CD Projekt Red is targeting a late 2021 release for next-gen Cyberpunk 2077

As per CD Projekt's H1 2021 results call, CDPR's SVP of business development, Michael Nowakowski, confirmed that the studio "can't say with full certainty that the production schedule will not change" after claiming that the studio plans on releasing both next-gen updates in "late 2021".

With only a handful of months left for the year, time is running out for CDPR and it would be wise not to expect the next-gen updates for Cyberpunk 2077 to arrive in time.

This is unfortunate news for those who are still holding out hope for a more fully realized version of Cyberpunk 2077. Although the game remains a far cry from what was initially promised, a next-gen upgrade could give players a reason to try Cyberpunk 2077 out or come back to see what's new. This is especially after all the fiasco that surrounded the game upon its December 2020 launch.

Making Cyberpunk 2077 available on the PS5 and XSX wouldn't exactly absolve CDPR from its shortcomings, but it would help gamers appreciate all the studio's efforts to fix the game. At the same time, a holiday 2021 release could serve as a pseudo-relaunch for the game. What's next for CD Projekt RED? The Witcher 3 remains just as relevant despite being nearly a decade old at this point.

CDPR has spent the better part of 2021 trying to clean up its mess and making sure that it never happens again. To that end, the company has made several changes and acquired a new studio. Only time will tell if this is enough for CDPR to come back from disaster. However, coming through with its late 2021 release window for next-gen versions of its latest titles would go a long way.

Unlike Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3 remains popular among today's gamers. Even if the title has managed to hold up relatively well in terms of graphics and gameplay, most gamers will welcome a next-gen update. This would also tie in nicely with the release of Season 2 of Netflix's The Witcher in December along with the promised free DLCs based on the same adaptation.

Despite the growing demand for next-gen versions of Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3: Wild, there remains a larger issue. Both Sony and Microsoft continue to struggle to put out enough stock of their flagship consoles to meet the demand. The ongoing chip shortage continues to affect all industries. Several experts are suggesting that things are going to get a lot worse before they get better.