Will it even be released?
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CD Projekt Red released a new "strategy update" video today that talks about various topics, one of which is the idea of multiplayer for Cyberpunk 2077. The studio has "decided to reconsider" its plans for multiplayer and this doesn't just apply to Cyberpunk 2077 but to all of their games in general. They feel that they will bring online elements to its games "where they make sense."

This news comes just a day after the massive 1.2 update for Cyberpunk 2077 dropped.

Now, we don't really know what the original plans were for Cyberpunk's multiplayer. Some speculated that it would be something similar to GTA Online in nature. The multiplayer component was its own thing for the longest time and was often considered to be a standalone product.

Now though? Now, it seems as though those plans have been scrapped.


In the video, Cd Projekt Red CEO Adam Kicinski talks about how plans have changed.

"Previously we hinted that our next triple-A would be a multiplayer Cyberpunk game, but we have decided to reconsider this plan. Given our new, more systematic and agile approach, instead of primarily focusing on one big online experience or game, we are focusing on bringing online into all of our franchises one day. We are building an online technology that can be seamlessly integrated into development of our future games.

"CD Projekt Red makes singleplayer, story-driven, triple-A RPGs. That is not changing. What is changing is our long-term approach to online. By this, we mean ensuring we are properly prepared to implement online elements in our games where they make sense. We don't have to go overboard, or lose our singleplayer DNA. We want to take thoughtful steps to build robust online capabilities."
Related to this news is word that CD Projekt Red just recently acquired Digital Scapes, a studio that specializes in multiplayer games. The studio, now named CD Projekt Red Vancouver, has actually been working on Cyberpunk 2077 since October 2018. This does not indicate any changes to the current state of the game's multiplayer component. That state being one of limbo.

Honestly, it sounds a lot like there may not be a multiplayer release of Cyberpunk coming at all. It's probably for the best that they focus on continuing to fix their broken game and focus more heavily on expansions for the single player experience.