When Cyberpunk 2077 dropped in 2020, it hit the pavement harder than a Corpo suit in a back-alley brawl. Crashes, console meltdowns, broken AI, it was an impressive disaster. But here we are in 2025, and somehow, CD Projekt Red turned that narrative around. With Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 2.3 now live and talk of new DLC and future expansions, this once-memed game is having a genuine comeback moment.
Now the question is: should you care?
Whether you’re a beginner looking for a guide to Cyberpunk 2077, or a returning vet wondering what the devs are still doing with this neon fever dream, let’s break it down.
Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 2.3: Hands-Free Chaos and NPC Glamour Shots
CDPR has officially dropped Patch 2.3 and it’s not just a bug sweep. This thing comes fully loaded with self-driving cars, cinematic cameras, cracked paint jobs, and even a fresh fleet of quests and vehicles. Also, shoutout to the devs who finally let us tell Johnny Silverhand to piss off mid-drive. Progress.
The update hit PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S on July 17. Switch 2 owners are still waiting in the rain, though CDPR says it’ll launch “soon after.” Translation: they’re still duct-taping it together for portable hardware.
Patch 2.3 includes 4 new vehicles, including a customizable motorcycle, and a new AutoDrive feature that lets you vibe while your car does the work. Yes, you can set a marker, switch to cinematic mode, and go full Blade Runner while the game obeys traffic laws for you. If you get attacked, the car pulls over like a good cyber-citizen and waits for the chaos to end.
There’s even a “wander” mode if you want your ride to drive aimlessly around Night City, plus you can now call up Delamain’s self-driving cab fleet like some futuristic Uber XL. It’s delightfully weird and maybe the most immersive chill feature CDPR’s ever added.
Photo Mode Overhaul: Now With 100% More Iguanas
Patch 2.3 goes hard on visuals too. The Photo Mode update adds 27 new NPCs you can summon for shots — including fixers, Brendan the vending machine, and a literal iguana. You can change outfits, spawn rain or acid storms, freeze time, and even turn your Night City screenshots into retro postcards with stickers and frames.
Also, you can now tweak color filters, use frame-by-frame tools, and adjust in-game weather just to capture that perfect noir lighting. Combine that with the AutoDrive cinematic cam, and Patch 2.3 basically hands you the director’s chair. All that’s missing is a synthwave soundtrack, a VHS filter, or a cameo from Death Stranding 2.
The CD Projekt Red Roadmap: Dead or Just Redacted?
Let’s talk CD Projekt Red’s roadmap if you can call it that. After promising Phantom Liberty would be the “final expansion,” CDPR went suspiciously silent… until now.
Even their investor calls and official CD Projekt Red news hint at “ongoing narrative support,” which is corporate speak for “we’ve got more stuff cooking, but marketing said to shut up for now.”
Performance Finally Matches the Hype
This game used to run like a cyber-chicken missing half its implants. But Patch 2.3 ups the ante especially on PC. We’re talking AMD FSR 3.1 Frame Generation, Intel XeSS 2.0 support, and a tease for FSR 4 (coming once AMD drops the matching driver). Even HDR10+ Gaming is finally working right.
Console players aren’t left out either Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) has arrived for PS5 and Series X|S, and CDPR finally fixed that weird weather-ignoring foliage on PlayStation. Small wins, but they add up.
If you’ve got a Ryzen 5 and an RTX 2060 collecting dust, now’s your moment. Performance across the board feels smoother and for once, the game’s tech buzzwords actually mean something.
Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 2.3 is live now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, so if you’ve been waiting to jump back in, this is the update to do it.
For Newbies: Is It Finally Safe to Start Playing?
Short answer: yes. Long answer: hell yes.
Cyberpunk 2077 was a tough sell for newcomers at launch, but the tides have turned. Tutorials are clearer, systems are more forgiving, AutoDrive makes traversal a breeze, and the game doesn’t crash every five minutes. Whether you’re chasing gigs or romancing Panam, it mostly just works.
Starting Cyberpunk 2077 in 2025 feels like starting Skyrim after the mods fixed everything.
DLC Speculation: What’s Next After Liberty?
So, what about Phantom Liberty? While officially billed as the last big content drop, that hasn’t stopped fans (or dataminers) from speculating.
With keywords like Cyberpunk 2077 DLC release date and Cyberpunk 2077 expansion PS5 trending, players are clearly still hungry for more.
Fans had speculated the patch would include new story quests, companion arcs, or even stealth DLC — but 2.3 turned out to focus more on vehicles, customization, and cinematic features instead.
So… Should You Reinstall Cyberpunk 2077?
Whether you’re a lapsed player or someone Googling the best beginner build for Cyberpunk 2077, the game now feels like what CDPR promised five years ago. Not perfect. But damn close. And if you’re still hunting for what’s fresh, check out our picks for the best new PC games of 2025.
Our Take, No Filters
CD Projekt Red may never fully live down the original launch, but they’ve done more than most studios to fix their mess. Cyberpunk 2077 in 2025 is a rare redemption arc that actually landed.
So whether you’re a returning Netrunner or a newbie trying not to get flatlined by your first cyberpsycho, now might be the best time to jack back into Night City. Just don’t hold your breath for Cyberpunk 2, it’s in pre-production, and likely won’t arrive until 2030 if we’re lucky.
Need help building a rig that can run it? Check out our best budget PC builds — because even Night City doesn’t require an RTX 4090.
Ready to jack back into Night City? Patch 2.3 is live, the bugs are mostly dead, and the cars drive themselves now what’s your excuse? Hit the streets, snap some glam shots in Photo Mode, and let us know if you think CDPR stuck the landing.
