Video games don't always have the smoothest launches. They can be beset with issues from game-breaking bugs to substandard graphics, and how developers handle these disastrous releases can either make or break the future of a game. Some, like Hello Games' hugely ambitious No Man's Sky, can have notoriously poor starts, but thanks to the diligent work of the developer the title's fortunes and reputation can be completely turned around.
Others, like EA's Battlefield 5, don't manage to recover from the blowback they first face. With criticisms directed at the game's historical accuracy, graphics, and multiplayer issues, Battlefield 5 never managed to scrape back its playerbase. Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto series may be hugely popular and influential within the world of video games, but even that didn't save the ill-fated Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition. The compilation was an example of where a game's reception can have lasting consequences and reputation issues. CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 may have had just as poor a start, yet it finds itself in a much different position now.
Cyberpunk 2077's Woes
The anticipation was incredibly high for CD Projekt Red's open-world action RPG. After it was first announced in 2012, the team went very quiet and barely provided any updates. Cyberpunk 2077 began to seem more and more mythic and mysterious until things started to pick back up around 2018. When the game eventually launched at the end of 2020 after several delays, fans were beyond excited to finally get the chance to explore Night City. Unfortunately, Cyberpunk 2077 became another game that was buried under its own hype, and it would have been a very tall order for the title to deliver on all the pre-launch promise, even if it wasn't full of bugs.
Cyberpunk 2077 clearly shipped before it was ready, and this resulted in a glitchy game that failed to deliver on a lot of the things fans were expecting. There was an understandably negative response, and many players swore off the game before it had even been out a month. Even though CD Projekt Red had garnered a lot of goodwill in previous years with immensely popular and critically acclaimed games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, it seemed this couldn't save the developer from the inevitable backlash after Cyberpunk 2077's less-than-ideal launch.
The Issues With Grand Theft Auto: Trilogy's Launch
There seems to be a trend in recent years of studios bringing out remakes and remasters of beloved titles in between newer releases. To some fans, this is excellent news, as it lets them replay their favorite games on newer, faster consoles. Others aren't so keen and would prefer developers to focus on new IPs or entries into a series. Regardless, remasters can do good business and bring some much-needed updates to older games like BioWare's 2021's Mass Effect Legendary Edition. But some don't quite strike the right balance between preserving what made the original games great and giving them the polish that they need.
Rockstar's recent remaster of Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City, and San Andreas within Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition proved to be very controversial, and may have put a sizable dent in the series' legacy. When the compilation and remaster was first announced, fans were excited, but when it finally came time to play it in late 2021, it seemed as if their excitement was far from warranted. The Definitive Edition was full of problems from missing assets to bugs, and fans felt that the so-called remastered versions were poor copies of what the original games were. It's safe to say that gamers were more than a little disappointed, and with the bitter taste still fresh, it may take some time for Rockstar to re-earn their trust.
Why Cyberpunk 2077 Escaped More Unscathed
Both Cyberpunk 2077 and Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy have a similar issue – their much-anticipated launches failed to deliver, and as a result, they faced the brunt of fan criticism and vitriol. Interestingly though, both games now find themselves in very different positions. Despite a slightly bumpy road to recovery, Cyberpunk 2077 has largely won over players and is considered a truly enjoyable and compelling game. CD Projekt Red has worked hard to right the wrongs of the game's launch, providing patch after patch to try and get Cyberpunk 2077 up to the level that fans expected, and even beyond. Cyberpunk 2077 has pretty much redeemed itself in the eyes of many, and lots of players are looking forward to its upcoming DLC and future content.
In contrast, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy still seems to be stuck in a mire of its own creation. It hasn't really improved its position since its controversial release, and many players still feel cheated. Compared to how well-received the original games were and how definitive they were in their generation, it's even more disappointing to compare the lackluster remaster they received. Grand Theft Auto 3 was a huge turning point for the franchise, but The Trilogy didn't really do it justice, even though it had a great foundation to work from. Despite the time that's elapsed since the games were released and when The Trilogy launched, players would have expected a massive improvement in visuals, but there was barely an upgrade.
The lack of perceived effort in The Trilogy is what angered fans the most, but Rockstar did eventually release patches to fix the worst problems and made the original games in The Trilogy purchasable again on some platforms. While the developer is taking steps to mend fences and improve the game, for some it's just too little too late. CD Projekt Red really committed to overcoming the obstacles Cyberpunk 2077's disastrous launch created, and fans appreciated that. Rockstar, on the other hand, is still trying to convince fans that The Trilogy wasn't just a half-hearted cash grab, and that's why it hasn't managed to recover to the same extent as Cyberpunk 2077. With rumors that Grand Theft Auto 4 and Red Dead Redemption remasters are on hold, players can't help but wonder if The Trilogy had a part to play in that disappointing decision.
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
