The release of Cyberpunk 2077, an action-adventure game, brought excitement to gamers, since it enabled them to customize their skillset, playstyle, and cyber ware. I understand that whether you need the internet for Cyberpunk 2077 is a matter of concern that requires your attention.
So, do you need the internet for Cyberpunk 2077? You do not need an internet connection for Cyberpunk 2077. This game is mostly single-player, and like other single-player modes, you do not need an internet connection. Also, you can play this game in its entirety without an internet connection, given that it does not use the intrusive DRM, which necessitates an always active internet connection.
If you are yet to get a grip with Cyberpunk 2077, you are probably wondering whether you can play the game offline. You do not need to dig any further since I will help you understand whether this is possible.
Generally, you do not need the internet to play Cyberpunk 2077. This is because the game is single-player and playing the sprawling title is possible offline. Also, the game developer, CD Projekt Red, is always strict against Digital Rights Management (DRM), which requires you to be always online.
This explains why this developer’s past games lacked the always online protection and their availability on GOG games. Hopefully, this trend of excluding the intrusive online-only DRM will continue with Cyberpunk 2077 in later years.
In addition to the above, Cyberpunk 2077 also features Night City with six distinct streets that you can explore on foot, through a car or motorcycle, all of which are possible offline. You can also explore the different areas and undertake game missions while offline. Since gamers can do so much while offline on Cyberpunk 2077, this feature continues to attract more gamers with capped bandwidth or those living in areas with dodgy internet.
Currently, Cyberpunk 2077 is a single-player focusing on the storyline experience. In the future, I expect its multiplayer release. While I cannot foretell how it will function, I anticipate that it will be co-op-based. Also, given that multiplayer modes allow you to play against other human beings, you may need an internet connection to match against your competitors.
However, according to Adam Kacinski, CD Projekt Joint CEO, Cyberpunk 2077 multiplayer is a standalone project, and its package will be different from the traditional ones. Even then, there is no time frame for the multiplayer release. However, 2022 seems a good year for this release from the look of things.
While I have stated that you can play Cyberpunk 2077 without the internet, there are times you will need a connection. For instance, the game download requires you to be online to access the website for the download, just like you would for any other game.
Also, with the DLC content addition, you will require an internet connection to download. Once set with the above requirements, you can enjoy the game’s single-player mode despite your unstable connection.
Can you Get Stadia Premiere Edition With Cyberpunk 2077?
The Cyberpunk 2077 launch excited players, but unfortunately, some lacked a beastly PC or console to enjoy. Luckily, Google Stadia’s take on gaming provided a breakthrough enabling players to stream games on almost any device.
Launched in 2019 in 14 countries, Google Stadia is available at a monthly subscription of $9.99 with access to select games for free. Given that most PCs and consoles are not ideal for playing Cyberpunk 2077, one of the great deals by the developer was its availability on Google stadia.
Stadia depicts Google’s vision for gaming that ensures players can access these services without high-end gaming consoles or PC. This way, players from all walks of life will feel accommodated regardless of their living standards.
Despite experiencing challenges at launch, Google Stadia celebrated its anniversary in style by offering players a Stadia Premiere Edition for free when they pre order Cyberpunk 2077, the upcoming game on its platform. Normally, such an offer would cost you $9.99, hence a mega saving that everyone should pursue.
To access this offer, visit Stadia Website and click Pre-Order, then sign in with your Google account to complete your purchase. By 10th December 2020, when the launch happened, Stadia sent emails to its players with a redemption code. By following the instructions in the email, a player received their Premiere Edition.
In the Stadia Premiere edition package, the hardware bundle includes a controller and Chromecast Ultra. New users will also benefit from a one-month trial subscription to the Stadia Pro-tier service. The Stadia Pro will include 4K streaming and free games similar to Microsoft Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus Subscriptions.
This deal is redeemable, and you require a Stadia account to redeem even if you are not a paid subscriber. To redeem the deal, visit the Cyberpunk 2077 product page and buy the game. If you already have a Stadia Pro subscription, you are lucky as you will save $10 if you have not used the promo already.
Since everyone is not an early bird, google opened its windows for players to enjoy the above benefits post-launch. Thus, if you buy the game post-launch, you will receive an email with a code as long as the free kits are still in stock.
After the launch, and as long as the stock lasts, any player who buys the $59.99 game via Stadia would benefit from a Free Premiere kit containing a stadia controller and a Chromecast Ultra, enabling you to play the game from your TV. According to Google, the kit would take several weeks to ship. Thus, most players may not have it in hand during the Cyberpunk Launch.
Also, if you ordered it during the holiday season, you may experience some delays with your delivery. Luckily, there are other options you can use to play Stadia with the controllers you already have, including the Chrome browser, your phone, and PC, as long as they adhere to Stadia’s 4K streaming prerequisites.
According to online players’ reviews, playing Cyberpunk 2077 on Google cloud is amazing and does not require an expensive console or subscription. A player needs a Gmail account, stable internet connection, and a controller to explore Night City across their tablet, laptop, or mobile.
Another good news is that you can start playing immediately after payment and do not necessarily have to wait for the 60GB or 70GB download to complete like you would if you purchased the game on Epic Games Store, GOG, or Steam.
Also, while Google Stadia aims at enabling you to play games through your TV, you can also enjoy the game via your Chrome browser on mobile or PC. When playing on Stadia, you will not need a controller, as it is compatible with your keyboard and mouse.
However, you will be limited to a resolution of 1920×1080 on the internet. If you have a powerful PC, you will be lucky as your experience will be much better than what you would get with your console.
During its launch in 2019, only 30 games were available on Stadia. Over the years, this number continues to grow, with the developer adding more titles to the game in 2020 and 2021, bringing the games to over one hundred. There is also a changing assortment of free games available for the Pro players that they can lay a monthly claim on.
Finally, while there is no specific Stadia console, there is an official controller available as part of the Premiere edition offer. The idea behind Stadia is that you could access it like YouTube or Netflix and use the controller to play. In this case, the controller will connect directly to the Stadia service through Wi-Fi and not the device you are using.
This way, you will have a seamless transition between devices and reduced lag. The Stadia controller mimics a cross between the DualShock 4 gamepad and Xbox One controller with usual functions like USB-C charging, an additional share button for capturing stills, and a voice command button that enables you in your interactions with Google Assistant.
Countdown for Cyberpunk 2077
The Cyberpunk 2077 release was a grand event given its numerous delays across its development. Even then, we can all agree that the developer did not frustrate after the release and the wait was worth it given the game’s amazing features. Read on as I give you details of the Cyberpunk countdown and what you should know about this release.
According to Cyberpunk 2077 developer, PC gamers gained access to the game after the midnight of 10th December, GMT, while other console players gained access to it at midnight local time. This date and timings marked the official Cyberpunk 2077 start time.
Even then, this long-awaited countdown featured variations between regions, and players accessed the games at different times after its release. Some of the regions that benefited from this release include Asia, EUROPE, the UK, and the US.
Unfortunately, the lack of a global release time implies that the game unlocked at midnight, and depending on your time zone, you had to wait for hours before you could play it on your Xbox One or PlayStation.
Cyberpunk 2077 developer also attributed part of the countdown delay to the coronavirus pandemic that hit the world in 2020. Luckily, after the successful launch, gamers could eventually access the game in their comfort.
Part of the concerns from players included whether they could play through an early access scheme. Usually, most large publishers get early releases of the game, enabling players who preorder a certain edition to play the game a few days early.
When you preorder a game, you will download it manually like a normal game as you await its unlocking on the launch date. This way, you will save time on the release date and only wait for the midnight clock to tick and enjoy the game.
With Cyberpunk 2077, the preloads for Xbox One and Xbox Series came earlier than for PlayStation. Therefore, PS4 and PS5 players waited until 8th December to preload the game, while PC and Stadia players accessed the game on 9th and 10th December, respectively
The idea of waiting for the launch date to draw closer before releasing the game to players was to enable CD Projekt Red to continue with its identification and fixation of bugs in the game. Day 1 patches are pretty common in the gaming industry.
The distribution logistics attribute these patches to result from game distribution while development is in progress. Thus, by holding back this distribution, CD Projekt Red hoped to fix most game glitches through a downloadable patch distributed on the launch day.
The game takes up to 70 GB of space on PC and more or less on consoles. Thus, if you have limited space, adding an external boost for maximum performance is advisable. Limited space will result in constant lags, significantly affecting your experience.
With the preloading and patch precautions from the developer surrounding Cyberpunk 2077, it is no wonder Cyberpunk 2077 received a four-star rating in The Independent, which could not find anything negative to say about the game’s flagship feature.
In addition to its amazing features, the game also boasts a large audience, courtesy of its backward compatibility. According to the developer, a PS4 copy of the game would work on PS5, and so would an Xbox One on Xbox Series X after the launch.
Wrap Up
Cyberpunk 2077 gives players a unique Sci-fi experience as they embark on their game mission. The game is mostly single-player and does not use the intrusive DRM, which necessitates an always active internet connection. Hence, you do not need an internet connection to play. However, you will need an internet connection to download and install game updates like any other game.
To bypass hardware limitations since the game requires high-tech consoles and PC, the Google Stadia launch opened room for more players to play. During its launch, players benefited from offers, including a free premiere edition.
With an internet connection and Stadia controller, a player can access Cyberpunk 2077 on Stadia through their Chrome browser, PC, or mobile. Finally, with Cyberpunk 2077 released on 10th December at midnight for different consoles, gamers in regions including Asia, Europe, the UK and the US can enjoy the game features without limitations.
