Cyberpunk 2077's multiplayer mode has also been delayed

You won't have to wait until 2077 to play Cyberpunk 2077 with other gamers, but you'll definitely have to wait until at least 2022. This is according to a conference call that developer CD Projekt Red held today for investors to discuss the announced delay of Cyberpunk 2077.

Up to this point, details on the multiplayer component of CDPR's next big AAA title were pretty mum. While today's announcement doesn't change that fact much, it does give us a bit more insight into the game, at large.

"Given the expected release of Cyberpunk 2077 in September, and speaking of a series of events we expect to occur after that date, 2021 appears unlikely as a release date for the Cyberpunk multiplayer," Michal Nowakowski, CDPR's SVP of business development said.

While The Witcher 3 might have put the CD Projekt Red name into the minds of millions of new gamers, the presence of Keanu Reeves' likeness in Cyberpunk 2077 vaulted CDPR's status into the stratosphere. Along with that, expectations of delivery have increased significantly, especially with the announcement of multiplayer at E3 2019.

We've learned since then that Cyberpunk 2077's multiplayer component is actually being developed alongside the singleplayer component as if it were a completely separate AAA title. Because of that, the multiplayer portion of the game has a completely different development roadmap.

Cyberpunk 2077: Everything we know so far

For a little historical context, Cyberpunk 2077 was originally announced in 2013, but development didn't begin until 2015. Multiplayer mode was announced only this past Fall, in September 2019. Given the fact that the multiplayer component was announced years after the original game's concept, it's highly likely that CDPR has significantly expanded the scope and breadth of the game over the years, and that it's definitely in this one for the long haul.

CD Projekt Red doesn't seem to be taking any chances with the popularity of its next game, as it has lots of DLC planned for the single-player component of Cyberpunk 2077, in addition to this other multiplayer component that's being developed. It's likely that this DLC will work story elements around the building up of the multiplayer and should help it make sense in the over-arching world of the game. If there's any proof of this strategy working, it's with Grand Theft Auto V, which continues to have a massive player base and regular sales of the title several years after its release, thanks to regular content updates and thriving multiplayer.