^{Image: CD Projekt RED}

Cyberpunk 2077 is getting overhauled five days before its first and last expansion Phantom Liberty launches.

CD Projekt Red has announced that Cyberpunk 2077’s long-awaited 2.0 update will launch on September 21, five days before the game’s first and last expansion Phantom Liberty. The 2.0 update will be entirely free, addressing most of players’ concerns with the game’s original launch state, from the broken police system to unrewarding skill trees.

Here’s an overview of everything coming in the 2.0 update:

Anyone who’s been waiting for Cyberpunk 2077 to be ‘fixed’ before playing it can safely start next week, as Update 2.0 not only plans to improve upon existing systems like enemy AI and vehicular combat, but adds a bunch of new ways to play the game too. For example, new abilities have been added to the skill tree to give players access to more playstyles and builds that actually feel viable, especially for melee fighters. The perks system has been similarly redesigned with new additions.

Vehicular combat is now a lot more fun, with random car chases occurring in the open world kicked up by criminals and warring gangs. You’ll be able to install weapons on your cars to deal with these pests, though the NCPD might beat you to it. The new police system will allow the NCPD to respond to crime in more realistic ways, such as by setting up roadblocks or trying to ram criminals off the road. Most of the time, that criminal will be you.

There’s a lot of other neat stuff included in this update, like revamped cyberware (you can actually use Mantis or Gorilla Arms and not die all the time!) better loot, more items, improved enemy AI and more radio stations. More improvements and bug fixes will probably be outlined once CD Projekt RED publishes the patchnotes. It might not be worth a full new playthrough for everyone, but it does make returning to Night City for the upcoming expansion more exciting.

Speaking of, we also got a new trailer for Phantom Liberty today:

Phantom Liberty adds a whole new storyline and district to the game, kicking off with V investigating a downed plane containing the NUSA President. To navigate the new spy thriller-themed story, V will be paired up with Solomon Reed (Idris Elba), who seems to be dealing with his own mess judging by the trailer above. The expansion also adds new quests, gigs, bosses and an increased level cap to the game. It's also the last expansion the game will get, as CD Projekt RED prepares to move onto other games.

Phantom Liberty launches on September 26, 2023.

Cyberpunk 2077's big 2.0 overhaul arrives right before Phantom Liberty