For those still interested in playing Cyberpunk 2077, or at the very least waiting to finish the game once it's "fixed," CD Projekt Red is attempting to make that happen. Most players are familiar with the state that Cyberpunk 2077 launched in, but the Polish developer has been planning patches, updates, and DLC to not only repair but enhance the game. It's unclear how many updates are required to achieve this goal, as CD Projekt Red has only given a vague content roadmap that's yet to be elaborated on (and potentially delayed by the pandemic, among other concerns). With this latest patch, fans may be hoping that Cyberpunk 2077 is finally in a refined state.
Patch 1.3 is not that big update that fans are expecting. Work on Cyberpunk 2077 has been ongoing, but this latest update to the game, as well as the DLC announcements, isn't particularly substantial. There are tons of quest-specific bug fixes, balance changes, and other quality-of-life improvements, but continued reparations are only going to go so far without the promised DLC expansions as well. CD Projekt Red's most recent inclusion of DLC in this patch is not exactly the story expansion or additional side quest that some players expected either. Everything in Cyberpunk 2077's 1.3 patch has taken another incremental step in fixing the game, but fans are still disappointed.
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Coming at some point soon, Cyberpunk 2077's 1.3 update appears to be very similar to previous updates to the cyberpunk RPG. There are tons of bug fixes, balance changes, and optimizations present in these patch notes that continue to refine the gameplay experience from what Cyberpunk 2077 launched as. There are a few standout changes in patch 1.3: Increased the number of saves/quicksaves, crafting component upgrades can be upgraded in bulk, the minimap expands when the player is driving now, among other changes. Additionally, several balance changes were made to the game's weapons, crafting, enemy AI, and various other changes were made.
What makes the 1.3 update distinct from other patches is this was the first time free DLC was added to Cyberpunk 2077, but many fans were disappointed with this announcement. Cyberpunk 2077's free DLC consists of three bonuses: An "alternative" appearance for Johnny Silverhand that can be turned on in the "Additional Content" tab, two rare jackets that V can equip from the player's stash, while the Archer Quartz "Bandit" car will be available as a quest reward and for purchase. However, beyond the additional cosmetic content and new car, there is no additional story or gameplay content coming in patch 1.3.
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So far, the public reception of this patch/DLC update has been mixed at best, as several viewers on Twitch noted disappointment during CD Projekt Red's reveal stream. Given CD Projekt Red's past experience with DLC expansions, many were expecting a massive first story expansion for Cyberpunk 2077 as a way to breath new life into the game. However, unlike The Witcher 3, which had received several expansive DLC additions, the first DLC for Cyberpunk 2077 is for the most part purely cosmetic. Eight/nine months after the release of Cyberpunk 2077, players likely expected at least an announcement or tease of the first major expansion from CD Projekt Red.
Of course, this doesn't really instill confidence in the overall status of the game's progress and post-launch support. Many figured that CD Projekt Red's specific mentioning of DLC would mean more substantial updates like The Witcher 3's Hearts of Stone or Blood and Wine expansions. By comparison, The Witcher 3 had its first expansion out around six months after the game's full release in May of 2015. Granted The Witcher 3's release was not nearly as troubled or controversial as Cyberpunk 2077, but ideally, CD Projekt Red would've had some kind of announcement or tease at this point for the narrative future of Cyberpunk 2077.
As of right now, patch 1.3 is not the major overhaul that Cyberpunk 2077 fans or potential players are looking forward to. There are certainly plentiful changes that are beneficial to the overall refinement and "fixing" of Cyberpunk 2077, but these changes aren't the wide-sweeping fixes and optimizations players are waiting on. Considering the game's PS5/Xbox Series X versions were delayed indefinitely, further updates and expansions could be a long time coming.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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