iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Buy Cyberpunk 2077 for the hardware you already own and can run comfortably. Choose PC if you want adjustable settings and have hardware matched to your target resolution, frame rate, and ray-tracing ambitions. Choose PS5 or Xbox Series X|S for a simpler, console-specific setup. If you want Phantom Liberty, compare the local price of the base game plus expansion with the locally listed Ultimate Edition before paying; Ultimate includes both.
The most important qualifications are timing and platform. CD PROJEKT RED’s published PC requirements date from 2023, and its detailed console graphics-mode specification dates from 2022. Those figures are targets and historical product guidance, not fresh independent benchmark results. The current July 2025 Update 2.3 materials list PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and Mac, while older PS4 and Xbox One editions are not listed on that update page.
Quick recommendation by buyer type
| Buyer situation | Best fit | Why | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| You already own a gaming PC | PC | You can tune resolution, presets, upscaling, frame generation and ray tracing to your hardware. | Compare your CPU, GPU, RAM and SSD with the publisher’s 2023 targets; actual performance varies by settings and software. |
| You want the least setup and already own a current PlayStation | PS5 | The console version supplies fixed hardware targets and documented Performance and Ray Tracing modes in the publisher’s next-generation notes. | The mode information is from 2022, so do not treat it as a current independent test. |
| You own an Xbox Series X | Xbox Series X | It is the higher-spec Xbox option and was covered by the same 2022 Performance and Ray Tracing mode documentation. | Check the current store listing and edition for your region. |
| You own an Xbox Series S | Xbox Series S | It avoids a hardware purchase if you already use the system. | The cited 2022 specification did not document a graphics-mode selection for Series S. |
| You want the expansion | Base game plus Phantom Liberty, or Ultimate Edition | Ultimate bundles the base game, free DLCs, released updates at announcement, and Phantom Liberty. | Compare the two local totals; platform, region, stock and edition contents differ. |
There is no universal winner. Buying for a system you already own usually avoids the largest extra cost: a new console or a PC upgrade. A more powerful platform only makes sense if you will use its additional image-quality or frame-rate headroom.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Understand the editions before you buy
The base game
The base game contains the Night City campaign and its free post-launch updates. On PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, the game continues to receive updates; Update 2.3 was announced as free for owners of the base game. Store pages can display different bundles by region, so confirm the platform and edition name immediately before checkout.
#1 Best Overall
- DISCOVER UPDATE 2.0: Experience new and overhauled gameplay mechanics to fulfill your wildest cyberpunk fantasies. The free Update 2.0 brings brand new ways to play Cyberpunk 2077, including totally redesigned perks and cyberware systems, pulsating vehicle combat and car chases, a revamped police system, enhanced enemy combat AI, and more.
- CREATE YOUR OWN CYBERPUNK: Become an urban outlaw equipped with cybernetic enhancements and build your legend on the streets of Night City. · EXPLORE THE CITY OF THE FUTURE: Night City is packed to the brim with things to do, places to see, and people to meet. And it’s up to you where to go, when to go, and how to get there.
- BUILD YOUR LEGEND: Go on daring adventures and build relationships with unforgettable characters whose fates are shaped by the choices you make. · EQUIPPED WITH NEXT-GEN FEATURES: Immerse yourself in Night City like never before thanks to faster load times, improved visual and gameplay features, ray tracing and dynamic 4K support, and more.
- CLAIM EXCLUSIVE ITEMS: Claim in-game swag & digital goodies inspired by CD PROJEKT RED games as part of the My Rewards program.
- PHYSICAL EDITION GOODIES: The physical version of Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition includes an exclusive set of stickers and a rewards leaflet with a Wild Hunt Jacket and a Scorch Pistol!
Phantom Liberty
Phantom Liberty is an expansion, not a standalone game. CD PROJEKT RED’s official purchase wording is unambiguous: “Cyberpunk 2077 is required to play Phantom Liberty.” If you buy the expansion separately, you must own the compatible base game on the same platform ecosystem.
Ultimate Edition
CD PROJEKT RED describes Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition as including the base game, every update released at the time of its announcement, free DLCs and Phantom Liberty. It was announced for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, digitally worldwide and physically in selected markets. “Worldwide” applies to the digital announcement, not necessarily to every storefront’s stock, language, tax treatment or physical availability.
Rank #2
- THE ULTIMATE CYBERPUNK 2077 EXPERIENCE - Includes the critically acclaimed spy thriller expansion Phantom Liberty
- CREATE YOUR OWN CYBERPUNK
- Explore the city of the future – you decide when you want to go where and how to get there
- Decide how the story ends – your choices in the main game as well as in the spy thriller adventure Phantom Liberty lead to a complex web of consequences
Use this buying check:
- Open the store for your country and select the exact platform.
- Record the current price of the base game and Phantom Liberty separately.
- Record the current Ultimate Edition price and inspect its contents.
- Choose the cheaper complete package unless you specifically need a separately owned edition or a different physical format.
Do not assume that a disc advertised as Ultimate is available in every market. Verify the platform (PS5, Xbox Series X|S or PC), region, seller, stock and included content.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
What your PC needs
The following are CD PROJEKT RED’s published 2023 non-ray-tracing targets, not new laboratory measurements. The company says performance can vary with hardware and software, graphics settings and output resolution. Meeting a row does not guarantee a locked frame rate in every scene.
Rank #3
- A Nintendo Switch Online membership may be required for online play. Please check the game detail page on Nintendo.com for membership requirements.
- 2025 CD PROJEKT S.A. All rights reserved. CD PROJEKT, the CD PROJEKT logo, the REDengine logo, Cyberpunk, Cyberpunk 2077, the Cyberpunk 2077 logo, Johnny Silverhand, the SAMURAI logo, Phantom Liberty and the Phantom Liberty logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of CD PROJEKT S.A. in the US and/or other countries. All other copyrights and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
| Target | Publisher’s target conditions | CPU listed | GPU listed | Memory and storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum non-ray-tracing | 1080p, 30 FPS, Low preset | Core i7-6700 or Ryzen 5 1600 | GTX 1060 6 GB, RX 580 8 GB or Intel Arc A380 | 12 GB RAM; 70 GB SSD |
| Recommended non-ray-tracing | 1080p, 60 FPS, High preset | Core i7-12700 or Ryzen 7 7800X3D | RTX 2060 Super, RX 5700 XT or Arc A770 | 16 GB RAM; 70 GB SSD |
| Ultra non-ray-tracing | 2160p, 60 FPS, Ultra preset | Core i9-12900 or Ryzen 9 7900X | RTX 3080 or RX 7900 XTX | 20 GB RAM; 70 GB NVMe storage |
| Ray Tracing Overdrive | 2160p, 60 FPS target | Not stated in the cited row | GeForce RTX 4080 | The publisher’s measurement used DLSS Frame Generation |
These rows describe very different experiences. The minimum row targets 1080p at 30 FPS on Low without ray tracing; it is not a promise of 60 FPS, high texture quality or modern lighting effects. The High row is the practical reference for a 1080p/60 buyer. Ultra at 4K/60 requires a substantially faster CPU and GPU, while the Overdrive row adds demanding path-traced lighting and specifically cites DLSS Frame Generation.
SSD requirement and older hardware
With Update 2.0, CD PROJEKT RED made an SSD a requirement and advised against HDD use because of the bandwidth needed for world streaming. A 70 GB capacity figure is listed for the rows above; the Ultra row specifies NVMe storage. Leave additional free space for patches and operating-system overhead rather than filling the drive to its nominal capacity.
Rank #4
- CREATE YOUR OWN CYBERPUNK - Become an urban outlaw equipped with cybernetic enhancements and build your legend on the streets of Night City.
- EXPLORE THE CITY OF THE FUTURE - Night City is packed to the brim with things to do, places to see, and people to meet. And it’s up to you where to go, when to go, and how to get there.
- BUILD YOUR LEGEND - Go on daring adventures and build relationships with unforgettable characters whose fates are shaped by the choices you make.
- DECIDE HOW THE STORY ENDS - Your choices in the base game and the spy-thriller adventure Phantom Liberty create interweaving webs of consequences, ones that shape the fate of the characters around you — and your own.
- CLAIM EXCLUSIVE ITEMS - Claim in-game swag & digital goodies inspired by CD PROJEKT RED games as part of the My Rewards program.
The publisher’s June 11, 2023 requirements announcement said the game would not stop working on previous minimum configurations, but that active support and testing for those older configurations would end after the next base-game update. Treat an older machine that launches the game as a compatibility case, not as a configuration with current support or predictable performance.
How to use the table for your own PC
- Identify your monitor or television target: 1080p, 1440p or 2160p, and whether you want 30, 60 or higher frame rates.
- Check the exact CPU model, GPU model and VRAM, installed RAM and available SSD space.
- Decide whether ray tracing is essential. If it is, compare against the separate Overdrive guidance rather than the non-ray-tracing rows.
- Allow headroom for your other software, thermal limits and future patches; a specification match is not a benchmark.
- If your system falls between rows, plan to reduce resolution, preset, ray-tracing quality or frame-rate target instead of assuming the higher row will hold.
PlayStation and Xbox differences
PS5 and Xbox Series X
CD PROJEKT RED’s next-generation specification published in 2022 described both Performance and Ray Tracing modes on PS5 and Xbox Series X. That makes these systems the clearest console choices for readers who want a documented mode switch between smoother play and more advanced lighting. The document is dated: it does not substitute for a current measurement after later patches, display updates or console operating-system changes.
Best Value
- Included is the following: Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition for PlayStation 5 PS5, 2 pack of PremGear 2 Sizes Thumbsticks made to increase accuracy and comfort (1 High-Rise, 1 Mid-Rise), PremGear Quality Cleaning Cloth
- DISCOVER UPDATE 2.0: Experience new and overhauled gameplay mechanics to fulfill your wildest cyberpunk fantasies. The free Update 2.0 brings brand new ways to play Cyberpunk 2077, including totally redesigned perks and cyberware systems, pulsating vehicle combat and car chases, a revamped police system, enhanced enemy combat AI, and more
- CREATE YOUR OWN CYBERPUNK: Become an urban outlaw equipped with cybernetic enhancements and build your legend on the streets of Night City
- EXPLORE THE CITY: Night City is packed to the brim with things to do, places to see, and people to meet. And it’s up to you where to go, when to go, and how to get there
- BUILD YOUR LEGEND: Go on daring adventures and build relationships with unforgettable characters whose fates are shaped by the choices you make
Xbox Series S
The same 2022 specification did not list a graphics-mode selection for Xbox Series S. That omission is narrower than saying the game is unavailable or poor on Series S; it means the cited document did not provide a selectable Performance/Ray Tracing mode for that model. If mode choice is a deciding factor, confirm the current in-game and store information for Series S before purchase.
Last-generation consoles
The July 2025 Update 2.3 page lists PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, along with Nintendo Switch 2 and Mac. It does not list PS4 or Xbox One. Do not assume those older editions receive the same current updates, features or support. If you own a last-generation console, check the platform-specific listing and update notes rather than relying on a general Cyberpunk 2077 description.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Updates, saves and cross progression
Update 2.3 is described as free to owners of the base game on the listed supported platforms. You do not need to own Phantom Liberty or Ultimate Edition merely to receive a base-game update. The expansion adds its own content; it is not a prerequisite for ordinary updates.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCD PROJEKT RED’s Patch 2.13 notes say cross progression continues to function even when PC and console show different version numbers. The cited notes do not detail every platform pairing, account-linking step or exception. Before switching devices, follow the current account and cloud-save instructions in your platform and CD PROJEKT RED accounts, then verify that a recent save appears on the destination system. Cross progression is a continuity feature, not evidence that you can transfer a purchase between storefronts; ownership and downloadable content remain tied to the relevant platform ecosystem.
A practical buying process
- Start with ownership. List the systems you already have. Eliminate any option that requires buying hardware you would not otherwise use.
- Set an experience target. Write down your desired resolution, frame rate and ray-tracing preference. “Runs Cyberpunk 2077” is too vague to compare versions.
- For PC, match the target row. Use the 2023 requirements table, give priority to SSD storage, and treat the figures as targets rather than guarantees.
- For consoles, identify the exact model. PS5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are not interchangeable in the cited mode documentation.
- Choose the content package. If you want the expansion, price base game plus Phantom Liberty against Ultimate in your local store.
- Check support dates. Current Update 2.3 information covers PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and Mac; it does not establish equivalent support for PS4 or Xbox One.
- Confirm region and platform. Store catalogs, physical stock and bundle contents vary. Never buy a code or disc without checking its region and console generation.
- Plan for saves. If you may move between PC and console, review current cross-progression setup instructions and test a recent save before beginning a long playthrough.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Buying the expansion alone: Phantom Liberty requires Cyberpunk 2077. Purchase the base game first or select a bundle that contains it.
- Reading a 2023 PC target as a guarantee: frame rate changes with resolution, settings, software and scene complexity. Leave performance headroom.
- Installing on an HDD: Update 2.0 made an SSD a requirement because of streaming bandwidth concerns.
- Assuming every Xbox model has the same modes: the cited 2022 document covered Performance and Ray Tracing on Series X, but did not document a mode selector for Series S.
- Assuming old-console parity: the July 2025 update page does not list PS4 or Xbox One, so verify support for those editions separately.
- Confusing cross progression with cross-buy: save continuity does not establish that one purchase grants the game or expansion on another storefront.
- Ignoring local listings: Ultimate’s physical release was announced only for selected markets, and digital store options differ by region.
Verdict
For most buyers, the right version is the one that fits existing hardware: PC for adjustable quality and a capable SSD-equipped system; PS5 or Xbox Series X for a straightforward current-console experience with documented mode choices; Xbox Series S when it is the console you already own and you accept the narrower documented mode information. Add Phantom Liberty through whichever complete package is cheaper locally, and treat the dated PC and console figures as guidance rather than guarantees.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

