The newest replace for Cyberpunk 2077 is out right this moment for Xbox Sequence X/S, PS5, and PC gamers (Nintendo Swap 2 house owners must wait barely longer). If you happen to’re confused, it’s comprehensible. CD Projekt RED stated, pretty unequivocally, that it wrapped up assist for the FPS/RPG. Phantom Liberty launched alongside the huge 2.0 overhaul in 2023; Patch 2.1 lastly added the metro system and plenty of different high quality of life options; and it appeared just like the redemption journey was full, roughly three years after launch.
Nonetheless, the crew determined that wasn’t sufficient and partnered with Virtuos for Patch 2.2. It went reside final December as a shock, introducing the power to customize your automobile colors with the brand new Rayfield CrystalCoat. Photograph Mode was overhauled with choices for full collision, locking the digicam, and including mild sources. The character creator obtained quite a few new choices, together with contemporary eye colours, face scars and new face cyberware choices. If that wasn’t sufficient, Johnny Silverhand may be part of you whereas out on a drive after progressing sufficient by way of the story.
So what does Patch 2.3 have to supply, particularly because it’s related in scope to Patch 2.2? Imagine it or not, much more choices to enhance immersion and actually assist gamers, new or in any other case, to soak up the sights.
Probably the most important new options can also be one which I’m shocked took this lengthy to be added to the sport: AutoDrive. Sure, you possibly can lastly set a vacation spot or choose a job, and V’s automobile will take them there mechanically (whereas abiding by the visitors guidelines, hopefully). After all, you cease when attacked, however in any other case, this can be a nice option to choose a random goal that’s popped up – an NCPD name, a brand new Gig, a contemporary cyberpsycho sighting – and seamlessly journey there.
If that isn’t sufficient, you possibly can name a Delamain cab and have it drive you to a vacation spot. Sit within the backseat, both alone or with Johnny. That is extra of fan service for many who in all probability needed to reunite with Delamain following the result of his facet job. It could not really feel important, particularly when there’s AutoDrive, however very like the metro, having the choice feels good. Virtually just like the world of Cyberpunk 2077 continues to be evolving in its personal little methods.
No matter whether or not you decide to AutoDrive or take a cab, there’s a brand new cinematic digicam that gives completely different angles as you seamlessly cruise by way of Evening Metropolis. Consider it as an alternative choice to merely peering out in first or third-person on a regular basis, and actually observing your environment. However what if you wish to endlessly observe the town whereas driving? AutoDrive permits you to try this as nicely.
And if you happen to’re searching for new wheels to do that in, 4 new automobiles are being added: the Yaiba ARV-Q340 Semimaru from the comedian Cyberpunk 2077: Kickdown; the Rayfield Caliburn “Mordred”; the Yaiba ASM-R250 Muramasa motorbike; and the Chevillon Legatus 450 Aquila truck. By finishing current jobs and actions – or within the case of the Muramasa, buying three automobiles from Autofixer, proudly owning a Yaiba automobile and finishing a Reported Crime – you possibly can unlock new facet jobs for 3 of those new automobiles. The Aquila is purchasable instantly from Autofixer as a substitute of finishing any related gig. Whereas not precisely the heftiest new narrative content material, I’d quite have them than by no means.
CrystalCoat has additionally obtained some updates – now you can use it to customize extra automobiles, and its performance lastly extends to bikes. Hilariously, “lower-end automobiles” could make use of a cracked model, full with a glitched display screen. It might have been sufficient so as to add as a characteristic and never assume an excessive amount of about it, however I recognize the additional effort to justify it lore-wise.
Photograph Mode customers are making out like bandits as soon as once more with all the brand new additions. Twenty-seven new NPCs so as to add to photographs (from The Mox’s Rita Wheeler to numerous fixers and the Cassel twins), whose alternate outfits will be swapped out; choices for adjusting the time of day and climate (throw in some acid rain as a result of why not?); and even Sport Pace, which sees in-game time transferring usually for some sick timelapses. That’s solely a handful of latest options, and whereas I’m not the most important Photograph Mode enjoyer, a few of the work that followers have put into their photographs has been distinctive, and it’s nice to present them much more instruments to play with.
By way of graphical choices, AMD FSR 4 assist is lastly right here, however PC gamers want to attend till the corresponding AMD driver goes reside at a later date. On the brilliant facet, AMD FSR Body Era 3.1 is on the market instantly and will be mixed with any upscaler. Intel GPU customers additionally get XeSS 2.0 and XeSS Body Era alongside HDR10+ Gaming assist. PS5 and Xbox Sequence X/S gamers may rejoice, as a result of Variable Refresh Fee assist can also be added.
Whenever you take a step again and have a look at all this, you may debate how impactful any of those options are. In spite of everything, there’s no PS5 Professional assist, which CD Projekt RED hasn’t dominated out however has no plans for both. New Sport Plus nonetheless isn’t out there, and a few followers desire a third-person digicam for some cause. The largest factor is probably going that there are not any new quests or tales to expertise, and I can empathise.
Nonetheless, the truth that CD Projekt RED continues to assist the sport is commendable. Not simply because it moved on two years in the past to work on Challenge Orion, the sequel, but additionally as a result of it’s implementing options that the neighborhood has needed for a very long time.
It’s possible you’ll not consider AutoDrive as an enormous deal, however as somebody who restarted the sport on completely different platforms twice (don’t ask), this might have been a superb characteristic to have whereas making an attempt to finish all of Regina’s gigs earlier than leaving Watson. New automobiles are all the time a plus, as are the brand new upscaling and console VRR choices, since they permit much more gamers to benefit from the sport of their most well-liked method.
Above all else, updates like these actually add to the Evening Metropolis expertise whereas additionally addressing any lingering bugs and glitches, which implies a good higher expertise for any new participant. And whereas I’ve had my fill of Evening Metropolis, returning for a brand new playthrough can be much more worthwhile, given all the brand new choices and options.
Like anybody else, I’d like to see CD Projekt RED and Virtuos ship one thing like New Sport Plus, even when it must transcend merely carrying all the pieces over and bumping up numbers. However other than that, the true query is: The place does the sport go from right here? What different patches may the crew presumably unveil? Dare I hope for some new content material to tie into Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2?
Regardless, patches like 2.3 are akin to dessert after the primary course. They’re not essential to benefit from the wonderful story, fight, build-crafting, world-building, and quests. It’s the dedication to bettering the sport, even by way of bug fixes and Photograph Mode choices, that’s appreciated. At the same time as CD Projekt RED strikes ahead with Orion into a possible new period, the truth that it hasn’t forgotten what in the end led it up to now – and past – bodes nicely for the longer term.
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