Cyberpunk 2077 Multiplayer Spin-Off May Have Microtransactions; PS5, Xbox Scarlett Under Consideration
Cyberpunk 2077 is one of 2020's most-anticipated titles.
CD Projekt Red continues to speak about the unannounced Cyberpunk 2077 multiplayer game. As part of an earnings presentation, management confirmed that the game is only in the "relatively early stage" of development and that it will feature some form of microtransactions, though the company isn't ready just yet to confirm specifics.
"We believe right now it is definitely too early to share any details on that or give guidance [as] the project is in the relatively early stage," management said about the Cyberpunk multiplayer game's microtransactions.
The company added that it is continually experimenting with the Cyberpunk multiplayer game, which is in fact the first multiplayer game made by CD Projekt Red. For the business model specifically, the analyst who asked about it suggested it would be a free-to-play title supported by microtransactions. However, management wasn't ready to say one way or the other.
That being said, CD Projekt Red wants to make sure it continues to be a consumer-friendly company as it relates to delivering content that feels valuable to players. The Polish studio is known for being relatively generous with its post-release content releases. For The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the studio offered up more than a dozen pieces of free DLC.
"We keep experimenting. It's our first multiplayer game. We check different options and possibilities, and it's definitely not the time to point you to a specific direction on that. But you can expect that we won't change our general policy toward deals with gamers. So expect wise monetization and always value for money," the company said.
Also in the presentation, CD Projekt Red said the Cyberpunk multiplayer game is a "smaller project" with "smaller staffing" compared to the main team working on the Cyberpunk 2077 single-player game.
Cyberpunk 2077, which features Keanu Reeves in a big role, is set to launch in April 2020 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. The multiplayer title would presumably follow thereafter, though no official announcements have been made at this stage.
Another hot-button topic touched on in the presentation was next-generation consoles. Management was asked if the company plans to support the upcoming PlayStation 5 and Xbox Scarlett (now officially named Xbox Series X), in the wake of rumours that Cyberpunk 2077 will come to these systems.
"Of course we do have insight into what's around the corner; what's happening with PlayStation and Xbox. We're watching it closely," CD Projekt Red said. "And one may safely assume that at some point we're going to do something with the next-gen [consoles]. However, we cannot really be very specific; what that might be, when exactly that might be. I would only safely assume that it's not going to be around the launch timeframe of those consoles."
The company went on to say that CD Projekt Red is known for making games that play best on high-end PCs. And in that regard, the company is technically more prepared for the upcoming release of the PS5 and Scarlett, which have improved specs.
In October, a CD Projekt Red developer said the studio might consider releasing Cyberpunk 2077 on PS5 and Xbox Scarlett, but those consoles aren't a focus currently. Another developer, John Mamais, spoke about how excited he is about the prospect of new consoles.
"It's going to be awesome. It's always cool to have new consoles coming out and I can't wait to work on those things," Mamais said. "We'll see what we can do with those. It's fun watching games evolve; they're looking more and more realistic, which is--I like working on games like that. The more powerful the technology, or the consoles, the more it is [good] for me as a game developer."
Read next: Cyberpunk 2077, Avengers, And Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Developers Talk Crunch Culture
Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
Join the conversation