Developer CD Projekt Red announced yesterday that it is delaying the launch of upcoming dystopian RPG Cyberpunk 2077. The game was initially set for release on September 17 and will now instead launch on November 19.
An important development update pic.twitter.com/uFGrt9Tqpi
— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) June 18, 2020
As for the reasons behind yet another delay to Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red noted that it wanted to give the development team more time to polish the game, balance mechanics, and fix a raft of bugs.
‘Those of you who are familiar with the way we make games know that we won’t ship something which is not ready,’ explained the developer behind the acclaimed The Witcher franchise. ”Ready when it’s done’ is not just a phrase we say because it sounds right, it’s something we live by even when we know we’ll take the heat for it.’
CD Projekt Red says that Cyberpunk is complete in terms of content and gameplay – skills, items, quests, and cutscenes are all finished. But, the complexity of the game world it is trying to construct, notably ‘an abundance of content and complex systems interweaving with each other,’ means the game isn’t quite up to scratch by CD Projekt Red’s standards. The developer needs more time to sift through what’s there with a fine-tooth comb to iron out lingering issues.
The extra time afforded by the delay will give the developer enough time to remedy these problems and ensure Cyberpunk 2077 matches the quality expectations set by The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
In the same press release, CD Projekt Red also noted, ‘This week, journalists from all over the world are starting to independently play the game. We are eager (and quite stressed) to hear their opinions, as well as see your reactions when they publish their previews right after we air Night City Wire on the 25th of June.’
Night City Wire is expected to feature a glut of new Cyberpunk 2077 details alongside gameplay. The event was originally penciled in for June 11, but was pushed back to make space for more important discussions following the anti-racism protests sweeping the US.