Cyberpunk 2077 was, in December 2020, the epicenter of one of the most memorable controversies in modern gaming. Released after multiple delays and with extremely high expectations, the game arrived riddled with bugs, especially on previous-generation consoles. The situation led to massive refunds, global criticism, lawsuits, and even its temporary removal from the PlayStation Store.
CD Projekt Red faced an unprecedented reputational blow. However, in the six months following the release, the studio implemented an aggressive strategy of patches and updates that improved performance, fixed critical bugs, and stabilized the overall experience. By mid-2021, the title had regained an acceptable level of functionality, which allowed its return to Sony's store and marked the beginning of a recovery process that few had anticipated.
New platforms and PlayStation Plus: the boost that took the game to the top
The true commercial leap came between 2023 and 2025. Cyberpunk 2077 not only achieved technical maturity, but also multiplied its reach thanks to new versions and distribution strategies. The edition optimized for Nintendo Switch 2 and the launch on Mac computers allowed millions of players who previously had no access to finally acquire it.
This was further enhanced by its inclusion in the Extra and Premium tiers of PlayStation Plus, a move that especially boosted sales of Phantom Liberty, the 2023 expansion that deeply restructured the gameplay system. CD Projekt Red acknowledged that the revenue caused from the DLC after its inclusion in subscription services even exceeded the studio's initial expectations.
