Cyberpunk 2077 PS4 will get a free upgrade for PlayStation 5
Before a "more robust" next-gen version down the line.
Cyberpunk 2077's PS4 version will be playable on PlayStation 5 as soon as the game launches, developer CD Projekt Red has said.
Anyone with a PS4 copy will be able to play that on PS5 and receive a free update to improve the game's visuals on Sony's next-gen machine.
The news, confirmed last night in an investor call, follows CD Projekt Red's announcement in February it would support Microsoft's Smart Delivery initiative for Xbox - meaning the free upgrade will work the same there for Xbox One copies on Xbox Series X.
The developer further clarified that this would not be the final update to buff the next-gen version of Cyberpunk 2077. A beefier version of the game optimised for Microsoft and Sony's new machines will follow down the line - perhaps some time down the line - but again be available to PS4 and Xbox One owners free of charge.
"I can confirm this is not the final update," CD Projekt exec Michał Nowakowski said. "At some point we will have a more robust update for next-gen which we plan to give free of charge to anyone who purchases the PS4 or Xbox One version.
"But in any case you will be able to play the game on next-gen from 19th November when the game releases and it will look better than on current-gen from that moment as well."
When questioned on the timing of the "proper" next-gen version, CD Projekt could not confirm it would arrive in 2021.
With yesterday's delay of Cyberpunk 2077 until 19th November, CD Projekt unsurprsingly acknowledged that the game's unannounced single-player expansions and mysterious multiplayer portion would also shuffle back.
Single-player expansions are not "in a drawer" somewhere but still need to be made, the developer said, while multiplayer was still "distant" anyway.
One final note - CD Projekt's comments suggest the developer is working under the assumption PlayStation 5 will be available by the release of Cyberpunk 2077 on 19th November. All things can get delayed, of course, but it's promising to hear the game could be playable on next-gen straight away.