What is Cyberpunk 2077 in 2026?
Cyberpunk 2077 is CD Projekt Red's open-world FPS RPG set in Night City — a chrome-and-neon American dystopia where you build V (a Solo, Netrunner, Techie or hybrid), get tangled up with Keanu Reeves' Johnny Silverhand, and pick from six endings. Five years and a complete 2.x rebuild later, the game is unrecognizable from launch: police chases work, AI reacts, perks and cyberware are deep, and the loot loop finally clicks. The paid expansion Phantom Liberty adds the Dogtown district and a 25-hour spy-thriller arc featuring Idris Elba.
What changed in update 2.x
- Reworked perk trees with build identity per attribute and stronger Netrunner/Solo synergy.
- Cyberware capacity replaces inventory bloat; everything is meaningful.
- Police & traffic AI behave like a working city, not a stock backdrop.
- Vehicle combat with shooting from the driver seat and ramming.
- Path tracing + Ray Reconstruction on RTX 40 / 50 cards — a current-gen showcase.
How to buy and start playing
- Open the official Steam page using the Buy on Steam button above.
- Purchase the base game; add Phantom Liberty for the expansion.
- Install ~80 GB on an SSD (HDD not officially supported anymore).
- On first boot, run the benchmark and set DLSS / FSR Quality + medium-to-high preset; raise from there.
System requirements (PC, post-2.0)
Minimum: Windows 10 64-bit, Intel Core i7-6700 / Ryzen 5 1600, 12 GB RAM, GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB / RX 580 8 GB. Recommended: Core i7-12700 / Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 16 GB RAM, RTX 2060 Super 8 GB / RX 5700 XT (raster), RTX 4070+ for path tracing. SSD required.
Screenshots
Critical & player reception
1stargames editorial summary — these notes reflect widely reported critic and player sentiment, not direct quotes or verified individual reviews. For scored critic reviews see Metacritic or OpenCritic; for player reviews, open the game’s Steam page.
- Critics: After a troubled 2020 launch, the 2.0 update (2023) and the Phantom Liberty expansion were widely praised, with Phantom Liberty scoring highly with critics.
- Players: Steam user reviews recovered to “Very Positive” following the 2.x overhaul.
- Common criticism: The launch-state reputation lingers, path tracing is very GPU-intensive, and an SSD is required.
Editor verdict
Buy. The 2.x version of Cyberpunk 2077 is the canonical experience and Phantom Liberty pushes it into top-shelf territory. If you have an RTX 40-series, it's also the best path tracing showcase on Steam.
- Top-tier story & world
- Reworked perks & AI
- Path tracing showcase
- SSD required
- No multiplayer
Frequently asked questions
Is Cyberpunk 2077 worth buying in 2026?
Yes — after 2.x and Phantom Liberty it's one of the strongest action RPGs on Steam.
Do I need Phantom Liberty?
No, but it adds Dogtown, Songbird's arc, a new ending and balance changes; most reviewers consider it essential.
What are the best PC settings?
RTX 40-series: DLSS Quality + Path Tracing + Ray Reconstruction. Older or AMD: high preset + DLSS/FSR Quality, capped at your monitor's refresh.
Is the game on Steam?
Yes — CD Projekt Red sells and updates Cyberpunk 2077 on Steam. The button above is the official listing.
