As we move through 2026, the landscape of gaming hardware continues to evolve, but some stories from the recent past remain definitively closed. I find myself looking back at the journey of Cyberpunk 2077, a title that defined an era of redemption in gaming. Despite the powerful capabilities of Sony's PlayStation 5 Pro, which launched with a promise to elevate countless experiences, CD Projekt Red has made it unequivocally clear that Night City's story on that particular hardware is complete. The studio has no intention of releasing a dedicated PlayStation 5 Pro update for Cyberpunk 2077. This confirmation, delivered directly from the developers, means that while dozens of other popular PS5 titles received bespoke enhancements for the new console, fans of this seminal action RPG should not expect any new, officially crafted graphical modes or feature updates tailored to the Pro's strengths.
Reflecting on the game's history adds a poignant layer to this decision. I remember the chaotic launch in December 2020 all too well. The initial release was met with widespread criticism for its numerous glitches and performance issues, particularly on consoles. It was a difficult period for the community and the developers alike. đ Yet, what followed was one of the most remarkable turnarounds in modern gaming. Through years of dedicated workâcountless patches, updates, and the transformative Phantom Liberty expansionâCD Projekt Red didn't just fix Cyberpunk 2077; they rebuilt its reputation from the ground up. The game transformed into a celebrated success story, a testament to post-launch support. However, every story must have an ending.
In May 2024, CD Projekt Red officially announced the end of development for Cyberpunk 2077. This wasn't just a pause; it was a full stop. No employees were to continue working on the title in any capacity. The studio's resources and creative energy had decisively shifted toward the future. This context is crucial for understanding the PS5 Pro situation. When fans, understandably excited by the new hardware, began asking about potential upgrades like enhanced ray tracing or new performance modes, the studio's response was rooted in this prior closure. They confirmed via social media that there were no plans for a Pro-specific patch. It's important to note that the game may still see some passive benefits from the PS5 Pro's improved raw specificationsâthings like more stable frame rates thanks to the upgraded GPUâbut these are not the result of targeted development work.
The studio's focus is now firmly elsewhere, on building new worlds rather than revisiting old ones, even one as beloved as Night City. Let's look at where that energy is going:
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The Witcher 4 (Polaris): Officially confirmed back in 2022, this project is the start of a new multi-game saga within The Witcher universe. Reports indicate that over 400 developers are dedicated to this next chapter in the fantasy RPG series.
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Project Orion: This is the codename for the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, also announced in 2022. While details remain closely guarded, it represents the future of the Cyberpunk franchise.
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A New Original IP: The studio is also in the early stages of creating a brand-new universe, separate from both Cyberpunk and The Witcher.
This strategic shift highlights a clear pipeline. The team that performed the "miracle" patching of Cyberpunk 2077 has been reassigned to these future projects, leaving no one left to draft a Pro enhancement plan. It's a bittersweet reality for fans who adore the game, but it underscores the studio's forward momentum.
Meanwhile, the PlayStation 5 Pro itself has carved out its own space in the market since its release in late 2024. Priced at a premium, it boasted significant hardware improvements designed to push visual fidelity:
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Upgraded GPU | Provides more rendering power for complex scenes. |
| AI-driven Upscaling | Delivers higher resolution images with improved clarity. |
| Advanced Ray Tracing | Enables more realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows. |
These features promisedâand deliveredâsmoother frame rates and higher-fidelity graphics for a growing library of games. At launch, over 50 titles were announced as "PS5 Pro Enhanced," receiving dedicated patches. Furthermore, the PS5 Pro Game Boost feature improved performance for thousands of backward-compatible PS4 games. Iconic titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Lies of P received major boosts, making the Pro a compelling upgrade for enthusiasts of those worlds.
So, where does this leave Cyberpunk 2077 in 2026? It stands as a complete, polished masterpiece of its eraâa game that reached its definitive form on the hardware available at the peak of its support cycle. Its absence from the PS5 Pro Enhanced list is not an oversight but a deliberate marker of its concluded development journey. For players, the experience on PS5 Pro is likely the best it can be through brute-force hardware improvements, but the curated, developer-tuned enhancements that other games received will remain a road not taken for Night City. The neon lights still shine bright, but they won't get a new, official filter from the creators. The future of Cyberpunk now waits patiently for Project Orion, while The Witcher 4 gears up to define the next generation of RPGs from CD Projekt Red. The studio's message is clear: they are honored by the past but are building for the future. đ