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Is Cyberpunk 2077 Worth It in 2026?
From the most disastrous launch in gaming history to one of the best RPGs of the generation — the full story of Cyberpunk's redemption.
Original Release
December 2020
Metacritic (Launch)
57 (PS4) / 86 (PC)
Current Price
$30 (often $15)
Platforms
PC, PS5, Xbox Series X
Current State
Fully Redeemed
Let's not mince words: Cyberpunk 2077's launch was the biggest disaster in modern gaming history. It got pulled from the PlayStation Store. Refunds were issued en masse. The PS4 version was borderline unplayable. CD Projekt Red's stock cratered. It was bad.
Five years later, Cyberpunk 2077 is genuinely one of the best single-player RPGs you can play. The 2.0 update rebuilt the game from the ground up. Phantom Liberty added a 20-hour spy thriller expansion. And Patch 2.3 in 2026 finally delivered on features promised before launch. This isn't a fixed game — it's a different game.
WHAT IT WAS AT LAUNCH
- ✗Pulled from PlayStation Store due to game-breaking bugs
- ✗PS4/Xbox One versions were unplayable — sub-20fps, constant crashes
- ✗Police spawned directly behind you, couldn't chase you in vehicles
- ✗NPCs were lifeless mannequins with no AI routines
- ✗Perk system was shallow and unfocused
- ✗The open world was beautiful but felt hollow and dead
WHAT IT IS NOW
- ✓Patch 2.0 completely rebuilt the skill tree, combat, and AI systems
- ✓Phantom Liberty ($25) adds a 15-20 hour spy thriller — one of the best DLCs ever made
- ✓Police have real chase AI, vehicles have combat, NPCs have routines
- ✓Patch 2.3 added metro system, improved crowd behavior, and ray tracing upgrades
- ✓Consistently named as one of the best RPGs of the generation by outlets
- ✓Regularly on sale for $15 with base game, $30 with Phantom Liberty
WHAT'S STILL NOT GREAT
- !Last-gen consoles are playable but still the worst way to experience it
- !Hardware-demanding on PC — needs a decent rig for ray tracing
- !No more content coming — CDPR has moved on to Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2
- !Some promised features from 2019 marketing never materialized
WHO SHOULD BUY THIS NOW?
If you bounced off at launch: Come back. Seriously. Patch 2.0 and Phantom Liberty turned this into the game it should have been. Start a fresh save — the new perk system and combat make it feel completely different.
If you've never played it: You're getting the best version. No baggage, no disappointment — just one of the best open-world RPGs ever made at $15-30. Night City in 2026 is genuinely stunning.
✓ VERDICT IN 2026: BUY
Cyberpunk 2077 in 2026 is one of the best single-player RPGs available. The 2.0 overhaul, Phantom Liberty, and years of patches have transformed it from a cautionary tale into a genuine masterpiece. At $15-30, it's an absolute steal. If you've been waiting to see if it ever became the game it was promised to be — it did, and then some.
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