Remember the hype? The neon-drenched streets of Night City, the promise of a living, breathing RPG that would redefine the genre, and the star power of Keanu Reeves. Then, December 2020 happened. Cyberpunk 2077 launched, and the dream crumbled into a spectacularly public disaster of bugs, performance issues, and missing features. It became a cautionary tale, a meme, and a profound disappointment for millions. But CD Projekt Red promised a comeback. Through years of patches, the massive 2.0 overhaul, and the acclaimed Phantom Liberty expansion, the game has been on a long, hard road to redemption. Now, with the 2025 Update on the horizon, we have to ask: is this finally the game we were promised all those years ago?
The Long Road to Redemption: From Disaster to 2.0
To understand the significance of the 2025 Update, we must first glance back at the journey. The initial release was plagued by crippling problems, especially on last-gen consoles. The core experience, buried beneath the glitches, showed flashes of brilliance—a compelling story, fascinating characters, and a stunning world—but it was undeniably unfinished.
The turnaround began in earnest with the Edgerunners anime, which brought a new wave of players to a more stable version of the game. This was followed by the monumental Update 2.0, a free next-gen overhaul that was nothing short of transformative. It wasn’t just a patch; it was a fundamental reworking of the game’s core systems:
- Completely Revamped Perk and Skill Trees: Gone was the confusing old system, replaced with a dynamic, fluid skill tree that made character builds feel impactful and unique.
- New Police System: Instead of cops spawning directly behind you, the NCPD now gives chase in vehicles, creating thrilling, dynamic wanted encounters.
- Vehicle Combat: You could finally use your weapons from a car, adding a whole new layer to Night City’s chaotic traffic wars.
- Relic Perks & Cyberware Overhaul: The new Relic skill tree and revised cyberware system deepened the RPG mechanics, making your cybernetic enhancements feel truly powerful.
This set the stage for Phantom Liberty, a spy-thriller expansion that was universally praised for its writing, pacing, and world-building. It proved CDPR could still deliver a narrative masterpiece. The 2025 Update is the next logical step, building upon this incredibly solid 2.0 foundation.
What’s New in the 2025 Update?
While official patch notes are still forthcoming, the update is confirmed to be a significant one, focusing on further refinement and adding highly requested features. Based on developer comments and player feedback, we can expect several key areas of improvement.
Enhanced Visual Fidelity and Ray Tracing
The 2025 Update is expected to push the graphical boundaries even further. With new GPU architectures becoming standard, CDPR is likely implementing Ray Tracing: Overdrive Mode as a default option for more players. This path-traced lighting solution, previously a tech demo for high-end PCs, creates an even more immersive and realistic Night City, with stunningly accurate shadows, reflections, and global illumination. The city’s neon signs will reflect perfectly on rain-slicked streets, making the already breathtaking visuals truly photorealistic.
Quality-of-Life and Immersion Features
This is where the update will truly answer the question of whether this is the “promised” game. Community requests are finally being addressed:
- Working Metro System: The NCART metro, a feature shown in early trailers but absent at launch, is being added. Players will be able to ride the train, not just as a fast-travel screen, but as a functioning system to watch the city go by, enhancing immersion.
- New Vehicle and Cosmetic Options: Expect a fresh batch of cars and bikes, alongside more customization options for V, allowing for greater personal expression.
- Bug Squashing and AI Tweaks: A continuous process of polishing NPC behavior, driving patterns, and squashing any remaining, rare bugs to ensure a seamless experience.
Is Night City Finally a Living, Breathing World?
The original promise was an immersive sim-like RPG where the city itself was the main character. While the 2.0 update made it feel more alive, the 2025 enhancements aim to push it over the top. The addition of the metro system is symbolic—it’s a feature that doesn’t just add convenience but reinforces the feeling that Night City is a real, functioning metropolis you inhabit, not just a level you play in. Combined with the expected AI improvements and visual upgrades, the world is closer than ever to that initial vision. The hustle and bustle will feel more authentic, the interactions more meaningful, and the atmosphere utterly unparalleled.
Verdict: Should You Return to Night City in 2025?
So, is the 2025 Update the final piece of the puzzle? The answer is a resounding yes. For lapsed players who haven’t touched the game since the disastrous launch, the game that exists today is virtually unrecognizable. It is stable, deep, incredibly fun to play, and visually spectacular. The 2025 Update is the victory lap, the final polish that smooths out the last rough edges and adds those final “wouldn’t it be cool if…” features.
For new players, there has never been a better time to jump in. You will experience Cyberpunk 2077 not as a broken promise, but as one of the most ambitious, content-rich, and rewarding RPGs of the decade. The journey of V, especially when combined with the espionage intrigue of Phantom Liberty, offers dozens of hours of top-tier storytelling and action.
Conclusion
The Cyberpunk 2077 2025 Update is not an apology—that ship has long sailed. The 2.0 update and Phantom Liberty were the apology, and they were accepted. This update is a celebration. It is CD Projekt Red proudly showcasing the magnificent game that was always hiding beneath the surface, now fully realized and more vibrant than ever. It may have taken years of painstaking work to get here, but Night City is finally open for business. It is, without a doubt, the game we were promised.
