Cyberpunk 2077 Isn’t Done Yet, and PS5 Pro Proves It

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It feels like ages ago when we first heard Johnny Silverhand – or Keanu Reeves, since the two are inseparable in our minds – say, “Wake up, samurai.” We didn’t know the details, but it was immediately obvious that something had to change in Night City, and that change would be dramatic.

The game faced a rocky start with a problematic launch, but ultimately became a remarkable comeback story in the gaming world. By September 2023, it felt like the developers had finally realized their vision. A major update, version 2.0, completely overhauled the game, and the Phantom Liberty expansion provided a fantastic story with a surprisingly satisfying conclusion. CD Projekt RED successfully finished what they set out to do, bringing the game to a fitting end.

And the updates just kept coming! While it was already impressive that Cyberpunk 2077 received support for nearly three years after it launched, it’s now April 2026 and the game finally has support for the PS5 Pro. This is especially surprising considering the developers said in 2024 that they weren’t planning on adding this feature.

What makes this update great isn’t just its support for standard 4K dynamic PSSR; it’s the upgraded version, which delivers noticeably better image quality. And it doesn’t stop there! The update also includes an 8-way Bounding Volume Hierarchy, which makes ray-traced lighting, reflections, and shadows even more realistic. This is in addition to features like Variable Rate Shading and improvements to the ray-tracing cache and how objects are processed.

This feature alone would likely have been sufficient, but it goes even further by offering three distinct modes. If you prioritize a smooth experience, Performance Mode can reach up to 90 frames per second on compatible displays. For the highest visual fidelity, Ray Tracing Mode provides ray tracing for all shadows, though it runs at 60 frames per second. Ray-traced reflections are also included for things like transparent objects and vehicle paint.

If you’re looking to fully immerse yourself in Night City, Ray Tracing Pro Mode is the way to go. It delivers stunning visuals – including realistic shadows, glowing lights, and natural skylighting – at a smooth 40 frames per second on high refresh rate monitors. Even without a high refresh rate monitor, achieving 30 frames per second with this level of detail and image quality is remarkable.

It’s true – there’s no New Game Plus mode, no option to play in third-person, and not much to excite players on other consoles. That’s disappointing, but it’s still amazing that CD Projekt RED continues to support Cyberpunk 2077 so much after its release.

It’s easy to see why they focused on this game – it’s their biggest money-maker, having sold over 35 million copies by November 2025, and actually surpassed the sales of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt at a faster rate. Interestingly, they achieved this success without ever hinting at support for the PS5 Pro. Even though adding this feature likely wouldn’t significantly increase sales, they acknowledged that some players really wanted it and decided to deliver, exceeding expectations by providing something they hadn’t originally promised.

Even though Cyberpunk 2077 continues to be a popular game, the developers are making it easier for new players to jump in. It was added to the PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium library last year, and more recently became available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Premium, opening up Night City to an even wider audience.

Even with the Nintendo Switch 2 release last year, the developers didn’t just transfer the existing version. They optimized performance for both handheld and TV play, and added features like motion controls, improved Joy-Con support for mouse-like precision, gyro aiming, the ability to save progress across devices, and even touchscreen menus. Plus, both the main game and the Phantom Liberty expansion came on a game cartridge – a complete, physical copy you owned outright, with no extra downloads or hoops to jump through.

All of these improvements – like the rumored PS5 Pro, new Game Pass and PS Plus games, and a potential Switch 2 – come from a genuine passion for the game and appreciation for the players. That’s why CD Projekt RED kept releasing updates even after their largest one, because they care about the player experience.

The game now includes features we’ve come to expect in open-world titles – things like a subway system, the ability to listen to the radio while exploring on foot, car races you can play again and again, and gangs that will chase you if you cause trouble. It also offers vehicle customization, new cars, a completely updated Photo Mode, and even an Auto Drive function. While the developers didn’t need to add all of this – and even brought in extra help from Virtuos to do so – they did, and it’s all available as a free update.

Considering the issues surrounding the game’s release – the misleading information, the broken promises, and the resulting letdown – it’s no surprise many people are skeptical of CD Projekt RED. Some players are simply unwilling to forgive the developer, and nothing will change their opinion, even with ongoing support and positive developments.

Despite all the effort and dedication – over five years’ worth – that the team invested in this game, there was no certainty it would be well-received or generate enthusiasm for future projects like The Witcher 4 and Project Orion (also known as Cyberpunk 2). It’s important to remember how many games are cancelled every month, even after years of work and significant financial investment, and how many never even get released.

Honestly, it’s amazing to see how far this game has come! Right now, it’s sitting at an 88% “Very Positive” rating on Steam – even higher at 94% if you just look at the latest reviews. And it’s not just the game itself; the Edgerunners anime really added to the whole experience. It’s clear this game has really resonated with people, changing how they see Night City and even impacting them personally, and it’s awesome to see so much love for it.

Wow, Night City really lives up to its name, ‘City of Legends.’ Even with all the awful stuff happening – the mega-corporations crushing people, the insane crime rates, and how consumerism has created a whole new set of problems – it somehow works. What I loved most was that my choices, and how I interacted with everyone in the city, actually felt important. Even when things seemed hopeless, like Johnny was right about needing to just end it all, it all tied together in a way that made my journey feel meaningful.

CD Projekt RED isn’t likely to stop supporting its games anytime soon. They’re expanding their development team to over 450 people by 2027 to work on Cyberpunk 2, which means continued updates and support are possible. With rumors of free DLC for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and The Witcher 4 in development, revisiting Cyberpunk 2077 isn’t out of the question. It’s possible they’re strategically using updates to build excitement for their upcoming sequels while also generating revenue. Now that the PS5 Pro update has arrived, their previous statements about not planning any further DLC or expansions might change.

It’s hard to know what the future holds, but for now, we’re heading back to Night City – a little more experienced and with plenty of good memories. What’s become clear is that the best stories and characters truly endure.

Please keep in mind that the opinions shared in this article belong solely to the author and don’t reflect the official stance of GamingBolt.

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2026-04-12 14:13