The newest replace for Cyberpunk 2077 is out at this time for Xbox Sequence X/S, PS5, and PC gamers (Nintendo Swap 2 house owners should wait barely longer). Should you’re confused, it’s comprehensible. CD Projekt RED mentioned, pretty unequivocally, that it wrapped up help for the FPS/RPG. Phantom Liberty launched alongside the large 2.0 overhaul in 2023; Patch 2.1 lastly added the metro system and plenty of different high quality of life options; and it appeared just like the redemption journey was full, roughly three years after launch.
Nevertheless, the staff determined that wasn’t sufficient and partnered with Virtuos for Patch 2.2. It went dwell final December as a shock, introducing the flexibility to customize your car colors with the brand new Rayfield CrystalCoat. Photograph Mode was overhauled with choices for full collision, locking the digital camera, and including mild sources. The character creator obtained quite a few new choices, together with contemporary eye colours, face scars and new face cyberware choices. If that wasn’t sufficient, Johnny Silverhand may be a part of you whereas out on a drive after progressing sufficient by the story.
So what does Patch 2.3 have to supply, particularly because it’s related in scope to Patch 2.2? Imagine it or not, much more choices to enhance immersion and actually assist gamers, new or in any other case, to absorb the sights.
One of the vital important new options can be one which I’m stunned took this lengthy to be added to the sport: AutoDrive. Sure, you’ll be able to lastly set a vacation spot or choose a job, and V’s car will take them there robotically (whereas abiding by the site visitors guidelines, hopefully). In fact, you cease when attacked, however in any other case, this can be a nice technique to choose a random goal that’s popped up – an NCPD name, a brand new Gig, a contemporary cyberpsycho sighting – and seamlessly journey there.
If that isn’t sufficient, you’ll be able to name a Delamain cab and have it drive you to a vacation spot. Sit within the backseat, both alone or with Johnny. That is extra of fan service for individuals who in all probability wished to reunite with Delamain following the end result of his facet job. It could not really feel important, particularly when there’s AutoDrive, however very similar to the metro, having the choice feels good. Virtually just like the world of Cyberpunk 2077 remains to be evolving in its personal little methods.
No matter whether or not you decide to AutoDrive or take a cab, there’s a brand new cinematic digital camera that gives totally different angles as you seamlessly cruise by Night time Metropolis. Consider it as a substitute for merely peering out in first or third-person on a regular basis, and actually observing your environment. However what if you wish to endlessly observe town whereas driving? AutoDrive allows you to try this as effectively.
And should you’re on the lookout for new wheels to do that in, 4 new autos are being added: the Yaiba ARV-Q340 Semimaru from the comedian Cyberpunk 2077: Kickdown; the Rayfield Caliburn “Mordred”; the Yaiba ASM-R250 Muramasa bike; and the Chevillon Legatus 450 Aquila truck. By finishing current jobs and actions – or within the case of the Muramasa, buying three autos from Autofixer, proudly owning a Yaiba car and finishing a Reported Crime – you’ll be able to unlock new facet jobs for 3 of those new autos. The Aquila is purchasable immediately from Autofixer as an alternative of finishing any related gig. Whereas not precisely the heftiest new narrative content material, I’d slightly have them than under no circumstances.
CrystalCoat has additionally obtained some updates – now you can use it to customize extra autos, and its performance lastly extends to bikes. Hilariously, “lower-end autos” could make use of a cracked model, full with a glitched display screen. It might have been sufficient so as to add as a characteristic and never suppose an excessive amount of about it, however I respect the additional effort to justify it lore-wise.
Photograph Mode customers are making out like bandits as soon as once more with all the brand new additions. Twenty-seven new NPCs so as to add to photographs (from The Mox’s Rita Wheeler to numerous fixers and the Cassel twins), whose alternate outfits might be swapped out; choices for adjusting the time of day and climate (throw in some acid rain as a result of why not?); and even Recreation Velocity, which sees in-game time transferring usually for some sick timelapses. That’s solely a handful of latest options, and whereas I’m not the most important Photograph Mode enjoyer, a few of the work that followers have put into their photographs has been distinctive, and it’s nice to provide them much more instruments to play with.
When it comes to graphical choices, AMD FSR 4 help is lastly right here, however PC gamers want to attend till the corresponding AMD driver goes dwell at a later date. On the brilliant facet, AMD FSR Body Era 3.1 is obtainable instantly and might be mixed with any upscaler. Intel GPU customers additionally get XeSS 2.0 and XeSS Body Era alongside HDR10+ Gaming help. PS5 and Xbox Sequence X/S gamers can even rejoice, as a result of Variable Refresh Charge help can be added.
If you take a step again and take a look at all this, you would possibly debate how impactful any of those options are. In any case, there’s no PS5 Professional help, which CD Projekt RED hasn’t dominated out however has no plans for both. New Recreation Plus nonetheless isn’t out there, and a few followers need a third-person digital camera for some purpose. The largest factor is probably going that there are not any new quests or tales to expertise, and I can empathise.
Nevertheless, the truth that CD Projekt RED continues to help the sport is commendable. Not simply because it moved on two years in the past to work on Venture Orion, the sequel, but in addition as a result of it’s implementing options that the neighborhood has wished for a very long time.
You could not consider AutoDrive as a giant deal, however as somebody who restarted the sport on totally different platforms twice (don’t ask), this could have been a wonderful characteristic to have whereas trying to finish all of Regina’s gigs earlier than leaving Watson. New autos are at all times a plus, as are the brand new upscaling and console VRR choices, since they permit much more gamers to benefit from the sport of their most well-liked means.
Above all else, updates like these actually add to the Night time Metropolis expertise whereas additionally addressing any lingering bugs and glitches, which suggests an excellent higher expertise for any new participant. And whereas I’ve had my fill of Night time Metropolis, returning for a brand new playthrough will likely be much more worthwhile, given all the brand new choices and options.
Like anybody else, I’d like to see CD Projekt RED and Virtuos ship one thing like New Recreation Plus, even when it must transcend merely carrying all the pieces over and bumping up numbers. However other than that, the true query is: The place does the sport go from right here? What different patches may the staff presumably unveil? Dare I hope for some new content material to tie into Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2?
Regardless, patches like 2.3 are akin to dessert after the principle course. They’re not essential to benefit from the glorious story, fight, build-crafting, world-building, and quests. It’s the dedication to bettering the sport, even by bug fixes and Photograph Mode choices, that’s appreciated. At the same time as CD Projekt RED strikes ahead with Orion into a possible new period, the truth that it hasn’t forgotten what in the end led it so far – and past – bodes effectively for the longer term.
Be aware: The views expressed on this article are these of the writer and don’t essentially signify the views of, and shouldn’t be attributed to, GamingBolt as a corporation.