Off the back of CD Projekt Red announcing thatCyberpunk 2077is being delayed to November 2020, a variety of important questions have been asked. A November launch forCyberpunk 2077means the game will be launching alongside the PS5 and Xbox Series X, after all. Players will want to know whetherCyberpunk 2077is either forward or backward compatible, or if the game will have any next-gen improvements. So far, CD Projekt Red has most of the right answers.
In a series of posts in Twitter Friday morning, CD Projekt Red acknowledged thatCyberpunk 2077would likely be launching alongside the PS5 and Xbox Series X. And while it didn’t confirm whether there would be PS5 and Xbox Series X-branded retail copies available at launch, it did the next best thing. CD Projekt Red has confirmed that the current-gen versions ofCyberpunk 2077will work on their next-gen counterparts.
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Further, CD Projekt Red confirms thatCyberpunk 2077will havenext-gen optimizationsfor improved performance at launch for both the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Those improvements haven’t been characterized, but given the scale of the next-gen consoles' power the improvements should be meaningful. That said, the improvements may not be robust. Framerate and resolution seem like the most likely improvements.
These launch improvements for next-gen consoles will amount to whatCD Projekt Redcan put together in a hurry before launch. The studio has bigger plans for substantial next-gen console support, but this update will not be ready in time. It’ll come later instead, and while a date isn’t provided 2021 can be assumed.
What doesn’t have to be assumed is that CD Projekt Red will be giving PS5 and Xbox Series XCyberpunk 2077players this update for free. When the robustnext-gen updatefor both PS5 and Xbox Series X is ready, allCyberpunk 2077players will get it for free.
As an example, someone could buyCyberpunk 2077at launch for their PS4. Then, when they get a PS5 for Christmas, they’ll be able to pop in the disc, receive a free update and playCyberpunk 2077with improve performance immediately. Then, several months later, CD Projekt Red will release a robust update forCyberpunk 2077on PS5that will enable a ton of new optimizations and improvements. That player, with their PS4 copy of the game, will get that update for free, too. Buy one copy of the game and get the fullCyberpunk 2077experience across generations.
Cyberpunk 2077releases November 19 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, with PS5, Stadia, and Xbox Series X versions also in development.
