Cyberpunk 2077: When will multiplayer mode be released?
Or has it been cancelled altogether?
When will multiplayer come to Cyberpunk 2077? One of the most frequently asked questions regarding CD Projekt Red's colossal RPG Cyberpunk 2077 is whether players have the option to play the game in multiplayer. Is multiplayer part of the main Cyberpunk game? If not, when can we expect it? And how will it work?
Cyberpunk 2077 has had rather an interesting journey so far, and the bumpy ride afforded by its sub-par launch has thrown the game's future prospects up in the air - multiplayer included. But with the game's resurgence in players, which began with the Edgerunners anime and has followed through to the Phantom Liberty DLC, that may soon change. Learn more about all this and everything else we know about Cyberpunk 2077 multiplayer below.
Is Cyberpunk 2077 multiplayer?
Cyberpunk 2077 multiplayer was always part of the long-term plan for the game, but the feature was not included at launch - and, as of the Version 2.0 update which was released in September 2023, there's still been no official word.
Some players believe that a statement by CD Projekt Red in March 2021 announcing their plans to "reconsider" CP77's multiplayer aspect means that the mode has been cancelled. However, nothing has officially been stated outright.
Reddit user "Rubz8r10" noticed on 22 September 2022 that there is a section in the game's end credits devoted to multiplayer (see the screenshot below). This may not mean much, since even if some preliminary work had been done on multiplayer, it could still have been scrapped later on. But it's an interesting find nonetheless.
But with the release of Cyberpunk Edgerunners on Netflix, Cyberpunk 2077 has received a much-needed explosion in popularity, which has continued all the way through to the launch of the Phantom Liberty expansion and the major 2.0 update. This renaissance may warrant a new look at the game's roadmap for the next few years. It could be that plans for multiplayer were scrapped after Cyberpunk 2077's rather disastrous launch, but the renewed popularity could give them the impetus to revisit those plans once more.
CD Projekt Red previously revealed that they would view the multiplayer component of Cyberpunk 2077 as its own AAA release, rather than a mode hastily tacked onto the singleplayer game. Think less Mass Effect 3 multiplayer, and more GTA Online. So it's an ambitious project. Unfortunately, CDPR remain tight-lipped about the prospect of multiplayer so far, and whether it will ever see the light of day.
How will Cyberpunk 2077 work in multiplayer?
Back when CD Projekt Red were speaking on the subject, they said that Cyberpunk 2077's multiplayer will arrive as a free download for anyone who already owns the game. As for what the multiplayer experience will be like, there aren't many details to pick apart.
We know that during CP77's initial development they hired Canadian studio Digital Scapes to work alongside them for Cyberpunk multiplayer. Digital Scapes are known for co-developing Dying Light's Be The Zombie PvP multiplayer mode with Techland, and it's a clear indication of just how large-scale and comprehensive Cyberpunk's multiplayer is planned to become.
The best guess right now is that Cyberpunk 2077's multiplayer is (or was) planned to be similar in some ways to GTA Online - a very large and open-ended sandbox-style online multiplayer experience, with lots of character customisation, and lots of activities and quests to partake in both alone and with friends. Many of them illegal, I'm sure.
Microtransactions are planned for Cyberpunk 2077 multiplayer, though we do not know exactly what form they will take. "Like always, expect us treating your money with respect," was the last word from Adam Kicinski, President of CD Projekt. But of course, we should all reserve judgement until further information is revealed. Whatever the case, CDPR have hastened to reassure prospective players that only the multiplayer will feature microtransactions, and that the singleplayer Cyberpunk will remain a single purchase deal (aside from paid DLC expansions).
And that's just about everything we know so far on the topic of Cyberpunk 2077's hotly anticipated multiplayer mode. Now why not check out our guides on Cyberpunk 2077 character creation and the three Cyberpunk 2077 classes available in the game? You can also consult our handy guide on the different Cyberpunk 2077 weapons, and the best builds in Cyberpunk 2077. For everything else, check out our Cyberpunk 2077 walkthrough hub.