Cyberpunk Multiplayer Cancelled? 2077 is the Year of the Loner

Last Updated on: 6th April 2021, 07:10 pm

Following the updated “Strategy Guide” from CDPR last week, it seems like Cyberpunk 2077’s multiplayer modes have been cancelled for good. Here’s why this is probably a good thing, but still a shame.

Cyberpunk Multiplayer Cancelled?

In the recently-released Strategy Video from CDPR, CEO and President Adam Kicinski had a lot to say. The relevant part of all this is the following quote:

” Previously we hinted that our next triple-A would be a multiplayer Cyberpunk game, but we have decided to reconsider this now. Given our new more systematic and agile approach, instead of primarily focusing on one big online experience or game, we are focusing on bringing online into all of our franchises one day.”

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What does this mean, though? Good question. It essentially means that any Cyberpunk 2077-related multiplayer title has been canned because CDPR wants to try and bring “online into all of [CDPR’s] franchises”. “One Day”.

Following the rocky release, this is in no-way surprising but a lot of Cyberpunk’s player base might be a little disappointed with this. You sort of get No Man’s Sky vibes from the whole situation, except that was shipped with the multiplayer aspect much more in focus.

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Still, it is a shame that Cyberpunk 2077’s multiplayer game and/or modes have been cancelled. But, is this a good thing?

Is This A Good Thing?

In a way, yes. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt didn’t really need multiplayer and Cyberpunk 2077 doesn’t really need it either.

Sure, we’d like to brush shoulders with our friends while Mantis Blades spring out of our forearms… But, narratively it wouldn’t work. V is the protagonist of Cyberpunk 2077.

Even though you can “choose your ending” and “choose your genitals” there’s still a story there that’s specifically designed for this character. Having multiple V’s running around causing chaos wouldn’t be too dissimilar to having four Geralt’s trying to play Gwent with the same Nilfgaardian Shopkeeper. Hilarious, but strange.

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In addition to this, the sheer scale of detail Cyberpunk offers would be very demanding on any set-up when the multiplayer element is thrown into the mix. Although Cyberpunk 2077 could support some form of Team Deathmatch-type competitive multiplayer, would that even be worth the hassle?

The one thing that makes Cyberpunk 2077 great is how Cyberpunk 2077 it all is. for all its’ flaws, it is a unique experience that’s a hell of a lot of fun when its’ working. A bland multiplayer expansion wouldn’t really do the rest of the project justice and we can’t imagine CDPR want to further damage their reputation by shipping out something uninspired because they feel like they owe it to a few fans.

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Cyberpunk 2077’s multiplayer modes might have been cancelled, but the game itself is here to stay thanks to its’ huge 1.2 Patch and we’re totally fine with that.