A BIG Q&A via a CDPR investors call, where we learn about if there will be another delay, physical and digital distribution, new updates on next gen versions and a lot more. In addition, we also have the potential of vehicle customization from a CDPR store hint, ESRB ratings, DLC plans, A new gang and its lore, as well as more teases of music to come all in todays Cyberpunk 2077 News episode!
Let’s jump right into the news. First, we have a CDPR Q&A at the end of a financial call laying out CD PROJEKTS 2019 finances, their balance sheet and their numbers. At the end we have a Q&A where investors could phone in to ask questions.
The first question was if there were any elements of the release of Cyberpunk out of CDPRs control, based on current events. CDPR’s representatives maintain that they have obtained a mass majority of the game’s ratings, so there is no risk of not obtaining these ratings in any major markets. This has also been echoed by Adam Badowski on Twitter.
They also do not see physical related launch risks by launching in September. The main issue at the moment is the localization process, as most recording studios are closed. They do have a majority of the voice lines for the localization of other regions, but they are not worried about finishing this up, as worst-case scenario there will be a day one patch for these localizations.
The next questions are regarding the marketing strategy of Cyberpunk now that conferences have been shut down, if there are any insights into physical distribution of the game being affected, and the mobile game from Spokko being developed in collaboration with CDPR.
CDPR responds with that they have been planning a digital strategy to unveil new 2077 facts and elements without relying on these events, and that they are working on smart ways to present to a large volume of people. They have plans for a 100% digital presence, as well as a mix of physical and digital presences and they also add that they have tentative plans from June through September.
The next questions were in respect to the benefits of digital vs physical releases, and if CDPR is worried about the potential pileup of back end releases increasing the competition for Cyberpunk 2077. CDPR responds with that they are not really worried as there will be competition in any time you launch a game, and that they believe they have the must have title that will sell well regardless.
Moving on, apparently just under 600 people in the studio are working on Cyberpunk projects, with some employees being fluid between the single player and multiplayer experience, because they are so interconnected. 40 are in Wroclaw for MP, but the vast majority are on the single player.
When it comes to QA and testing, there are around 130-150 people testing the game right now, which is double what they had for the Witcher.
They mention that there will effectively be two versions for the Series X. They have the enhanced version, which will be able to be played at launch, as well as the fully upgraded next gen version which will come post launch of the Series X.
If you guys remember CDPR tweeted that each Xbox One Cyberpunk 2077 purchase will be able to be upgraded to the next gen version for free. It seems that there are two, so I’m not sure if both will be free going forward or just the base enhanced one, but only time will tell.
Amazing new details here, and since I have been getting a ton of concern about another delay, well there you have it, they are confident in a September release despite everything.
Now there was another detail in the Q&A, which I must have missed, and although I did listen to the entire 55 minutes, and checked others notes on the topic I didn’t see / hear this note, but VGC caught a fact from Adam Kicinski where he mentioned Cyberpunk 2077 will have no less DLC than The Witcher 3 had. He also mentioned that on announcement timing, expect a similar scenario to the Witcher 3 where they announced DLC in the months prior, and expansions in the weeks prior to release.
Moving on we have this new lore tidbit from a new gang revealed called the Mox. Now I showed this off on my last news episode, but at the time I was editing, CDPR released a synopsis of this gang as well. According to the information, this gang was formed in 2076 after the death of Elizabeth “lizize” borden, a strip club owner and ex-prostitute who treated workers fairly and defended them from violent clients. The mox refer to themselves as those who protect working girls and guys from violence and abuse. Now we also saw the Lizzies graffiti tied into the Behind The Music trailer, and we have Lizzy Wizzy as a rockergirl popstar in the world, and now we have Elizabeth Lizzie Borden as the symbolic leader of the gang, with a logo of what looks like Lizzy Wizzys logo. Super confusing, although in my mind there is probably a correlation here somehow.
