The redemption arc is complete. Cyberpunk 2077 has officially sold over 35 million copies worldwide, and here’s the kicker – it reached that milestone faster than The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt did in the same post-release timeframe. CD Projekt Red’s CFO Piotr Nielubowicz confirmed during their Q3 2025 financial briefing that Cyberpunk is now the company’s main source of revenue, generating more income than their beloved Witcher franchise. For a game that launched so catastrophically broken in December 2020 that Sony pulled it from the PlayStation Store, this represents one of gaming’s most impressive comebacks. It took five years of relentless updates, one exceptional expansion, and an anime series, but CDPR turned their biggest disaster into their most profitable success.
The Numbers That Prove Redemption
CD Projekt Red announced the 35 million sales milestone on November 26, 2025, as part of their Q3 financial results. This figure includes both standalone game sales and Ultimate Edition bundles. The last known count was 30 million in November 2024, meaning Cyberpunk sold another 5 million copies in the past year alone – remarkable considering the game is now five years old.
What makes this achievement particularly significant is the comparison to The Witcher 3. Nielubowicz explicitly stated that reaching 35 million is “a better result than The Witcher 3 was able to achieve in the same post-release timeframe.” The Witcher 3 eventually reached 60 million sales as of May 2024, but it took considerably longer to hit the 35 million mark that Cyberpunk just achieved. This means Cyberpunk’s sales trajectory is actually steeper and more impressive than CDPR’s previous masterpiece.
The Financial Performance Behind the Sales
CD Projekt’s Q3 2025 financial results show just how dominant Cyberpunk has become for the company. Revenue reached 349 million PLN (roughly $87 million), up 53 percent year-over-year. Net profit jumped an astounding 148 percent to 193 million PLN, representing a 55 percent net profitability margin. For the first nine months of 2025, total revenue hit 792 million PLN, up 21 percent, with net profit at 348 million PLN – a 40 percent increase.
Cyberpunk 2077 and the Phantom Liberty expansion contributed approximately 253 million PLN in Q3 alone, more than doubling the previous year’s figure. Meanwhile, The Witcher series saw a 52 percent drop in quarterly revenue to just 26 million PLN. This dramatic shift in revenue sources explains why Nielubowicz calls Cyberpunk their “main source of revenue” – it’s not just hyperbole, it’s mathematical fact. The game that nearly destroyed the company now generates more income than the franchise that built their reputation.
The Platform Expansion Strategy
Cyberpunk’s recent sales surge isn’t accidental – it’s the result of aggressive platform expansion in 2025. The game launched on Nintendo Switch 2 earlier this year, bringing it to a massive handheld audience that couldn’t play it before. The Mac version on Apple Silicon-powered devices opened another previously inaccessible market. Both launches coincided with the Ultimate Edition release, which bundles the base game with Phantom Liberty expansion.
Perhaps most significantly, Cyberpunk 2077 joined PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium tiers in 2025. While adding a game to subscription services might seem counterintuitive for driving sales, Nielubowicz confirmed it actually “supported sales of the Phantom Liberty expansion on PlayStation consoles.” The company saw “stronger organic sales of Cyberpunk 2077 and Phantom Liberty on existing platforms compared to the previous year,” proving that PS Plus inclusion helped rather than hurt revenue.
The Switch 2 Port Success
The Switch 2 version represents particularly impressive technical work. Getting Cyberpunk 2077 – a game that barely ran on base PlayStation 4 and Xbox One at launch – working acceptably on handheld hardware required substantial optimization. Early reports suggest the port runs surprisingly well in portable mode while maintaining the core experience. This technical achievement opened sales to the massive Nintendo audience that skews younger and more casual than typical PC or PlayStation demographics.
The Edgerunners Effect
While not mentioned in the financial briefing, any discussion of Cyberpunk’s comeback must acknowledge the Edgerunners effect. Netflix’s anime adaptation premiered in September 2022 during a crucial period when CDPR had substantially improved the game through patches but public perception remained negative. The show’s critical acclaim and popularity drove massive player influx – Steam reviews spiked, concurrent players jumped, and sales figures showed clear correlation with the series’ release.
Reddit users discussing the sales milestone pointed out that Edgerunners “played a significant role in drawing players back when the game’s reputation was less than stellar.” Player statistics and positive Steam reviews showed notable upticks around the show’s debut. Since 2022, Cyberpunk has sold approximately 5 million copies annually with remarkable consistency, suggesting the anime created sustainable interest rather than a temporary spike.
From Disaster Launch to Redemption
Remembering Cyberpunk 2077’s December 2020 launch provides essential context for why 35 million sales represents such a remarkable turnaround. The game was so broken on base PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles that it was essentially unplayable, with constant crashes, game-breaking bugs, and performance so poor that Sony took the unprecedented step of removing it from the PlayStation Store and offering full refunds to anyone who wanted them.
The backlash was catastrophic. CDPR’s stock price plummeted. Investors filed lawsuits. Reviewers who’d praised the game based on PC code felt betrayed when console versions proved unplayable. The company faced genuine questions about whether they could survive the reputational damage. Management issued public apologies and promised to fix everything, but many assumed the game was doomed to be remembered as one of gaming’s biggest disasters.
The Five-Year Fix
What followed was five years of relentless updates, patches, and improvements. CDPR didn’t just fix bugs – they fundamentally reworked systems, added features, improved AI, overhauled police response, refined combat, and eventually released the exceptional Phantom Liberty expansion that showcased what Cyberpunk always should have been. The turnaround required sustained investment without guarantee of return, but CDPR committed to saving their game rather than abandoning it.
Reddit’s Mixed Reactions
The Reddit discussion on r/Games and r/gaming about the sales milestone revealed complex community sentiment. Many users celebrated CDPR’s redemption arc, noting that companies rarely commit the resources necessary to truly fix catastrophically broken games. One commenter noted they purchased the game and DLC on sale in 2025 and found it “one of the most amazing RPG game experiences on the PS5 today,” illustrating how dramatically perception has shifted.
However, some users questioned whether Cyberpunk’s success story validates poor launch practices. If releasing broken games and fixing them later becomes the norm, does that incentivize publishers to rush unfinished products knowing they can patch them eventually? Others pointed out that while CDPR fixed Cyberpunk, they never fully delivered on all pre-launch promises, particularly regarding AI systems and emergent gameplay that trailers suggested would exist.
The Witcher 4 Implications
Cyberpunk’s success as CDPR’s main revenue generator has significant implications for The Witcher 4, currently in development. Nielubowicz mentioned the upcoming game’s nomination for The Game Awards 2025 Most Anticipated Game award, noting “This nomination – which comes despite the fact that we haven’t yet kicked off the game’s proper marketing campaign – shows the extent to which the fourth installment in The Witcher series is already hotly anticipated.”
However, CDPR has announced a controversial “console first” development strategy following lessons from Cyberpunk’s launch. They noted that AAA games typically perform better on consoles than PC, leading them to prioritize PlayStation as the primary platform. Current reports indicate the studio is focused on developing the PS5 version of The Witcher 4, while work on Xbox and PC versions hasn’t yet commenced. This represents a dramatic shift from their PC-first heritage.
No 2026 Release
Despite the anticipation, The Witcher 4 won’t launch in 2026. The game kicks off a new trilogy with planned shorter release gaps – CDPR aims for about six years total to complete all three games. This aggressive timeline will test whether they’ve truly learned from Cyberpunk’s disastrous launch or if they’ll repeat mistakes by rushing to meet deadlines.
Cyberpunk 2 in Development
The success of Cyberpunk 2077 naturally led to sequel development. CD Projekt confirmed work on Cyberpunk 2 (codenamed Orion) continues, with the studio emphasizing they want to apply lessons learned from the first game’s development. Joint CEO Michał Nowakowski stated that Cyberpunk 2077’s sales exceeding 35 million “enables us to be even more audacious about charting its future,” suggesting the sequel will be even more ambitious in scope.
The challenge will be maintaining the franchise momentum while avoiding the development pitfalls that plagued the original. CDPR now has vastly more experience with open-world design, better understanding of console optimization requirements, and hopefully more realistic production timelines. Whether they can deliver on day one what took five years to achieve with Cyberpunk 2077 will determine if the sequel becomes another redemption story or launches cleanly from the start.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many copies has Cyberpunk 2077 sold?
Cyberpunk 2077 has sold over 35 million copies worldwide as of November 26, 2025, according to CD Projekt Red’s Q3 financial results. This includes both standalone sales and Ultimate Edition bundles across all platforms.
Did Cyberpunk 2077 sell more than The Witcher 3?
Cyberpunk 2077 reached 35 million sales faster than The Witcher 3 did in the same post-release timeframe. However, The Witcher 3 has sold 60 million copies total as of May 2024, so it remains CDPR’s best-selling game overall.
Is Cyberpunk 2077 CD Projekt’s main revenue source?
Yes, CFO Piotr Nielubowicz confirmed Cyberpunk 2077 is now CD Projekt’s “main source of revenue,” generating more income than The Witcher franchise. In Q3 2025, Cyberpunk contributed 253 million PLN compared to The Witcher’s 26 million PLN.
How did Cyberpunk 2077 recover from its disastrous launch?
CDPR spent five years releasing continuous updates, patches, and improvements, culminating in the excellent Phantom Liberty expansion. The Edgerunners anime series in 2022 also significantly boosted player interest. Platform expansions to Switch 2, Mac, and PlayStation Plus further drove sales.
How much profit did CD Projekt make from Cyberpunk?
In Q3 2025, CD Projekt’s net profit jumped 148 percent to 193 million PLN with 55 percent net profitability. For the first nine months of 2025, net profit reached 348 million PLN, a 40 percent increase, with Cyberpunk being the primary driver.
Is Cyberpunk 2077 on Nintendo Switch?
Yes, Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition launched on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025. The port was a significant technical achievement bringing the demanding game to handheld hardware and opened sales to a massive new audience.
Is there a Cyberpunk 2 in development?
Yes, CD Projekt Red confirmed Cyberpunk 2 (codenamed Orion) is in development. Joint CEO Michał Nowakowski said the first game’s success “enables us to be even more audacious” about the franchise’s future.
When will The Witcher 4 release?
The Witcher 4 won’t launch in 2026. It’s the first in a new trilogy that CDPR aims to complete in about six years total, but no specific release date has been announced. The game is being developed with a “console first” approach prioritizing PlayStation 5.
Conclusion
Cyberpunk 2077 reaching 35 million sales faster than The Witcher 3 represents one of gaming’s most improbable redemption stories. The game that launched so broken Sony removed it from the PlayStation Store has become CD Projekt Red’s most profitable product, generating more revenue than the Witcher franchise that built the company’s reputation. This turnaround required five years of relentless updates, a genuinely excellent expansion, help from a critically acclaimed anime series, and aggressive platform expansion to Switch 2, Mac, and PlayStation Plus. The result is a consistently strong seller that moves 5 million copies annually even five years post-launch. Whether this success story validates CDPR’s decision to fix rather than abandon their broken game or sets a troubling precedent that rushing unfinished products is acceptable as long as you patch them eventually remains debatable. What’s undeniable is that Cyberpunk 2077 has transformed from cautionary tale about the dangers of crunch culture and overpromising to proof that sustained commitment to improvement can rebuild even the most damaged reputations. As CDPR applies these lessons to The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2, the gaming industry watches to see if they’ve truly learned or if history will repeat with another disastrous launch followed by years of fixes. For now though, the company that nearly collapsed under the weight of Cyberpunk’s failure has emerged stronger, richer, and more profitable than ever before.