It almost goes without saying that Cyberpunk 2077's 2.3 update has been one of the more anticipated moments in gaming this year, especially for fans of the now-acclaimed title. With the game's arrival and praised performance on the recently released Nintendo Switch 2 and then the delay of its 2.3 update on top of that, intrigue around the patch has only increased, as Cyberpunk 2077 has not only seen an influx of players, both new and veteran, but the delay suggests another content-rich addition is on the way and developer CD Projekt Red simply wants more time to perfect it.
Currently, the release date for Cyberpunk 2077's 2.3 update is unknown, but that might be okay for the time being. For one thing, it gives new players extra time to dig their heels deeper into Night City ahead of the patch, thereby making the impending update more meaningful to them in the long run. In fact, new players may be the very audience CDPR has on its mind at the moment, in light of Cyberpunk 2077's recent move to PS Plus Extra, and ahead of schedule for the service, no less. Clearly, Cyberpunk 2077 is preparing to funnel in even more players in a Phantom Liberty-style revival of the game with Update 2.3, and its PS Plus arrival is evidence of that.
Cyberpunk 2077’s Stars Are Aligning Ahead of Patch 2.3
Cyberpunk 2077's 2.3 update is well on its way, and it's getting set up to be a perfect lay-up thanks to some external factors.
Cyberpunk 2077's PS Plus Arrival Comes at the Perfect Time for Update 2.3
Increased Access Could Supercharge the 2.3 Update's Visibility
Normally, PS Plus Extra and Premium games are added to the service in the middle of each month, and that's what makes the fact that Cyberpunk 2077 was simultaneously announced and added to the catalog on July 9 so peculiar. Whereas every other PS Plus Extra and Premium title that was announced won't be playable until July 15, Cyberpunk 2077 was made immediately available at the time that it was announced, suggesting CDPR wants PS Plus subscribers to get as much time with it as possible ahead of Update 2.3.
New players may be the very audience CDPR has on its mind at the moment, in light of Cyberpunk 2077's recent move to PS Plus Extra, and ahead of schedule for the service, no less.
Moves like this are always intentional in the gaming industry, and this particular move gives new and returning players a reason to step back into Night City without a perceived financial barrier. Those who have had an ongoing subscription to PS Plus Extra or Premium can enjoy Cyberpunk 2077 without shelling out any more cash than they originally planned to, but even more so, it acts as a signal of sorts that Update 2.3 could be arriving sooner than fans might think. If nothing else, this increased access to the game is a surefire way to ensure it gains more traction ahead of 2.3 rather than after its launch.
The 2.3 Delay Might Have Been More Calculated Than It Seemed
When CD Projekt Red pushed back Cyberpunk 2077's 2.3 update from the late June release window it originally targeted, it understandably looked like nothing more than another instance of polishing the product to bring it up to par with the impactful 2.2 update. However, with the PS Plus Extra and Premium release now happening in the second week of July, the delay actually feels more like a setup. Even if the update itself hasn't been outlined in explicit detail, making room for Cyberpunk 2077's PS Plus drop allows it to arrive at a time when more eyes are on the game.
If CDPR truly is timing Cyberpunk 2077's 2.3 update around an influx of new players, then the game's addition to PS Plus Extra and Premium is clearly all about momentum. By delaying the update to make space for the game's sudden PS Plus availability and the strong response to its Switch 2 port, CDPR could be gearing up for one final surge of attention to its increasingly popular sci-fi RPG.
Cyberpunk 2077
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 76 /100 Critics Rec: 66%
- Released
- December 10, 2020
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Publisher(s)
- CD Projekt Red
WHERE TO PLAY
