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Highlights
- Cyberpunk 2077 devs explain why New Game Plus mode wasn’t added, prioritizing cohesive design over extra features.
- Despite initial issues, continuous updates and expansions have transformed Cyberpunk 2077 into a highly praised game.
- Lead quest designer Pawel Sasko believes New Game Plus would clash with the game’s vision, encouraging varied playthroughs instead.
The lead quest designer for Cyberpunk 2077 explained why developers didn’t add a New Game Plus mode. Many fans likely are of the mind that the Cyberpunk 2077 of today is incomparable to the notoriously troubled version of studio CD Projekt Red’s sci-fi action RPG that launched back in 2020, which has since received numerous patches, content updates, and even a massive expansion pack. However, a New Game Plus option remains noticeably absent from its list of added features, and according to one developer, there are reasons why it would be difficult to implement.
Despite its catastrophic launch, Cyberpunk 2077 is now widely regarded by players and critics as a great game, largely thanks to the developers who continued improving it even years after its release. While the team behind the title devoted much of their efforts into patching bugs, Cyberpunk 2077 also notably received several free major updates, which added features such as vehicular combat, new cosmetics and weapons inspired by the hit animated Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime, and an assortment of accessibility options. With constant improvements along with its massive Phantom Liberty expansion, public opinion of the title slowly shifted over the years, culminating in Cyberpunk 2077 getting overwhelmingly positive user reviews in May 2024.
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However, even with the new metro system and the new powerful additions to V’s cyberware arsenal, one thing noticeably absent from Cyberpunk 2077‘s major updates was a New Game Plus feature, and lead quest designer Pawel Sasko believed it was for a good reason. In an interview with DualShockers, Sasko explained how the developers of Cyberpunk 2077 wanted to create a game free of unnecessary bloat and emphasized how they wanted each element in the game to fit seamlessly together.
Cyberpunk 2077 Devs Couldn’t Fit New Game Plus Mode
Given the title’s cohesive design, Sasko claimed it was difficult to find space for a New Game Plus mode in a way that wouldn’t conflict with the developers’ collective vision, which meant it would require major changes to use the feature to its full potential. The lead quest designer ultimately concluded that the issue lay with New Game Plus’ incompatibility with other gameplay elements, with Sasko further stating that Cyberpunk 2077 was built with replayability in mind and encouraging players to try other choices in their subsequent playthroughs instead.
With development on Cyberpunk 2077 brought to an end, it’s unlikely that a New Game Plus mode will ever be officially released. However, the franchise’s future still holds promise for fans who can take heart in knowing that CD Projekt Red is already working on a sequel for Cyberpunk 2077 codenamed Project Orion.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is an RPG set in a future dystopian world. Players take up the role of V, who works as a mercenary in Night City in California. Gameplay involves branching dialogue, open-world exploration, character classes, and combat.
- 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
- Metascore
- 86
