In a recent interview with GameSpot during PAX Australia, CDPR’s John Mamais, who is the Head of Studio for the developer’s Krakow branch, implied that Cyberpunk 2077 probably won’t have microtransactions. He called the practice a “bad idea.”
I think it’s a bad idea to do microtransactions after you release a game. It seems like it’s very profitable, though. It’s probably a hard decision for the guy that runs the business to decide if we should do it or not. But if everyone hates it, why would we do something like that and lose the goodwill of our customers?
Historically, microtransactions have been absent from CDPR games. Instead, titles such as The Witcher 3 have opted to deliver new content to gamers through robust DLC packages post-release.
While Mamais’ comments could potentially leave the door open to microtransactions in Cyberpunk 2077, CDPR’s Joint CEO Marcin IwiÅ„ski has previously denounced micros as well.
In a 2018 interview with PCGamesN focused on the negative public perception around loot boxes and microtransactions, IwiÅ„ski said, “There is no better PR than a happy gamer recommending your title to their friends.”
To further drive the point home, the official CDPR Twitter account said in 2017 that the sci-fi RPG would have “no hidden catch” when it released. The tweet was in response to a video by Pretty Good Gaming examining comments made by CD Projekt Red’s other Joint CEO, Adam Kicinski, about the game’s economic viability, where some thought Kicinski was leaving the door open for future microtransactions.
.@PrettyBadTweets Worry not. When thinking CP2077, think nothing less than TW3 — huge single player, open world, story-driven RPG. No hidden catch, you get what you pay for — no bullshit, just honest gaming like with Wild Hunt. We leave greed to others.
— CD PROJEKT RED (@CDPROJEKTRED) November 19, 2017
It’s true: we won’t know for sure if Cyberpunk 2077 will have microtransactions or not until we see the final product. Anything can change in the course of development. But based on the developer’s words and actions over the years, it’s safe to assume it won’t.
Cyberpunk 2077 is set to launch on PC, PS4, and Xbox One on April 16, 2020. For more on Cyberpunk 2077, be sure to head over to our game hub where you can find trailers and more information on the game’s install size, story, and more.
Sources: PCGamesN, Eurogamer, GameSpot
