Summary
With a rocky launch and understandable backlash,Cyberpunk 2077has since won the award for Best Ongoing Game with patch after patch of constant improvements and major changes. Although it would be ideal if we had these since launch, these changes have made Cyberpunk into one of the best RPGs of all time.
Nothing is sacred either, as every piece of Cyberpunk has been optimized and improved outside paid content, which shows the developers' dedication to improving the world and gameplay. Although there have been thousands of changes since launch, some are much more significant than others.
10NCPD Overhaul
One of the more underwhelming mechanics at launch was the NCPD response, which was easy to avoid and not strictly dangerous unless provoked. Now you will actually be chased and hunted if V commits crimes in the open or towards civilians.
Now actively patrolling and involved in missions, the NCPD feel like another group to be weary of, rather than just a piece of lore. The best addition to this new wanted system is the possibility for MaxTac to appear and give you a much-needed lesson in lawbreaking.
9Vehicle Changes
Rather than overhauling vehicles all at once, they sustained constant improvements, fixes, and changes in every update that has led them to being one of the best parts of the game. Now there are even perks that allow for unique vehicle interactions that make it hard to want to leave.
While there are over a dozen new vehicles since launch, driving changes have finally made them fun to drive, like being able to flip, spin, and wheelie on bikes. Although the most significant improvement is giving some vehicles mounted weapons or the option for you to fire your own weapons while driving.
8Improved Perk Tree
Since launch, the perk tree has significantly changed with all new perks and interactions with cyberware, weapon types, and netrunning, which is far better optimized for making specific builds. Also, infinite refunding of perk points allows you to experiment with new playstyles without being punished.
Although there are fewer perks than before the update, each one is a significant improvement in terms of how they affect your combat and movement, so that they feel worthy of the perk point. This also lets you combine various trees more efficiently and makes your build unique to you.
7More Apartments
In an effort to help you feel like a true and rising member of Night City, Cyberpunk 2077 comes with theability to purchase apartments. These additional apartments also come with significant quality of life changes that make them worth the occasional visit after klepping eddies and zeroing gonks.
Interacting with coffee, showering, and sleeping now give you temporary buffs that are actually significant and a reason to immerse yourself within the world and V. you may also change piercings, hair, and makeup at your mirror without visiting a ripperdoc and even make changes to your starting apartment.
6Weapon Changes
Rather than all at once in a later patch, small changes have been made to weapons since launch that slowly and sometimes significantly improve the phenomenal combat. In addition to the steady stream of new weapons, Iconic weapons have made significant changes and upgrades that can change the game.
Of the more obvious visual changes, new melee finishers and weapon skins make them stand out significantly and improve combat visuals. Also, mods have been overhauled, and useless ones removed to create a more ideal system to help you tweak your weapons to perfection.
5Edgerunners Content
One of the most iconic and memorable pieces of Cyberpunk content comes from the anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, which found its way into Cyberpunk 2077. This gives you the opportunity to interact with a character from the show and obtain an iconic piece of clothing.
You can start the Edgerunners quest by interacting with the BD wreath outside Megabuilding H4.
This is one of the best presents for Cyberpunk fans and is a unique way to mesh the two stories into a single canon. You can also find Edgerunners content hidden in many places, including in the photo mode and a range of new equipment.
4Reworked Cyberware
One of the more efficient gameplay changes was reworking the waycyberware interacts with V, enemies, and even loot to create a more balanced and fun way to optimize your build. Other than small changes like actually sitting in the ripperdoc chair, armor is now almost exclusively from cyberware.
Also, interactions with perks and leveling give cyberware more of a significant presence in how you manage your abilities and leveling currency. Finally, specific cyberware is balanced and upgraded, which opens up new playstyles and goals to achieve.
3The Metro
The NCART City Pass has become available for V, giving you a new way to fast travel in probably one of the most immersive ways in any game. Every time you travel by metro, you can get gorgeous views of the skyline while witnessing new interactions and hidden lore every time.
As just a mechanical benefit, this unlocks 19 more fast travel points that can save you time when looking for the nearest point or getting as close as you may to your next gig. Although seemingly minor, Cyberpunk’s commitment to immersion is worth every update.
2Love Interest Mission
One of the ways Cyberpunk improves on V’s romantic interests in-game is giving a new, repeatable quest option to invite them to one of your Night City apartments. This change seamlessly blends the dialogue options in calls with in-person visits to more accurately immerse you in the gameplay.
It’s also surprising how many dialogue and text exchanges are available between which apartment you invite them to, what activities you do together, and who you invite. While a small change, it is a significant way to keep these key characters from disappearing into the background of other quests.
1Accessibility
One of the more important additions in making Cyberpunk as playable to as many people as possible is the many accessibility options that allow you to play to your comfort level. While better late than never, these additions are essential for inclusion within gaming spaces.
The most notable changes are for vision-impaired players, with additional colorblind options and subtitle changes that reduce eye strain. Controller changes also make a big shift with aim assist, reduced weapon sway, and improved haptic feedback, among many smaller changes that give everyone the chance to become Night City’s most wanted.
