Summary
CD Projekt Red is ramping up for the release ofCyberpunk 2077: Phantom Libertythis September, and the hype has been steadily building alongside the developer’s major marketing push. It’s possible that the company couldrewrite the legacy ofCyberpunk 2077with the DLC, and it certainly looks promising so far, but there is one shadow looming over its release:The Witcher 3.
BeforeCyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red made a name for itself withThe Witchertrilogy. While the first two entries in the series were successful in their own right, it was the third game,The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, that truly made CD Projekt Red one of the most beloved RPG studios in the industry. A major part ofThe Witcher 3’s success was its two DLCs:Heart of StoneandBlood and Wine. They were so well-received that many fans consider them to be essential parts of the game, rather than optional expansions.
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The Witcher 3 DLCs Set a High Bar for Phantom Liberty to Clear
Phantom Libertyis being positively receivedby previewers, but the quality of the complete package remains to be seen. An issue that the DLC will inevitably face is the comparisons that will be drawn between it and the DLCs forThe Witcher 3, as those were CD Projekt Red’s last forays into the world of expansions and are considered among the best of their kind. Each DLC was massive and filled with content that was distinct from the base game, including entirely new maps, characters and abilities.
Additionally,Phantom Libertyis the only planned DLC forCyberpunk 2077, whereasThe Witcher 3got two substantial expansions. AlthoughPhantom Libertybeing the soleCyberpunkDLCmight be the best move forCyberpunk 2077in the long run, there will likely be an expectation for it to contain twice as much content, or be twice as good, as the DLCs forThe Witcher 3, if audiences are comparing the two games.
There’s also the issues of context and public perception.The Witcher 3was almost universally praised by audiences and critics alike as soon as it dropped, so its well-crafted expansions were akin to a victory lap for the game. Things are quite different when it comes toCyberpunk 2077.It’s no secret that CD Projekt Red’s sci-fi RPG got off to a bumpy start, as it was riddled with bugs and missing content that many gamers were expecting.
Cyberpunk 2077may be enjoying a redemption arcfollowing numerous updates, bug fixes, and free content releases, butPhantom Libertyneeds to be more than just good; the DLC needs to be great, arguably even better than bothHeart of StoneandBlood and Wine, for fans ofThe Witcher 3to look upon it favorably. In short,Phantom Libertyisn’t just an expansion; it is potentially the redeemer forCyberpunk 2077.The Witcher 3’s DLC never had to overcome these odds.
Despite being made by the same developer,The Witcher 3andCyberpunk 2077are vastly different games, so comparing them may be unfair. That is up for debate, but fair or not, comparisons will be drawn, and it’s likely something that CD Projekt Red is expecting given theimmense pressurePhantom Libertyis under. Unfortunately, even ifCyberpunk 2077never suffered the issues that it did at launch, both its core game and eventual DLC would be subjected to a great deal of scrutiny due to the studio’s pedigree and reputation for making seminal open-world RPGs. With luck, CD Projekt Red’s experience with great DLCs, combined with the desire to redeemCyberpunk 2077, will makePhantom Libertya great expansion.
Cyberpunk 2077is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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