In a remarkable turnaround, Cyberpunk 2077, which once faced a tumultuous debut threatening CD Projekt Red’s esteemed reputation, has triumphantly secured a Game Award three years after its initial release. The game, initially snubbed for accolades during its launch year eligibility at the 2021 TGA, emerged victorious this year by clinching the prestigious title of Best Ongoing Game.
The journey of Cyberpunk 2077 from its troubled launch in December 2020 to its recent triumph has been nothing short of extraordinary. While the focus has often been on performance improvements and bug fixes, the evolution in its mechanics has been the standout feature. Starting with welcome additions like armor transmog, added quests, and expanded text conversations in 2021, the game’s 2.0 update this year marked a monumental leap forward.
The complete overhaul of Cyberpunk’s perks, weapons, and gear transformed it from a flawed yet enjoyable roleplaying experience into one of the premier action RPGs in the gaming landscape. The stellar Phantom Liberty expansion further solidified its position, eliminating the need for disclaimers when recommending Cyberpunk 2077.
Some have raised concerns about the award potentially endorsing the release of games in suboptimal conditions, only to receive acclaim for subsequent fixes. However, the transformative changes introduced in the 2.0 update, particularly to the RPG system, extend beyond mere bug fixes and reflect a genuinely iterative process.
While there may be a misalignment in categorization, with “Best Ongoing Game” traditionally associated with live service games or MMOs, Cyberpunk’s status as a single-player RPG receiving updates and expansions challenges the conventional classification. The Game Awards has faced similar category dilemmas elsewhere, exemplified by instances like Dave the Diver being labeled “indie” despite being published by a billion-dollar company.
Despite these considerations, the award for Best Ongoing Game is well-deserved, marking a fitting conclusion to the critical saga surrounding Cyberpunk 2077. The game still has a significant update on the horizon, with patch 2.1 promising a host of further improvements.
