Cyberpunk 2077 will be released on December 10, 2020. There will not be a multiplayer mode available at launch. The head of CD Projekt Red, Adam Kiciński, now explains the current status of the Cyberpunk 2077 multiplayer and what the plan is.
Where does the information come from? The statements come from Adam Kiciński, the CEO of CD Projekt Red. He addressed questions from capital representatives during an investor call on November 25 (via seekingalpha).
“We do not think of multiplayer as a mode”
This is the status of multiplayer: The CEO states:
- The multiplayer in Cyberpunk 2077 is not referred to as a “mode” but is seen as a standalone production – as a large production, a product that stands on its own
- However, the multiplayer is not completely detached from Cyberpunk. It originates from the world of Cyberpunk and is closely tied to the single-player Cyberpunk
- At the moment, CD Projekt Red is only discussing the single-player mode of Cyberpunk and because they view multiplayer as its own product, they are not talking about it
- Fans can expect new information on the multiplayer in Q1 2021. CD Projekt Red will present further plans for Cyberpunk 2077 then, including the DLCs. It is possible that they will also want to discuss the multiplayer mode.
What does that mean in plain language? There is a lot of evidence suggesting that “Cyberpunk 2077 Online” or whatever it will be called, functions in relation to Cyberpunk 2077 like Red Dead Online to Red Dead Redemption 2.
It will likely be an online game set in the world of Cyberpunk 2077, overlaying the single-player world with its own layer of quests, tasks, and daily tasks. It will probably use the assets from the single-player game and add more. This would align with the CEO’s statements.
At the moment, the full focus of the public is expected to be on the single-player game. Introducing plans for the online mode now would dilute that focus.
Release of Cyberpunk 2077 Multiplayer likely still far away
When could Cyberpunk 2077 Multiplayer be released? It is interesting that the CEO speaks of a “large production.” In January 2020, CD Projekt Red even referred to the project “Cyberpunk 2077 Multiplayer” as its own “AAA project” – the second one they are working on alongside Cyberpunk 2077.
The question is how far CD Projekt Red is with the multiplayer mode already and when we can expect it. Likely, the single-player mode required all resources recently, to ensure the team meets the release date.
In July 2019, a Polish website reported that 40 employees were working on the multiplayer mode. It is quite possible that some employees from the multiplayer mode were reassigned to assist with the single-player mode, causing further delays.
In January 2020, CD Projekt Red stated that the multiplayer mode could not be expected before 2022. It is likely that the date will be pushed further back. But that is speculation.
We apparently will not know further details about the release before Q1 2021 when the dust around Cyberpunk 2077 has settled a bit.
For Cyberpunk 2077, the final phase before the release is now beginning. In the meantime, this phase has even become a bit hotter than the development team preferred, as a player has already streamed Cyberpunk 2077:
Someone shows Cyberpunk 2077 as a leak for 20 minutes – legal action is likely
