Cyberpunk 2077 Sees Massive Player Surge After Phantom Liberty Patch Revamp

CD Projekt Red’s faith in Cyberpunk 2077 appears to be paying off as the open-world RPG experiences a massive resurgence in player numbers following the release of Patch 2.0 and the Phantom Liberty expansion. Data from Steam and community reports suggest the game has seen a significant uptick in players, with many praising the overhauled gameplay systems and new content.

Patch 2.0, released just ahead of the anticipated Phantom Liberty DLC, brought sweeping changes to the core game. Chief among them: a complete revamp of the skill tree and perk system, redesigned police AI, and better vehicle combat—all features fans had clamored for since the game’s rocky 2020 launch. Many are now hailing Patch 2.0 as the game’s “real launch,” akin to a No Man’s Sky-style comeback.

The Phantom Liberty expansion, starring Idris Elba as the enigmatic FIA agent Solomon Reed, introduces an entirely new espionage-driven storyline set in the dystopian district of Dogtown. This substantial narrative addition, along with new side quests, weapons, and a revamped endgame structure, has injected fresh life into a title that once seemed destined to be another cautionary tale.

According to Steam Charts, Cyberpunk 2077’s concurrent player count has exceeded 200,000 in the days following the update—a number not seen since shortly after its initial release. The player buzz isn’t limited to PC either; console players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S are also benefiting from the performance and gameplay improvements.

Developers at CD Projekt Red have expressed gratitude for the renewed enthusiasm. In a post-launch stream, quest director Pawel Sasko said, “We wanted Cyberpunk to be something people remembered for the right reasons. We’ve been working toward this version since 2021, and it feels amazing to see players respond.”

While some skeptics remain cautious given the game’s turbulent history, the current momentum suggests that Cyberpunk 2077 has finally realized its original promise. With renewed interest from veterans and new players alike, Night City may once again be the futuristic playground it was always meant to be.