As those who have played it already know, Cyberpunk 2077 functions as a purely single-player experience. But if you remember the pre-release hype cycle, you might recall that CD Projekt Red advertised multiplayer functionality that ultimately did not materialize. Having said that, the new Phantom Liberty DLC does bring with it the possibility that it finally adds the multiplayer that fans of Cyberpunk 2077 hoped to see. But now that the anticipated expansion has arrived alongside a new free update, do either of these additions to the Cyberpunk 2077 experience introduce multiplayer into the mix?
Related:Â Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty – dark and gritty, but perhaps not as intended
Has multiplayer finally arrived?
Unfortunately, it appears that neither the DLC nor the free update brings any sort of multiplayer feature into the experience. Whether you wanted to fight bad guys with a friend or even engage in some sort of PvP mode, you will not have the opportunity to live out those hopes.
You may have already guessed it, but the lack of multiplayer in Cyberpunk 2077 traces back to its infamously troubled launch back in late 2020. Speaking to Eurogamer late last year, Phillip Weber, senior quest designer and coordinator for the game, stated that priorities within CD Projekt Red had shifted to ensuring that players had access to a stable, relatively bug-free single-player experience. Naturally, this meant that the developers could no longer focus on features like multiplayer, at least for the time being.
Many months have passed since that interview, and no official word has surfaced regarding the potential for multiplayer functionality. At this point, it appears likely that plans for multiplayer in Cyberpunk 2077 have officially been abandoned, although I can’t say that for completely certain, of course. Whenever CD Projekt Red gets around to making a sequel, you can probably expect the multiplayer to make its way there instead, especially if it has a more stable launch that gives the studio more time to explore the feature.
Screenshot: CD Projekt Red
Published: Sep 26, 2023 10:32 pm