CD Project Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 has hit over 40 million copies sold, six years after its release in December 2020. With over six years of updates and new content released over time, CD Project Red has taken the time to adjust and build Cyberpunk 2077 into the game it is now, compared to what it was when it first came out. While the game’s initial release was rough for both fans and developers, Cyberpunk 2077 has become a memorable game for many, evident by the amount of sales it hit on July 3rd.
Cyberpunk 2077 had difficult release. December 20th, 2020 was during the height of Covid-19, which made it difficult for CD Project Red’s team to communicate and work on the game after it came out. Many bugs, errors, and other performance issues plagued the game during its first few months, leaving many who were anticipating the game disappointed. But, over time, these glitches and bugs became fewer and fewer as developers released patches for the game. With each patch, more and more players began returning to the game over time. The premiere of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners on September 13th 2022 contributed to a spike in players as well.
On September 21st, 2023, CD Project Red released the 2.0 Update for Cyberpunk 2077. This massive update for the game included an entire rework for the perks and abilities players could select to customize their playstyle, a complete revamp of the NCPD (Night City Police Department) which included adding patrols and pursuits, and an entirely new cyberware and armor system. By simplifying gameplay certain gameplay mechanics, and introducing all-new mechanics to the game, CD Project Red brought in another whole wave of new and returning players to Cyberpunk 2077.
The amount of updates and patches that Cyberpunk 2077 has received shows the effort that CD Project Red has put into it. Even now, the game still receives updates that include new features and content, the latest update being from April of this year. Cyberpunk 2077 had a difficult beginning, but the work done over the years to improve it displays why it hit over 40 million copies sold.