CD PROJEKT RED launched the eagerly awaited PS5 Pro update for Cyberpunk 2077 on April 8, 2026. The response from the tech community has been quick and mostly positive, with analysts praising the quality of the implementation.
Digital Foundry and other tech-focused outlets emphasized that this update provides a significant visual upgrade over the standard PS5 version — it’s not just a resolution increase. Reviewers remarked, “CDPR deserves a lot of credit,” highlighting how the studio utilized the Pro’s PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) upscaling hardware. Such high praise from tech reviewers is uncommon, especially for a game already pushing demanding ray tracing workloads.
The PS5 Pro mode for Cyberpunk 2077 arrives almost five and a half years after the game’s rocky launch on December 10, 2020. That launch was so chaotic that Sony removed it from the PlayStation Store. The game’s recovery has been one of the most dramatic in gaming. Now, it boasts an 88% positive rating based on 397,051 Steam reviews, showcasing years of consistent post-launch updates and the 2023 Phantom Liberty expansion.
This update’s timing is crucial for sales. The PS5 Pro debuted in November 2024 at $699.99, without a disc drive. Sony has been promoting PSSR-enhanced patches as a key feature for the hardware. A major title like Cyberpunk 2077 getting a well-executed Pro update supports the platform’s appeal and gives CDPR another marketing opportunity without needing to announce a full sequel. The game is currently priced at $59.99 on Steam and has over 20,000 concurrent players — impressive for a title six years post-launch.
CDPR’s technical reputation has improved a lot since 2020. The studio’s implementation of full ray tracing with REDengine 4 — introduced in the 2.0 patch in September 2023 — was praised as one of the most demanding and visually stunning uses of the technology across all platforms. Creating a PS5 Pro mode on that solid foundation likely explains why analysts found the results compelling rather than just minor improvements.
| Game Release Date | December 10, 2020 |
| Steam Review Score | 88% positive (397,051 reviews) |
| Current Steam Price | $59.99 |
| Current Steam Players | 20,361 concurrent |
| PS5 Pro Mode Launch | April 8, 2026 |
The community response aligns with the critical feedback. One Steam reviewer summed up the game’s lasting appeal: “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 quiet.” This emotional depth, not just technical prowess, helps explain why the player base remains engaged years after release and why the Pro mode patch still excites players. Push Square’s coverage of the update captures that enthusiasm, calling the results “a noticeable step up.”
What To Watch
- PSSR performance breakdown: Digital Foundry will provide a detailed frame-rate and resolution analysis. This will clarify how the PS5 Pro mode manages ray tracing compared to the standard quality and performance settings. These numbers could influence interest in Pro hardware.
- PC patch parity: CDPR might roll out similar optimizations for the PC version. The studio has a history of syncing platform updates, and PC players with RTX 40-series cards will want to learn if any renderer changes carry over.
- Sequel timeline signals: Each major Cyberpunk 2077 update draws attention back to Project Orion, CDPR’s announced sequel. It’ll be interesting to see if the studio shares any production updates in the weeks following this patch’s release.
