Cyberpunk 2077: The Absence of New Game Plus Mode Explained
When it comes to customization options, Cyberpunk 2077 offers players a wide range of choices, from lifepaths to skill trees and Cyberdecks. However, the game lacks a New Game Plus mode, which is common in many modern RPGs. According to the game’s chief quest designer, Pawel Sasko, the exclusion was planned and based on the game’s narrative structure.
In an interview with Dualshockers, Sasko revealed that the choice not to include a New Game Plus mode was made to guarantee that the game’s story did not suffer. He underlined how important it is for all game components to operate together and make sense within the larger game structure. Sasko believes that Cyberpunk 2077 was not intended to be a New Game Plus experience, and introducing such a
When compared to Bethesda’s next game Starfield, which includes NG+ runs as part of its larger plot, Sasko believes Cyberpunk 2077 is on the opposite end of the spectrum. He argues that the game was not developed with a New Game Plus experience in mind, and that implementing it would fundamentally change the game’s design.
The absence of a New Game Plus mode in Cyberpunk 2077 has led to discussions within the game’s community. Some players think that a similar approach to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, another CD Projekt RPG, could work for Cyberpunk 2077. The Witcher 3’s New Game Plus mode allowed players to retry the game with their original gear and bonuses, with no plot explanation.
However, Sasko has a different perspective. He claims that adopting a New Game Plus mode in Cyberpunk 2077 would necessitate considerable changes to the game’s design and would jeopardize the game’s carefully planned narrative framework. Instead, Sasko emphasizes the game’s replayability by allowing players to explore various life paths, romances, and builds. He states that Cyberpunk 2077 was built to be replayed in these ways, offering players a varied and engaging experience.
Regarding the future of Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt has switched its focus to other projects, including the creation of a sequel at its new Boston studio, Project Orion. As the sequel’s associate game director, Sasko helps shape the franchise’s future.
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