CD Projekt Red Says You Should Start a New Cyberpunk 2077 Save After Big 2.0 Update

Cyberpunk 2077’s next major (and free) update is out later this week, and CD Projekt Red encourages players to start a new save file after installing Update 2.0.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), CD Projekt Red wrote that it is strongly urging players to start a brand new adventure in Night City after installing Update 2.0. The developer explains that due to the number of changes the update will introduce, a clean slate is best to “enhance your overall gameplay experience.”

Hey, chooms! While you’ll be able to continue the game with your current character on an existing save, we recommend starting a new game after @CyberpunkGame Update 2.0. Due to the number of changes, starting fresh will enhance your overall gameplay experience! pic.twitter.com/rqdokahhAg

— CD PROJEKT RED CS (@CDPRED_Support) September 19, 2023

To be clear, you do not have to start a new Cyberpunk 2077 file, which CD Projekt Red even notes at the start of the post. But when you consider that Update 2.0 will introduce a host of new features to players at no additional cost, including revamped perk and skill trees, a revamped police system, and vehicular combat, to name a few, perhaps it’s not an entirely bad idea to heed the developer’s advice and start a new save file.

In particular, the skill tree and perks system might be enough incentive for some to start a new save file. As CDPR noted in a blog post, the idea for the redesign was “to have fewer, but way more impactful perks for players to choose from.” While those on a continued save file will have a one-time opportunity to redistribute these attribute points, a clean slate might be easier, depending on the player’s circumstances.

CD Projekt Red announced Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.0 at gamescom Opening Night Live last month as a nice treat for fans who do not want to shell out cash for the paid DLC Phantom Liberty, which is out next week.

The major update will be available on PC, in addition to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. While the eighth-generation consoles are excluded from the next major update, considering the performance problems older hardware encountered at release, this is likely the best-case scenario.

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.