CD Projekt Red's joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski has stated that releasing Cyberpunk 2077 in its poor technical state in December 2020 "was for sure wrong," acknowledging the significant issues that led to the game's removal from the PlayStation Store and widespread player refunds.
In an interview with The Game Business, Nowakowski cited COVID-19 as a contributing factor to the game's launch condition, explaining that the pandemic altered the team's workflow and led to exhaustion. He also noted external pressures to release the game and an internal desire among developers to finish the project due to the taxing nature of ongoing development. "The decision to launch was for sure wrong, period. There is no denying it," Nowakowski said, reflecting on the situation with the benefit of hindsight.
While Nowakowski pushed back against the theory that the launch was timed to meet investor expectations or fiscal deadlines, he described the situation as more complex and psychological. He denied that "magical investors" forced the release, instead characterizing it as a confluence of internal and external factors. Precedent exists for games being released in unfinished states to meet financial quarter deadlines, and Cyberpunk 2077's December 10, 2020 release date fueled such speculation.
Despite its rocky launch, Cyberpunk 2077 achieved significant commercial success, selling nearly 14 million copies shortly after release, making it one of the most successful RPG launches in history. This success resulted in substantial bonus payouts for CD Projekt Red executives and developers. The studio continued to support the game with numerous updates and improvements, including the transformative 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty expansion in 2023. To date, Cyberpunk 2077 has sold over 40 million copies.
In related news, Microsoft recently announced that Cyberpunk 2077 will be leaving Xbox Game Pass soon. CD Projekt Red is currently developing Cyberpunk 2, though its release is anticipated to be several years away. The studio's more immediate upcoming projects include The Witcher 3: Remastered this year, The Witcher 3's new Songs of the Past expansion in 2027, and The Witcher 4 in 2028.