Key Takeaways
- Cyberpunk 2077 partners with Balatro for new cosmetic crossovers, enhancing gameplay variety and options.
- CD Projekt Red has continued expanding the Cyberpunk brand with Phantom Liberty DLC and crossovers like this.
- The Balatro x Cyberpunk 2077 update introduces new character options, allowing players to reskin face cards.
Cyberpunk 2077 is teaming up with the critically and commercially successful Balatro as part of the latter’s free Friends of Jimbo 2 update, which offers players a slate of new cosmetic crossovers for the poker-based deck-builder. The mashup brings together two of the most notable releases of the past five years, with the notorious Cyberpunk 2077 continuing to regain traction after its shaky 2020 release and the universally acclaimed Balatro quickly establishing itself as a runaway commercial victory and critical darling.
With the Cyberpunk brand displaying a much sought-after longevity in the form of 2023’s impressive Phantom Liberty DLC, developer CD Projekt Red continues producing effective spin-offs and crossovers. From the hit animated series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners on Netflix to a series of graphic novel expansions of the dystopian technology-fueled universe, the franchise has proven its mutability. For its part, Balatro has made its solo developer money hand over fist, passing 2 million in sales just six months after its release. It also received universal acclaim, with Black Mirror creator Charlie Booker describing it in an interview with Deadline as “…possibly the most addictive thing ever created.”
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The Balatro x Cyberpunk 2077 update, which dropped on October 25, includes collaborations with hit titles The Binding of Isaac, Slay the Spire, and Stardew Valley, and is available for PC, console, and mobile. The new Balatro update gives players more character options for reskinning their suited face cards. The Cyberpunk 2077 family has taken over the Spades suit, inserting Goro Takemura as the Jack, Rogue Amendiares as the Queen, and Keanu Reeves’ Johnny Silverhand as the King of Spades. And with the rumors of a second Cyberpunk 2077 expansion being cancelled, this may be the most gamers will get to see of Silverhand for a while.
The first Friends of Jimbo pack treated fans to new skins, including The Witcher 3, Vampire Survivors, Dave the Diver, and Among Us. Given Balatro‘s significant and fast-growing popularity, it seems likely that more crossovers are in the works, with the game’s social media post asking, “Is this the full squad, or is there more?”
The Future of Cyberpunk 2077
As work continues on the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, Project Orion, and Balatro proceeds with its meteoric rise up the roguelite ranks, players can likely expect a steady stream of media crossovers and brand collaborations from both properties. Cyberpunk 2077 has established itself as a game with rich potential and strong world-building, and while CD Projekt Red has moved its Orion follow-up to Unreal Engine, indicating a move away from the original title, the lessons learned from that effort will almost certainly inform the company’s ongoing work. Its continued pushing of the brand across multiple outlets bodes well for players looking to get in on some more Night City action.
- Franchise
- Cyberpunk
- Released
- December 10, 2020
- Engine
- REDengine 4
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- How Long To Beat
- 25 Hours
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- X|S Optimized
- Xbox Series X|S players can also download Update 2.1 and enjoy all the new content available in the game
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- Cross Save
- yes
- Cross-Platform Play
- ps, xbox, pc
