CD Projeckt Red Co-Founder Apologizes in Video for Cyberpunk 2077 Launch, Explains Post-Launch Plans

CD Projekt co-founder Marcin Iwiński has apologized for the botched Cyberpunk 2077 launch in a video and offered updates on post-launch plans, including bug fixes, DLC, and the release of the next-gen console version of the game.

Initially, the studio was aiming to release Cyberpunk 2077′s free DLC in early 2021, but now the studio is working on fixing the most important issues in the game, including bugs, with continuous updates large and small. Players can expect the first update to release in the next 10 days, followed by a bigger update during the next few weeks after. The free DLC is still on its way, however, and CD Projekt Red will share more information about it in the next few months. The native PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series version of the game is scheduled to arrive in the second half of 2021.

Iwiński explained that the reason why there was such a performance gap between PC and last-generation consoles is that the studio wanted to make the best possible version of Cyberpunk 2077 on PC first and then adjust it to fit console hardware. He admitted that the studio underestimated the challenge of the task. Iwiński elaborated that the “in-game streaming system” specifically led to challenges with PlayStation 4 and Xbox One development. The streaming system constantly needed improvement, but the scope of the game’s setting, Night City, was at odds with the disk bandwidth present in the last-generation consoles.

Regarding the review controversy, the studio was still working on the “day zero” patch as launch approached, which is why console review codes were sent out on Dec. 8 after the reviews for the PC version were already out. Iwiński in his apology did not address accusations of manipulation with how CD Projekt arranged reviews. However, he did say, “I and the entire leadership team are deeply sorry for this, and this video is me publicly owning up to that,” and he added in his apology that the CD Projekt Red development team is not at fault.

Lastly, CD Projekt is still working with Sony to bring Cyberpunk 2077 back to the PlayStation Store “as soon as possible” and states that the refund process is “progressing according to plan.”

For more Cyberpunk, check out our Zero Punctuation review of the game.