What Is Cyberpunk 2077?
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action RPG set in Night City, a sprawling dystopian metropolis in the near future. You play as V, a mercenary who can be customized with an extensive body modification system. The game features first-person combat (guns, blades, hacking), branching story choices, and one of the most densely detailed open worlds in gaming.
The game launched notoriously buggy in 2020, but CD Projekt Red has since released the 2.0 patch (September 2023), which overhauled the skill tree, police AI, combat, and cyberware systems — effectively making it a different game. The Phantom Liberty expansion added a full new district (Dogtown), dozens of hours of story content, and a new ending branch. The current version of Cyberpunk 2077 (2.1+) is considered one of the best open-world RPGs available on PC.
System Requirements
| Tier | CPU | GPU | RAM | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum (1080p/30fps) | Intel Core i7-6700K / AMD Ryzen 5 1600 | NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB / AMD RX 580 8GB | 12 GB | 70 GB SSD |
| Recommended (1080p/60fps) | Intel Core i7-8700K / AMD Ryzen 7 2700X | RTX 2060 Super / RX 5700 XT | 16 GB | 70 GB NVMe |
| High (1440p/60fps + RT Low) | Intel Core i9-9900K / Ryzen 7 5800X | RTX 3080 / RX 6800 XT | 32 GB | 70 GB NVMe |
| Ultra + Ray Tracing (4K/60fps) | Intel Core i9-12900K / Ryzen 9 5900X | RTX 4080 / RTX 4090 | 32 GB | 70 GB NVMe |
SSD mandatory: Cyberpunk requires an SSD. On an HDD the open world stutters severely as assets stream in. This is not negotiable for playable performance.
VRAM note: The base game at 1080p Ultra needs 8 GB VRAM. With Ray Tracing enabled, 10–12 GB is needed. With Overdrive (path tracing) at 1440p or 4K, you need an RTX 4090's 24 GB or equivalent.
DLSS / FSR / XeSS: All three upscalers are supported. DLSS 3 Frame Generation (RTX 4000 series) is particularly impactful — it can double effective frame rates on compatible hardware, making 4K/60fps achievable on an RTX 4070 Ti or better.
How to Download and Install Cyberpunk 2077 on PC
Cyberpunk 2077 is a paid game (~$59.99 base, with Phantom Liberty ~$29.99 additional). It's available on:
Method 1: Steam
- Open Steam (steam.steampowered.com — or download the Steam client)
- Search "Cyberpunk 2077" and purchase the base game or complete edition
- Click Install in your Steam Library
- Choose install drive — SSD only
- Game will download (~70 GB). Phantom Liberty is a separate DLC purchase that installs alongside the base game
Method 2: GOG (CD Projekt Red's own store)
- Go to gog.com and purchase Cyberpunk 2077
- Download the GOG Galaxy launcher or the standalone offline installer
- GOG version is DRM-free — you can back it up and play without a launcher
- Recommended for: players who want to own the game without platform dependency
Method 3: Xbox Game Pass (PC)
- Subscribe to Xbox PC Game Pass ($9.99/month) or Ultimate ($14.99/month)
- Search for Cyberpunk 2077 in the Xbox app
- Click Install
- Note: Phantom Liberty expansion is NOT included in Game Pass; it must be purchased separately. Base game on Game Pass is the 2.0+ version with all free updates.
Best PC Settings for Cyberpunk 2077
Performance Target: 1080p / 60fps (RTX 2060 / RX 5700 XT)
| Setting | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1920×1080 | |
| Window Mode | Fullscreen | Lower latency than borderless |
| VSync | Off | Use NVIDIA Reflex / AMD Anti-Lag instead |
| Max FPS | Uncapped (or 60 if GPU-limited) | |
| Quality Preset | Medium or High | Starting point |
| Crowd Density | Medium | Big FPS gain in city areas |
| Ray Tracing | Off | Performance cost is extremely high |
| Texture Quality | High | VRAM permitting |
| Shadow Quality | Medium | Biggest rasterization FPS lever |
| Ambient Occlusion | Medium | SSAO vs GTAO — Medium is good value |
| Screen Space Reflections | Off or Low | Very expensive on weaker GPUs |
| Lens Flare | Off | Personal preference, minor savings |
| Motion Blur | Off | Most competitive players disable |
| DLSS | Quality (NVIDIA) | Nearly eliminates most performance issues |
| FSR | Quality (AMD) | Good alternative upscaler |
| XeSS | Quality (Intel) | For Intel Arc users |
High Settings: 1440p / 60fps (RTX 3070 / RX 6800 XT)
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Quality Preset | High / Ultra |
| Crowd Density | High |
| Ray Tracing | Off (or RT Low with DLSS) |
| DLSS | Balanced or Quality |
| Shadow Quality | High |
| Ambient Occlusion | High (GTAO) |
| Screen Space Reflections | Medium |
Ray Tracing and Path Tracing
Cyberpunk supports three levels of RT:
- Ray Tracing: Low/Medium/High — Enables RT reflections, shadows, and AO. Requires RTX 2000+ or RX 6000+ series
- Ray Tracing: Ultra — All of the above maxed. Needs RTX 3080+
- Overdrive / Path Tracing — Full path tracing, the most realistic lighting in any game as of 2026. Requires RTX 4080+ for playable frame rates, DLSS Frame Gen essential
For most players with RTX 3070–4070, RT Medium + DLSS Quality is the ideal balance.
Phantom Liberty: Do You Need It?
Phantom Liberty is the game's only expansion ($29.99). It adds:
- A full new district: Dogtown (Pacifica inner zone, locked behind Phantom Liberty story)
- ~15–20 hours of main story content centered on a new character, Solomon Reed (Idris Elba)
- Multiple new endings for the base game's story
- New weapons, cyberware, and gigs in Dogtown
- The 2.0 skill tree overhaul was a free update (not locked behind the expansion)
If you're a first-time player, buying the complete edition (base + Phantom Liberty) upfront is recommended — the expansion integrates into the late-game naturally and the new ending options are worth experiencing.
Game Basics: Starting Out in Cyberpunk 2077
Choose Your Lifepath (Opening)
At the start you choose one of three Lifepaths that affect your opening chapter and scattered dialogue options throughout the game:
| Lifepath | Background | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Street Kid | Grew up in Watson, knows Night City hustlers | Role-playing immersion, local flavor |
| Corpo | Ex-Arasaka employee, knows corporate politics | Corporate quests, unique dialogue options |
| Nomad | Outsider arriving from the Badlands | Fresh-perspective feel, Aldecaldos faction access |
The choice affects early dialogue and a handful of unique moments. All three converge to the same main story after the Prologue. There's no "better" lifepath for gameplay — pick the one that appeals to you narratively.
Attributes and Cyberware (2.0 System)
The 2.0 patch replaced the old skill system with a more RPG-focused attribute + perk system:
| Attribute | Powers |
|---|---|
| Body | Brute force, shotguns, LMGs, fist fighting, high HP |
| Reflexes | Pistols, rifles, blades, dodge, mantis blades combat |
| Technical Ability | Crafting, Tech weapons (charge-shot through walls), armor |
| Intelligence | Quickhacking, netrunner builds, breach protocol |
| Cool | Stealth, sniper rifles, Cold Blood passive damage bonus |
You can respec your attribute points once using a rare item (Mirror of Mortality). Cyberware upgrades your body with implants — each slot has a capacity limit based on your Relic perk tree. Overspec cyberware causes "cyberpsychosis" (in-game consequences).
Playstyles
| Style | Core Attributes | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|
| Netrunner (Hacker) | Intelligence | Hack enemies from cover, queue daemon chains, win fights remotely |
| Solo (Gunfighter) | Body + Reflexes | Tank through fights, use heavy weapons and sandevistan |
| Bladerunner | Reflexes | Mantis Blades or Monowire melee, rapid hit-and-dash |
| Stealth | Cool | Eliminate enemies before they see you, silenced weapons |
| Tech Shooter | Technical Ability | Charge-shot through walls and covers, explosive rounds |
For first-time players: Netrunner or Solo are the most forgiving and fun. Netrunner lets you win encounters without getting shot at; Solo lets you absorb damage and fight through.
Priority Order (First 5 Hours)
- Complete the Prologue (Jackie quests, The Heist) — sets up the main story
- Do Viktor Vector's tutorial cyberware — free starter implants
- Get a vehicle early — steal cars initially, buy one as soon as you have enough eddies
- Pick up Regina Jones' gigs in Watson — accessible early side content, good rewards
- Complete the Rogue questline (for Johnny Silverhand story depth)
- Don't skip side quests with unique characters — River, Judy, Panam, and Kerry quests are among the best content in the game and unlock alternate endings
Main Story and Endings
Cyberpunk 2077 has 6 endings (including Phantom Liberty-exclusive ones). The endings available to you depend on:
- Which side quests you completed (Panam, Rogue, Hanako)
- Whether you own Phantom Liberty (adds 2 additional endings)
- Choices made during specific story moments
The game is best played without a guide on the first run. Don't rush the ending — many side quests are timed or locked out as you progress the main story. Save before key story decisions.
Common PC Issues and Fixes
| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| Crashes on startup / DirectX error | Update GPU driver; verify game files in Steam/GOG (right-click game → Properties → Local Files → Verify) |
| Low FPS despite good GPU | Enable DLSS/FSR/XeSS; lower Crowd Density first; check CPU bottleneck in Task Manager |
| Stuttering in the open world | Normal on first load (shader compilation); after first session it reduces. If persistent: move game to SSD |
| Crash with "Out of Memory" | VRAM limit hit — lower texture quality; with RT enabled, reduce RT tier |
| Screen tearing without VSync | Enable NVIDIA G-Sync or AMD FreeSync in monitor settings + NVIDIA Control Panel |
| Ray Tracing performance too low | Enable DLSS Frame Generation (RTX 4000 series only) or switch to DLSS Balanced/Performance |
| Phantom Liberty not appearing | DLC must be purchased and linked to the same account as the base game; verify in Steam DLC tab |
| GOG Galaxy not syncing saves | Sign into the same GOG account; check GOG Cloud Sync is enabled in the launcher |
Cyberpunk 2077 vs Elden Ring vs GTA V
| Feature | Cyberpunk 2077 | Elden Ring | GTA V |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genre | Open-world ARPG (FPS) | Soulslike action RPG (TPS) | Open-world crime sandbox |
| World density | Very high (dense city) | High (open fields + dungeons) | High (city + countryside) |
| Story focus | Very strong narrative | Environmental/lore storytelling | Strong campaign + online |
| Difficulty | Adjustable (3 difficulty settings) | High (fixed, skill-based) | Moderate |
| Multiplayer | No traditional multiplayer (mods add it) | Co-op invasion system | GTA Online (massive) |
| Required GPU | RTX 2060+ for quality play | GTX 1060 comfortable | GTX 970 comfortable |
FAQ
Is Cyberpunk 2077 worth buying in 2026? Yes. After the 2.0 patch and Phantom Liberty expansion, the game is fundamentally different from its 2020 launch. The reworked systems, polished performance, and extensive content make it one of the best single-player RPGs on PC. The rocky launch is no longer relevant.
Can I play Cyberpunk 2077 without Phantom Liberty? Yes. The base game is a complete experience. Phantom Liberty adds significant content and alternate endings, but the base game's story is self-contained.
Does Cyberpunk 2077 have multiplayer? No official multiplayer. CD Projekt Red confirmed they cancelled the planned multiplayer mode. Fan mods like Cyber Engine Tweaks enable some co-op, but this is unofficial.
What is the file size of Cyberpunk 2077 on PC? Approximately 70 GB for the base game. With Phantom Liberty and all patches, expect around 75–80 GB total.
Does Ray Tracing make a huge difference? Yes, visually — RT dramatically improves lighting, reflections, and shadow quality in Night City. However, the performance cost is high. For most players, RT Medium + DLSS Quality is the sweet spot. Overdrive (path tracing) is visually stunning but requires high-end hardware.
Is Cyberpunk 2077 on Xbox Game Pass? The base game is included in Xbox PC Game Pass as of 2026. Phantom Liberty is not — it must be purchased separately (~$29.99).
Can I play Cyberpunk 2077 on a low-end laptop? Yes, with caveats. On integrated graphics (Intel Iris Xe, AMD Radeon 680M), the game runs at low settings 720p with FSR Performance at 30fps. A laptop with a dedicated GPU (RTX 3050 or RX 6500M) can target 1080p/60fps with DLSS on Medium settings.