Cyberpunk 2077 has further proven that CD Projekt Red’s rich dystopian RPG still has plenty of room to grow. Update 2.3 puts vehicle upgrades front and center, not only adding four new options to the roster, but also improving how Cyberpunk 2077 players get around Night City in general. Between customization and brand-new quests tied to these four additional vehicles, Cyberpunk 2077 keeps on kicking.
With CD Projekt Red currently so busy with The Witcher 4‘s production, it would have been completely understandable if Cyberpunk 2077 never saw an update again. The Witcher 4 is likely still a few years away at this point, and while CDPR had help from Virtuos in crafting Update 2.3, it’s still exciting that the studio still sees value in adding post-launch content. One of the coolest upgrades added in 2.3 is AutoDrive. As the name implies, AutoDrive allows players to sit back and relax while they travel from point A to Point B via self-driving vehicles. It’s truly a game-changer, and while The Witcher 4 may seem like a strange place to include such a feature, it could be just as beneficial.
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The AutoDrive feature is pretty straightforward. Players can enjoy the neon-filled world of Night City from their car or an on-call Delamain cab without having to worry about driving. However, on the chance that players run into trouble on the road, the self-driving will stop, so any hostile NPCs can be dealt with. AutoDrive turns Cyberpunk 2077‘s cars into a comforting side activity, and it could potentially do the same to The Witcher 4‘s horses.
The new vehicles added in Cyberpunk 2077‘s 2.3 update are:
The Rayfield Caliburn ‘Mordred’ is the game’s first armored sports car, while the Chevillon Legatus 450 Aquila is the first weaponized truck.
Granted, The Witcher 3 has a rudimentary version of autopilot, as Roach will follow roads, but it’s a very basic approach, and players still have to technically be in control to some extent. Not to mention, it can also be buggy, with Roach sometimes hitting the occasional tree or not really sticking to the path. Considering that The Witcher 4 will have over a decade of CDPR’s development evolution behind it, the horse-riding mechanics are bound to be greatly improved.
The biggest issue is that, if The Witcher 4‘s bandit and monster encounters are as common as its predecessor, then it could potentially make AutoDrive null and void. Based on the game’s announcement trailer, The Witcher 4 is already promising some huge monsters, and constant run-ins would definitely throw a wrench into a leisurely ride through the wilderness of Kovir.
CDPR has yet to confirm an official release target for The Witcher 4, but sometime between late 2027 and 2028 has been speculated as the most likely window.
The Witcher 3‘s open world was already incredibly impressive back in 2015, and The Witcher 4 is bound to be even more jaw-dropping. Between how far graphics and consoles have evolved and CDPR embracing Unreal Engine 5, The Witcher 4 feels destined to be a visual powerhouse.
The visuals alone might make AutoDrive worth the risk. If The Witcher 4‘s world is larger than its predecessor’s, then it wouldn’t be too surprising if enemy encounters were slightly less prevalent. Having the ability to just sit back and enjoy the views of Kovir while riding on Kelpie could add a wonderful touch of relaxing ambience to an action-packed series.
6/10
December 10, 2020
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
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