Cyberpunk 2077 PS5, Xbox Series X upgrade: How to get the next-gen patch

Cyberpunk 2077 doesn't release for the Xbox Series X or PS5 until 2021, but if you've been lucky enough to be able to buy one of the next-gen consoles, you don't have to wait to play it. Both consoles are backwards compatible, meaning you can buy the Xbox One or PS4 versions when the game launches on December 10 and play them on your new console.

For best performance, however, you'll want to take advantage of the Cyberpunk 2077 next-gen upgrade. CD Projekt RED released a day one patch in the interim, which offered next-gen performance improvements to the game if it's played on an Xbox Series X or PS5. When you boot up the game for the first time, your console will automatically download and install the patch.

The next-gen updates were expected in 2021, but due to launch problems with previous-gen versions, along with a large list of bugs and other issues, CD Projekt Red had to delay their release.

Cyberpunk 2077's full next-gen update releases in 2021

The next-gen updates are still expected in 2021, although timing is still unclear. In a new road map released by CD Projekt Red in mid-January, the company explained it'll be working on two major patches first. The first update is expected to drop on Jan. 23. According to the road map, the company is aiming for the latter half of 2021 for the next-gen updates.

A more serious update will be available next year when the Xbox Series X and PS5 versions of the game are released. This one should replicate the performance of the next-gen games and will be fully optimized for those systems rather than just boosting the performance of the Xbox One and PS4 versions. It's also assumed that features like ray tracing will also be included.

CD Projekt Red has promised that this update will be provided for free to everyone, even if you haven't already been playing it on a PS5 or Xbox One X, so you don't have to stress out if you haven't bought the new consoles yet. You'll even be able to transfer your save data over so you won't lose progress on the massive game.

If you're moving the game from PS4 to PS5, you'll need to use the PlayStation Plus Cloud Service, a USB drive, or the PS5's Data Transfer. Xbox users will have an easier time thanks to the Xbox Smart Delivery feature which automatically syncs all data via the cloud.

Updated Jan. 13, 2021: Added mentions of delays for next-gen upgrades to go along with CDPR's updated road map.