CD Projekt Red is launching a free PS5 Pro upgrade for Cyberpunk 2077, offering three unique performance profiles. This upgrade gives console players more control over how Night City looks and performs than ever before.
According to IGN’s coverage of the update, players on PS5 Pro can choose from Ray Tracing Pro, Ray Tracing, and Performance modes. This range of options is impressive. Ray Tracing Pro aims for the highest visual fidelity, while Performance mode focuses on smoother frame rates for those who prioritize responsiveness over detailed graphics.
Kuba Knapik, the Global Art Director at CD Projekt Red, discussed the upgrade’s extent before its release. Game Rant reports that Knapik emphasized the visual enhancements coming to the PS5 Pro version, indicating this isn’t just a minor update — it’s a deliberate attempt to leverage Sony’s mid-generation hardware advancements.
The timing is crucial. Cyberpunk 2077 launched in December 2020 with a troubled rollout, scoring a 73 on Metacritic at launch and prompting refund policies from Sony. The game’s recovery has been quite remarkable. The 2.0 update in September 2023 and the Phantom Liberty expansion revamped core systems and brought back many players. The PS5 Pro upgrade adds another layer to this ongoing recovery.
On Steam, the game currently has an 88% positive rating from 397,051 reviews and is priced at $59.99, with 20,361 concurrent players at the moment. These figures show a player base that has mostly moved past the 2020 launch issues and is actively engaging with the post-2.0 version of the game. While a PS5 Pro boost might not directly impact Steam numbers, it helps keep the console version competitive as a flagship title for Sony’s hardware.
| Metacritic Score | 73 |
| Steam Review Score | 88% positive |
| Steam Reviews Total | 397,051 |
| Current Steam Players | 20,361 |
| Current Price (Steam) | $59.99 |
Community feelings about Cyberpunk 2077 have improved significantly since the launch-era backlash. One Steam reviewer summed up the current vibe: “Cyberpunk 2077 isn’t about chrome, guns, or Night City. It’s about what’s left of you when everything else gets stripped away. The city is loud. Violent. Relentless. But what stays with you is the story.” This kind of emotional connection — from a player base that once sought refunds — highlights how thoroughly CD Projekt Red has reshaped the game’s reputation.
What To Watch
- Whether Ray Tracing Pro mode on PS5 Pro can provide a noticeable visual upgrade over the current PS5 experience, or if the differences will be too subtle for early adopters of Sony’s improved hardware.
- CD Projekt Red’s broader plans after Phantom Liberty — the studio has confirmed it’s moving on to new projects, making PS5 Pro support possibly one of the last major commitments to the Cyberpunk 2077 platform.
- Player counts on consoles after the upgrade launches. An increase in numbers would suggest that PS5 Pro enhancements can effectively bring back players, something other developers will observe closely.
