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
What players & critics say
After 2.0 this is finally the Night City we were promised in 2020 — the perk rework alone changes how every build feels.
Phantom Liberty is one of the best expansions of the decade. Idris Elba's Solomon Reed and the Songbird arc rival the main game.
Path tracing with Ray Reconstruction on a 4070 Super at 1440p DLSS Quality is jaw-dropping; performance is finally stable.
New player here — Phantom Liberty + 2.0 made the slow Act 1 finally land. Took 60 hours to finish a Netrunner build.
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.