CD Projekt Red has always been at the forefront of delivering exceptional ports. Going all the way back, they released a port of The Witcher 2 for the Xbox 360, which was a technical marvel for its time. They continued this tradition with The Witcher 3 port on the Nintendo Switch, and now they have done it again with Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition. This is an extremely ambitious port that brings one of their most expansive open-world games to a handheld system, and it performs beautifully while supporting the latest features.
Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition comes with all post-launch updates and includes the Phantom Liberty expansion, making it the definitive way to experience Night City on a handheld console. It even outshines the Steam Deck in terms of image quality, although a handheld PC will still offer more customization options thanks to its tweakable settings.
As we have discussed before, Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition for the Nintendo Switch 2 delivers an experience that sits somewhere between last-generation consoles like the PS4 and current-generation consoles like the PS5. The game offers two different modes: a quality mode and a performance mode. Both use DLSS and look impressive even when playing docked on a larger screen. They deliver stable performance at 30 or 40 FPS, and generally maintain that target well until you dive deeper into the Phantom Liberty expansion.
The Phantom Liberty expansion introduces a new area called Dogtown, which is where some performance issues start to show up. While the game’s performance takes a hit in this area, it remains playable overall. Visually, even though it lacks the ray-tracing effects found on more powerful platforms, it is still a solid port that stands shoulder to shoulder with the console and PC releases. The real highlight here is the portable experience, considering how demanding this game is, getting around two to three hours of playtime on a handheld is impressive and quite rare compared to running it on a PC handheld.
Cyberpunk 2077 was one of CD Projekt Red’s most ambitious projects. Although its launch was plagued with issues, many of those were gradually fixed through post-launch updates. CD Projekt Red also added plenty of new content through free updates, all of which is included in the Ultimate Edition. At this point, the game has reached a state where it can confidently be called one of the best WRPGs available. All the major launch issues have been resolved, including bugs, and the performance has improved enough to make it playable on the Nintendo Switch 2.
The Nintendo Switch 2 version also includes improvements like gyro aiming, a much-needed feature for a first-person game on a console. It makes the gunplay feel smoother and helps with aiming at targets. There are also extra accessibility options, like adjustable sensitivity to fine-tune gyro aiming. You can even use a mouse with the Switch 2 Joy-Con, though this feels more like a novelty than something you would use long-term. Motion controls are supported too if you want to take full advantage of the Switch 2 features, though this option is turned off by default since it is more of a fun extra than a practical feature.
As for the main game itself, you can refer to our review. The issues with bugs and performance have been fixed through post-launch updates, making this feel like the game CD Projekt Red always meant to release. The Phantom Liberty expansion ranks among the best post-launch DLC the developers have created. It gives players a fresh way to experience Night City through a new location and introduces a memorable villain to the story.
The game does an excellent job of blending its main story missions with side content, so you never really feel like you are just doing filler. The side quests are entertaining in their own right and often build up to meaningful conclusions that further develop the main characters. I remember the stealth gameplay being clunky at launch, but it feels much better executed in Phantom Liberty. The main story and the expansion are smoothly integrated, so you essentially get a large chunk of new content without it feeling forced or separate.
All in all, Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition is a fantastic port and a technical marvel, especially when you see it running on a portable device like the Nintendo Switch 2. The fact that it launched alongside the console makes it even more impressive. It is also a great RPG where you can easily spend hundreds of hours exploring its open world and tackling every side activity. The minor technical issues, mostly found in Dogtown, are unfortunate but do not take away from the overall experience. The way CD Projekt Red has taken advantage of the Switch 2’s hardware sets a benchmark that will likely be referenced for years to come.
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition Game Information
- Price: $69.99
- Publisher: CD Projekt Red
- Developer: CD Projekt Red
- Platform: Switch 2 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
