- Review Milestone: Cyberpunk 2077 has officially reached an 87% “Very Positive” overall rating on Steam with nearly 1,000,000 total reviews as of late 2026.
- Sales Growth: Cumulative sales have surpassed 40 million copies, fueled by the 2.0 mechanical overhaul and successful ports to Nintendo Switch 2 and Apple Silicon.
- Future Outlook: CD Projekt Red has transitioned full development focus to “Project Orion,” the highly anticipated sequel, following the definitive success of the Phantom Liberty expansion.
In the high-stakes history of digital entertainment, few narratives rival the phoenix-like ascent of Cyberpunk 2077. What began in 2020 as a cautionary tale of overambition and technical failure has, by 2026, transformed into a masterclass in post-launch redemption. The game’s overall Steam user review rating has now been firmly upgraded to “Very Positive,” a metric that reflects years of structural rebuilding and a community that has finally forgiven the ghosts of its past.
From Instability to Industry Standard
The journey from the “Mostly Negative” trenches of December 2020 to an 87% “Very Positive” rating in 2026 was not achieved through simple bug fixes. It required a fundamental reimagining of Night City. The pivotal 2.0 and 2.1 updates—which introduced a fully functional metro system, vehicular combat, and a sophisticated police AI—effectively rebooted the experience for millions. This long-tail commitment to quality mirrors other industry turnarounds, such as the persistence seen in the Fallout 76 legacy updates, which similarly sought to reclaim player trust through consistent content delivery.
Pro-Tip: For players returning in 2026, the game now features full path-tracing optimization for mid-range hardware, making the “Overdrive” visuals accessible to a much wider demographic than at launch.
The Numbers Behind the Redemption
As of August 2026, the data provided by Valve confirms that Cyberpunk 2077 has amassed approximately 977,311 user reviews. This surge in positive sentiment coincides with the game’s expansion into new ecosystems. While the PlayStation 5 Pro and Xbox Series X versions remain the technical benchmarks, the 2025 release on the Nintendo Switch 2 and the award-winning Mac port have introduced the title to a fresh wave of “braindance” enthusiasts.
| Metric | Launch (2020) | Current (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Steam Rating | Mixed / Negative | Very Positive (87%) |
| Units Sold | 13 Million | 40 Million+ |
| Key Features | Basic RPG Mechanics | Metro, Vehicle Combat, AI Overhaul |
Phantom Liberty and the Path to Project Orion
The Phantom Liberty expansion served as the definitive turning point. By pivoting the narrative toward a high-stakes spy thriller starring Idris Elba, CD Projekt Red proved they could deliver the “next-gen” experience originally promised. The studio’s transparency during this period has become a template for handling technical debt. Much like the iterative stability improvements found in the The Crew Motorfest patch cycles, the developer maintained a rigorous schedule of performance optimizations that eventually silenced the skeptics.
“Night City doesn’t just look better; it feels alive. The systems we integrated in the 2.0 update are now the foundation for everything we are building in the sequel.” — Retrospective commentary from the CDPR Development Blog.
With cumulative sales reaching the 40 million mark in July 2026, the commercial success of the title is no longer in question. According to the official CD Projekt Management Board Report, the franchise’s revenue has provided the necessary capital to scale development on Project Orion, the upcoming Cyberpunk sequel. This next chapter is currently being developed at the company’s North American studios, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 to avoid the proprietary hurdles that hampered the original launch.
Closing the Chapter on 2020
For the gaming culture at large, Cyberpunk 2077’s current “Very Positive” status is more than just a badge on a store page; it is a testament to the power of the “long game.” In an era where many titles are abandoned shortly after a poor reception, CD Projekt Red’s refusal to walk away has redefined the lifecycle of the modern AAA blockbuster. As players look toward the neon-soaked future of the franchise, the 2020 disaster is now viewed as the growing pains of a genre-defining epic.
