Although Cyberpunk 2077 stole the show at E3 with a new story trailer, CD Projekt Red revealed very little of substance when it came to their plans. The only gameplay screening occurred behind closed doors to a select audience of journalists and industry professionals; moreover, the studio made no mention of a release date. As such, is there any indication of when the Cyberpunk 2077 release might happen?
Could the Cyberpunk 2077 Release Happen in 2019?
Given that no gameplay was shown to the public, and CD Projekt Red urged patience following their presentation, a 2018 release for Cyberpunk 2077 seems incredibly unlikely. Similarly, given that the studio made a serious effort to market the game at this E3, after a five-year absence, suggests that the game will release within the next two years. So between 2019 and 2020, which is the more likely? As it happens, evidence at the moment is pointing to 2019.
Thus far, a few minor retail leaks have suggested a 2019 release date. A Dutch retailer was supposedly found to have pre-order cases for the game; cases listing a release date of April 20th, 2019. However, while retail links prove accurate relatively frequently, the shop in this instance was local rather than a major online retailer, making it somewhat less believable.
The Important Factor for the Cyberpunk 2077 Release
What is much more relevant, however, is that CD Projekt Red received a research grant of 30m zloty (equivalent to $7 million dollars) from the Polish government. The grant was specifically granted based on four proposals made by the studio’s games development team.
That grant, which was awarded back in late 2016, and it is due to end in July of 2019. Unless CD Projekt Red releases something to prove that it has put the grant to use. Now, it’s certainly possible for the studio to file for an extension. However, the recent E3 push to market the game would fit in with a mid-2019 release. Fans are, without a doubt, extremely excited about the upcoming game thanks to its E3 debut. If they wait until 2020, they risk those fans starting to lose interest. Of course, it’s difficult to know for certain before the studio gives more definitive information. For now, however, the evidence points to a 2019 release much more than a 2020 one.