- The CEO of CDPR has claimed that Phantom Liberty features solid content, which is the main reason for its positive reception.
- He compared the player attachment rates of Phantom Libery to The Witcher 3’s expansions.
- Despite releasing much later into the game’s lifecycle, the Cyberpunk 2077 DLC saw similar success as The Witcher 3 DLCs.
Cyberpunk 2077 had a very rocky launch in 2022. However, compared to the game’s state today, there’s a huge difference. Many fans have even claimed that the game would have won the GOTY award if it had been released in this condition in 2020.
Much of the current buzz surrounding the game comes from Phantom Liberty, an expansion that has sold over 5 million units. According to the CEO of CDPR, this expansion has already seen similar success as the renowned Witcher 3 DLCs.
Why it matters: The Witcher 3 expansions were previously considered the gold standard for modern gaming DLCs, so this is a major accomplishment for the team behind Cyberpunk 2077.
@PaulTassi I can help with the att rate for The Witcher 3 expansions you mention in your article. Three months after the release of Hearts of Stone & Blood and Wine we were at 22% and 24% att rate. We landed between these values with Phantom Liberty in a similar timeframe. (1/2) https://t.co/x3NEO9eTu0
— Michał Nowakowski (@michalnowakow) January 8, 2024
The CEO discussed attach rates for Phantom Liberty, comparing them with the figures from DLCs like Hearts of Stone & Blood and Wine.
He stated that three months after these expansions were released, the studio noted attachment rates of around 22% and 24%. The Cyberpunk 2077 DLC was able to achieve similar figures.
What makes this comparison interesting is that CDPR launched DLCs for The Witcher 3 much earlier in the game’s lifespan. The CEO admitted this was the better option, but Phantom Liberty’s success drives home the fact that the content’s quality is the most important factor at the end of the day.
This expansion was launched nearly three years after the launch of the game, leading to some regrets from the team.
TBH, the decision to go through with the expansion so long after launch of the single player game was a bit counterintuitive. But what happened is a proof to us that solid content that people are happy with is the way to go. (2/2)
— Michał Nowakowski (@michalnowakow) January 8, 2024
At the end of the day, everything worked out for CDPR. The team needed redemption, and players were more than happy to give the studio another chance after its excellent work over the last two years.
While the release of the highly anticipated expansion was a bit late, we think it was for the better. If CDPR had rushed things again, the game might not have found its second chance in 2023.
Ultimately, Phantom Liberty is now a fan-favorite. The expansion received positive reviews at launch, becoming one of the best releases in an already stacked 2023.
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[News Reporter]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree, while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over a year because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.
