcher 3’s sales milestone in a shorter time frame (Video Games Chronicle, 2025). This turnaround cements the game as one of CD Projekt Red’s most successful titles.

Cyberpunk as a Benchmark

Beyond its narrative and gameplay, Cyberpunk 2077 has also become a benchmark standard in the tech world. Popular hardware reviewers like Linus Tech Tips (LTT) frequently use Cyberpunk in their GPU and CPU performance tests. The game’s demanding visuals, ray tracing, and open‑world complexity make it a perfect stress test for modern hardware.

This is not just about numbers; it shows how Cyberpunk has evolved from a troubled launch into a flagship title that represents the cutting edge of PC and console performance. For players like me, who have experienced it on both PS5 and PC, it is clear why reviewers rely on it: Night City pushes hardware to its limits while still delivering breathtaking results.

Looking Ahead

The sequel, Cyberpunk 2 (Project Orion), is in preproduction. With The Game Awards approaching, fans speculate that CD Projekt Red may reveal more soon (Glass Almanac, 2025).

Personal Reflections

My journey with Cyberpunk 2077 has been one of redemption. I regretted pre-ordering at launch, but today I do not regret it at all. Playing on both PS5 and PC, I have seen firsthand how far the game has come. Every year I return to Night City, and every year I discover something new, a hidden quest, a surprising NPC, or a detail I missed before.

For me, Cyberpunk 2077 is no longer the broken game I once regretted. It is now a challenging but rewarding experience, one that continues to evolve and surprise me.

Conclusion

From a troubled launch to a polished, content-rich experience, Cyberpunk 2077 has become a modern classic. With Phantom Liberty expanding its narrative, graphics that still impress, and sales surpassing The Witcher 3, the game has secured its place as one of the defining RPGs of the decade. Moreover, for players like me, who stuck with it from the beginning, the journey has been worth it.

References

Ryan Hayden
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