Cyberpunk 2077‘s infamous launch forced studio developer CD Projekt Red to rethink its production cycle.
Per IGN, Cyberpunk 2077 art director Paweł Mielniczuk discussed how the disastrous release of the scifi action RPG influenced the studio behind its development, with Mielniczuk revealing CD Projekt Red implemented many in-house changes in response to the widespread public outcry. “The release of Cyberpunk 2077 was a huge lesson for us, and since then we’ve made many changes based on our experiences,” the art director explained. “We’ve changed our production processes, the organization of our development teams, and worked on our value system. In short, we’ve changed Red.”
Mielniczuk claimed one of the most significant changes was the introduction of the “always working game” rule, which prioritized game stability and granted every member of the development team a way to test the title themselves. CD Projekt Red additionally abandoned its PC-centered production cycle and implemented simultaneous testing for a game on all platforms, along with a shift towards independent multidisciplinary teams that could implement improvements at their own discretion. They also added a company-wide playthrough, wherein internal players would provide feedback regarding the state of the game and what problems might still impede the intended experience.
Cyberpunk 2077 Launch Is Met With Controversy
Cyberpunk 2077 was released in 2020 and centers on V, an unwitting Night City mercenary who suddenly finds themselves embroiled in a global conspiracy after a heist gone wrong. While the title was one of the most anticipated games of modern gaming, its launch disappointed many of its players due to the rampant technical and gameplay issues plaguing its gameplay, which led to Sony even temporarily delisting Cyberpunk 2077 from the PlayStation Store less than a month after its release. CD Projekt Red also came under fire after reports claimed that the company implemented months of crunch time, with some developers reportedly working nights and weekends for over a year.
Fortunately, Cyberpunk 2077’s reputation was salvaged in the years following its infamous release. CD Projekt Red continued to support the game with patches and hotfixes, which fixed many issues plaguing the title’s release state. Cyberpunk 2077‘s prequel anime spinoff series, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, was also met with overwhelmingly positive reviews from fans and newcomers to the franchise alike, who lauded the show for its gorgeous art animation and compelling characters. The launch of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, which is the first and only expansion planned for the game, was also received with praise, with the DLC sitting at an 89 percent Steam rating at the time of writing.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Source: IGN
