Here's Why CD Projekt Red Waited So Long To Show Cyberpunk 2077's Gameplay Demo

After nearly three months of waiting, fans have finally gotten a look at Cyberpunk 2077's first gameplay footage. CD Projekt Red, the acclaimed developer of The Witcher series, recently released the gameplay demo that was first shown behind closed doors at E3, and then again at Gamescom. It consists of a 48-minute look at the first-person RPG, and as was the case in its private showings, it remains extremely impressive. But, given the great deal of acclaim it's received, just why did CD Projekt Red wait so long to share the video?

That very subject is addressed by Adam Badowski, the game director and CD Projekt Red's studio head, in a press release accompanying the release of the trailer. "What we're releasing today was recorded from a game deep in development," he explained. "Since many of the assets and mechanics in the current version of Cyberpunk 2077 are most likely to be modified, we initially decided to show this gameplay only to media. Elements like gunplay (both in terms of visuals and how RPG stats influence it), netrunning, car physics, or the game's UI--everything's pretty much still in the playtest phase and we felt uneasy about publicly committing to any particular design. Animation glitches, work-in-progress character facial expressions, early versions of locations--all this made us hesitant to release what you're about to see."

Some of these concerns might stem from the complaints about how The Witcher 3's final release had been "downgraded" from the earlier, pre-release looks we got at the game. Whatever the case, despite the worries, CD Projekt Red has obviously decided it would rather get Cyberpunk 2077's first gameplay in front of people--though it is warning that the final product may be different in a variety of ways.

"However, we are also well aware that many of you want to see what the media saw," Badowski said. "Although this is probably not the same game you'll see on your screen when we launch, we still decided to share this 48-minute video with you. This is how Cyberpunk 2077 looks today. Let us know what you think!"

You can watch the full gameplay video above; it shows off numerous parts of the game, including combat, dialogue, and the ability to upgrade your character. We also get a good look at Night City, the sprawling metropolis that serves as the setting for Cyberpunk 2077.

Unfortunately, while we now have gameplay for everyone to see, CD Projekt Red still has not announced a release date for Cyberpunk 2077. Whatever it might be, it isn't soon enough.