Has Cyberpunk 2077 Improved In 2024?

Does Cyberpunk 2077 deserve your attention in 2024 with all its major updates and patches?

Cyberpunk 2077 in 2024
Cyberpunk 2077 in 2024

Cyberpunk 2077’s release was a major turning point and a lesson for the video game development sector. Developed by CD Project RED, this game’s hype was unreal before its release. The game showcased some of the most futuristic and impressive gameplay, and fans couldn’t wait to get their hands on it.

Plus, the intense marketing campaigns with mega-superstars like Keanu Reeves increased the hype even more. Upon release in 2020, the game was nowhere near the player’s expectations. Cyberpunk 2077 came out as a half-baked buggy mess and felt like an incomplete game. The game got some of the worst reviews for the year, with some critics even calling it unplayable.

Key Takeaways
  • Cyberpunk 2077 initially released in 2020, has since seen a few significant updates and changes.
  • Patch 2.0 significantly improved core gameplay with a wanted-level system, smarter AI, and better combat/hacking.
  • Phantom Liberty was the biggest DLC added to the game in 2023.
  • This update injects excitement with a high-stakes story, impressive voice acting, a new explorable district, and branching narratives. 

However, hats off to CD Project RED for sticking with the game and not abandoning the player base. Over the years CD Project RED kept working on the game, rolling out one update after another and adding quite a bit of additional content. 

Major Patch 2.0

Night City Police Department
Night City Police Department

Cyberpunk 2077, ever since its release has seen a few major updates. One of the biggest updates that completely overhauled the game came out in September of 2023 and completely revamped the game. One of the first things the game heavily improves on is the in-game AI. Players can now experience a stronger Police Force with a more developed AI.

Patch 2.0 adds a separate clothing and armor system, which allows more control over your character’s stats and style. Combat received a significant upgrade as well. Enemies in Patch 2.0 are more aggressive and responsive, making battles a thrilling test of strategy. Gone are the days of crappy AI that could barely find you hiding behind a rock.

D5 Copper Head in Cyberpunk 2077
D5 Copper Head

Hacking has also seen a major overhaul with improved net-running gameplay. It offers smoother mechanics and new creative ways to take down enemies.

Finally, another major thing that this update changes is the quality of loot and enemy scaling. This ensures players find valuable rewards and face a balanced challenge throughout the campaign.

Phantom Liberty Expansion

Idris Elba as Reed
Idris Elba as Reed

Most players may already know about this, but another massive update added to Cyberpunk was the Phantom Liberty Expansion. This update was heavily marketed as the revival of the game. Phantom Liberty expansion injects a hefty dose of excitement into the game. This DLC and additional content add new missions and storylines to the game.

The story takes a high-stakes turn, pulling you into a story packed with some truly emotional moments. Moreover, this new story also features industry heavyweights like Idris Elba and Keanu Reeves, playing an integral role in Night City. They deliver stellar performances that further immerse you in the world.

Johnny Silverhand
Johnny Silverhand

The update adds thrilling set-pieces and missions that will test your skills and keep you on the edge of your seat.  This was some of the most fun I have personally had with Cyberpunk ever since its release. Phantom Liberty isn’t just about action, though. It introduces a whole new district of Night City to explore, each with its own unique story and atmosphere.

The choices you make throughout the DLC’s campaign have a real impact on the narrative. This leads you toward multiple, impactful endings. Even the game’s previous ending gets refreshed with Phantom Liberty, offering a satisfying conclusion to your initial journey in Night City.

Optimization Settings On PC

Herold Lowe Selling Weapons
Herold Lowe Selling Weapons

The arrival of the Phantom Liberty expansion for Cyberpunk 2077 also brings with it next-gen graphics. But with great visuals comes the challenge of optimizing performance on a PC. Most players would be wondering what would be the best settings for this ‘new’ Cyberpunk. 

Gun Variety
Gun Variety

For most players seeking the best optimization, entirely disabling ray tracing is the key. While it offers visual improvements, the performance hit can be substantial. Here I aim to deliver high frame rates while maintaining visual quality close to the Ultra preset.

Testing Hardware: RTX 4070 graphics card

These are the specific Cyberpunk 2077 settings recommended for a balanced experience:

  • Texture Quality – High
  • Upscaling – Tune to Liking (DLSS for Nvidia, FSR for AMD/Intel)
  • Contact Shadows – Turned On
  • Anisotropic Filtering – 16x
  • Cascaded Shadows – High
  • Motion Blur – Turned Off
  • Cascaded Shadows Resolution Setting – High
  • Distant Shadows Resolution – High
  • Volumetric Fog Resolution – Medium
  • Improved Facial Lighting Geometry – Turned On
  • Volumetric Cloud Quality – Medium
  • Local Shadow Mesh – Medium
  • Max Dynamic Details – Ultra
  • Screen Space Reflections Quality – Medium
  • Subsurface Scattering Quality – High
  • Local Shadow – High
  • Ambient Occlusion – High
  • Color Precision – Medium
  • Mirror Quality – Medium
  • Level of Detail – High
  • Crowd Density – High

These settings target even higher frame rates by lowering some graphical settings:

  • Texture Quality – High
  • Upscaling – Tune to Liking (DLSS for Nvidia, FSR for AMD/Intel)
  • Motion Blur – Turned Off
  • Improved Facial Lighting Geometry – On
  • Anisotropic Filtering – 16x
  • Local Shadow Quality Setting – Medium
  • Contact Shadows –  Turned Off
  • Cascaded Shadows Range Setting – High
  • Distant Shadows Resolution – High
  • Volumetric Fog Resolution – Low
  • Volumetric Cloud Quality – Medium
  • Max Dynamic Details – Ultra
  • Screen Space Reflections Quality – Low
  • Subsurface Scattering Quality – High
  • Local Shadow Mesh – Medium
  • Ambient Occlusion – Low
  • Cascaded Shadows Resolution – Medium
  • Color Precision – Medium
  • Mirror Quality – Medium
  • Level of Detail – High
  • Crowd Density – High

Give It A Try

Cyberpunk 2077’s rocky launch is a distant memory. Patch 2.0 overhauled core gameplay and the Phantom Liberty expansion delivers a thrilling story, new explorable areas, and impactful choices. With optimization tips included, dive into Night City and experience a deep RPG in a captivating world.

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