Now thatCyberpunk 2077is finally here, players are quickly scanning through the game in order to dig every piece of content out of each nook and cranny they can find. However, as players continue to push through the story missions and side quests, uncovering new weapons and clothes, many are finding that they are looking for a missing feature that has long been present in the titleslikeWorld of Warcraft.
The feature that fans are looking desperately for inCyberpunk 2077is a transmog system with the ability to make whatever weapon the player currently has equipped look like another weapon that they have previously found. This is a fairly common feature in a number of titles, likeAssassin’s CreedOdyssey,Monster Hunter: World, andWorld of Warcraft, where both weapons and armor can be changed to fit the look that the player likes best.
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This isn’t exactly so common yet that it has become a staple of gaming just yet, but it is working its way into the games that drop hundreds of weapons and armor in the players' lap over the course of even a single mission. In fact, this isn’t even the first time that players have asked for this feature from CD Projekt Red, asThe Witcher 3didn’t have transmog either. So, there really is noprecedent thatCyberpunk 2077is breakingby leaving the feature out, but considering how many mods exist to change Geralt’s clothes inThe Witcher 3, there has certainly always been a demand for it.
The What and Why of Transmog
The full term, transmogrification, is often shortened to transmog both online and in the titles that it appears in, unless it takes on a completely new name such asMonster Hunter: World’s layered armor. Every game treats the feature differently, with some only requiring an item to be acquired once to unlock the transmog for any weapon or armor of a similar type, and others requiring separate quests be completed with the feature as a reward. It’s often added as a fun little incentive for players to pick up every piece of equipment or complete every quest, even if the items themselves aren’t exactly the best stat-wise.
One of the strongest arguments for games to include this feature in titles likeWorld of Warcraftoften comes down to the way loot is treated in games. Each piece of gear has a random chance to be better or worse than what the player currently has equipped, and being able to take on new missions at higher difficulties often means putting on the strongest weapons and armor available. This can lead to a common complaint in looters, especially ones withcinematic story beats likeCyberpunk 2077, that some of the more intense moments can easily be undercut by silly or mismatching armor and weapons.
Why Cyberpunk 2077 Desperately Needs Transmog
In the case ofCyberpunk 2077, loot is a huge part of the game, with every weapon from every enemy killed dropping for the player to pick up, not to mention the caches of gear sprinkled around the map. The point is, there is a ton of loot available in the game and withcharacter customization so well delivered inCyberpunk 2077, dressing the character however the player seems fit should be a given. However, similar to how players had to choose between the look of a weaker set of gear over the stats of ugly armor inThe Witcher 3, CD Projekt Red has continued to come short on this front.
This can be especially important to players who want torole-play specific characters inCyberpunk 2077, either their own original personas or their favorite champions in some other title. Customizing the player’s hair, skin, scars, and everything else CD Projekt Red included in the character creator, is really only a half step when it comes to decking out V to the nines. All of this doesn’t even begin to cover weapons as well, which fans ofThe Witcher 3might remember are often traded out faster than Geralt can grow out his beard.
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Transmog can Open the Door for Cyberpunk 2077 DLC
On top of giving players the ability to stroll through Night City any way they want, adding transmog can be an avenue for DLC. In fact, going back to CD Projekt Red’s last big hit again,The Witcher 3’sBlood and WineandHeart of StoneDLC campaignsare often still regarded as having set the bar for add-on content. Along with the campaigns came new weapons and armor, some of which would immediately be rendered useless not long after being received due to the nature of the game’s loot system.
It really is a testament to how great the story moments and visual designs were in these two DLC campaigns thatThe Witcher 3still holds such an esteemed title with additional content. Considering thatCyberpunk 2077’s DLC is headed the same way, CD Projekt Red will have to improve on previous features instead of just copying it if the developer hopes to reach the same heights. With new equipment coming over the course of the game’s lifecycle, giving players agency over how their character progresses through the campaigns could be exactly the improvement the game needs.
Cyberpunk 2077 Needs the Good Will
The way forward is somewhat muddied for CD Projekt Red, thanks in part to the host of bugs, glitches, and other issues that have seenfans turn onCyberpunk 2077after the game launched. These issues are likely why the game was endlessly delayed throughout the year, leading up to the underwhelming launch of what some acknowledge to be a quality game, at least when it plays. Giving fans a few features among the next few updates as the developer attempts to keep up with issues as they appear could be one way to earn back some of the good will that the game sold on.
There has already been a day-one patch and a separatehotfix forCyberpunk 2077, but it’s difficult to say if this will be enough to get the game running smoothly on all consoles and PC. This could be the best way forward for CD Projekt Red, since upset fans that signed up for a record number of pre-orders are currently upset enough at the game.
Cyberpunk 2077is available now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions coming in 2021.
