The role of environment in open-world games can’t be overstated. Night City, the urban backdrop in Cyberpunk 2077, was expected to offer a bustling, immersive experience. However, despite the recent updates, including Phantom Liberty and the 2.0 overhaul, it falls short of this promise. This article delves into why Night City still feels underwhelming when compared to other open-world cities in popular titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man and Grand Theft Auto 5.

Why Night City’s Scale is Not Enough

Cyberpunk 2077 promised a sprawling cityscape, and in terms of physical dimensions, it has succeeded. The city is studded with towering skyscrapers and dense city blocks. However, these architectural features alone do not fill the city with life. One quickly notices the absence of thriving crowds and traffic, giving Night City an uncanny resemblance to a ghost town. Though Phantom Liberty has brought about several additions, it has not been able to significantly populate the city or its roads, compromising the expected immersive experience.

The Importance of Density in Open-World Games

A vital attribute of open-world cities in video games is their density: a balance between architecture, NPC (non-player characters), and vehicles. Games like Marvel’s Spider-Man and Grand Theft Auto 5 have accomplished this balance effectively. Their cities are not only visually stunning but also dense with life, offering both functional and aesthetic value. This makes exploration and navigation genuinely exciting and engaging for players, something Night City currently lacks despite its scale and complexity.

Night City After Phantom Liberty and 2.0 Update

The Phantom Liberty and 2.0 update from CD Projekt Red have made significant strides in debugging the game and improving gameplay mechanics. This progress has indeed attracted more players back to Cyberpunk 2077, but it falls short in enhancing the city’s dynamics. Night City remains a beautiful but largely empty setting. Its sidewalks are underpopulated, and its roads have more parked cars than moving ones, leaving much to be desired.

The Future of Night City: What’s Next?

With Phantom Liberty being the final content update for Cyberpunk 2077, the chances of seeing a denser Night City in this iteration are slim. However, this provides an opportunity for future sequels to improve on this. If the developers want players to feel like they’re navigating a bustling city, they will need to focus on adding life to Night City, making it a real “city” rather than just an empty shell of a metropolis.

Final Thoughts

Phantom Liberty and the 2.0 update have made significant improvements in Cyberpunk 2077, especially in terms of gameplay and bug fixes. However, the issue of Night City’s emptiness persists. If CD Projekt Red aims for a more immersive experience in future updates or sequels, populating Night City should be a priority. This remains a pivotal factor that holds back Cyberpunk 2077 from reaching the greatness of other open-world titles.

Also Read: