Cyberpunk 2077's next update will make the game harder to run on lower-end hardware

Fans are patiently awaiting the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 expansion Phantom Liberty, though many are concerned it’ll make the game harder to run on lower-end hardware.

I’m sure we all remember Cyberpunk 2077’s disastrous launch all the way back in 2020. Let’s be honest, it’s hard to forget. In fact, it was such a let-down, it’s been immortalised in the New York Museum of Failures. Performance has gotten better with a series of patches, but players on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and lower-end PCs are likely still facing issues with how well the game runs. Unfortunately, it’s only going to get worse for PC players with the Phantom Liberty expansion, which will raise the minimum system requirements for the game. So, if your PC only just reaches the minimum performance requirements, the upcoming update is going to be a rough time for you.

Take a look at Phantom Liberty in action below.

CD Projekt Red recently discussed the changes to system requirements, saying: “The changes to the minimum requirements are a reflection of our new standard of requirements, which we believe better represent the minimum PC configuration required to run the game at 1080p, while maintaining an average of 30 FPS at low preset. The reason for making these changes is that updating the requirements is an important part of the game improvement process, and of enhancing and adding new features."

The update will also remove external hard-drive support, so players will be forced to save their data and install the game on internal SSDs, similar to another new release this year, Starfield. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty will see V and Johnny Silverhand travel to a new location in Night City, Dog Town. It’ll introduce new characters, one of which is played by Idris Elba, as well as introduce some new gameplay mechanics, such as vehicular combat.

The Phantom Liberty DLC will be dropping September 2023 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, and will cost £24.99, a price that has divided some fans.