How would one describe Cyberpunk 2077 running on a PS4 or Xbox One? Crap, pure and unmitigated crap. Everyone pretty much expected some launch day foibles, but I really find it hard to believe the SKUs for current-gen hardware even got the OK from Sony and Microsoft. Perhaps there was a reason for that sudden third delay recently. Maybe those rumors about failing console cert were true. It definitely seems plausible given the game’s performance.
And this isn’t an exaggeration to say the game is terrible on the older hardware. The bad performance for the new game goes beyond framerate dips and stutters. Multiple users are reporting everything for 10+ second load times for textures, causing horrible blurring effects; and that’s just the start, as they’re also noting a distinct lack in visual quality. I’m very much reminded of that terrible PS3 port of Shadow of Mordor from years back that ran into many of these same issues.
With a game that got eight million pre-orders already, and has gotten rave reviews from some outlets (looking at you IGN) I sure hope that these users weren’t content to let this stuff slide. What stuff, well, feast your eyes on the glory of what Cyberpunk 2077 On PS4 And Xbox One is really like. If you really want to suffer, go ahead and buy the game on these consoles, anyone who isn’t desperate should avoid this nonsense for a while.
Obviously I understand the desire to play Cyberpunk 2077 at launch, but if you have an older console especially, you really need to hold off. The 1.0 version of the game is notoriously buggy and has sub-par performance even on PC. Wait a few weeks and get a couple patches into the game, and you will likely feel better about how you spent your money.
It’s not really fair to compare a pre-rendered cutscene to the final game on weak hardware, but it’s very representative of the state of AAA gaming. When this gets to shipment and sold on store shelves, you have to wonder how many palms got greased and who let this slip by. Let’s remember that the game spent the bulk of its development during a time when the PS5 wasn’t even publicly announced, and the optimization is still this bad.
Consumers are getting screwed over; and the dev teams poured their blood, sweat and tears into this kind of experience, for the execs to rush it out the door in this state. So this is AAA gaming in 2020 huh? it comes down to this, you shouldn’t sell a game on a platform it literally can’t run on. Although since Steam loves to do just that a lot, I suppose expecting one company to break the mold is too much to ask, especially with hundreds of millions of dollars on the line.
Here’s the lesson publishers and executives, it’s OK to put a bit more time into your games. AND STOP CRUNCHING YOUR DAMN EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY IF THIS IS WHAT THAT RESULTS IN!
For a more passable experience, most outlets and users recommend going with an Xbox Series X or PS4 Pro. But be warned, these are not the ideal way to experience Cyberpunk 2077 by a long shot. But if you have the option, play the game on the most powerful hardware you have available. Or you can just avoid the game entirely, that’s valid too.
