Cyberpunk 2077's Main Story Is 'Slightly Shorter' Than The Witcher 3's Because Players Complained About Length

I actually didn’t find Witcher 3 too long, I only burned out during Blood & Wine. I really should go back to that soon!

I prefer a shorter and more direct campaign where possible, so this good news to me!

I'm fine with the main story being a tad shorter but I'm hoping that the overall experience (side quests etc) ends up being around the same.

Witcher 3 was long, but I didn't mind that since it's so good. And besides, it seems like Cyberpunk 2077 will be packed full of interesting side quests.

who didn't play the story to the end.

Man, I love the Witcher 3, but I'm fine with this. Not everyone has the same amount of time as I do to burn, and the campaign was indeed a bit too long.

This is fine! I'll play through it at least 3 times, and it's good if that doesn't take several years.

Story focused games are only too long due to lack of ideas or bad pacing. Or perception of them as long might be due to a person only having small periods of time to play or feeling like they have to finished everything (collection completionists for example).
I never think a game I enjoy is too long (or film or series). But disappointed about this. Especially as I’m sure they’ll add DLC at some point anyway.

Who are these crazy people? There's no need to make a game long for the sake of it and it sounds like this is still lengthy and if it matches the quality of that then we're in for a treat

No problem im sure there will be a lot of content in the game i trust cdpr after delivering a masterpiece in The Witcher 3

I really want to play Cyberpunk but am yet to play Witcher 3 as the length kinda puts me off. I'm glad to hear this one is will be slightly shorter. I'm a fan of keeping the main story not too long but providing lots of optional, yet engaging, side quests that allow the player to decide how long they want the experience to last.

Hopefully they heard about the clunky controls too because that’s the worst part of the game not the length

That's fine. Take out some of the padding and improve the quality of the content that IS in the game.

@GKO900 Of course they have, that's why they updated the game and put in alternate mode.

Shorter campaign is completely fine with this game considering most people will want to play all three play styles.

This reminds me of people comparing the size of game maps instead of its quality back when No Man's Sky was on Kickstarter. Having a really long/big game doesn't mean anything if you struggle not to die of boredom while playing.

"...Because Players Complained About Length"

So does my wife 😔

People complain about everything wtf.the game is too long the game is too short.i l🖤ve long games.i can play them forever.i wish all the games was long.word up son

my main issue was when I got to skellige it was a pain to go and try exploring all the islands, I'd already done almost all of the side missions and most of the main campaign, burnt out and didn't get round to playing the dlc, will wait now and play it on ps5 I think

The ideal length for a game is about 1 hour. You need no more than that.

This is quite annoying. Witcher 3 was nowhere long. The only type of gamers who couldn't complete are the ones that jump from new game to new game leaving a lot unfinished. I think you should reconsider your hobby if you're in a hurry to get games over and done with. Fast travel gamers.

@BearsEatBeets me. Twice 😬

When you allow these things to come down to fan reaction you walk a slippery slope. Soon player will want to dictate settings, character names, genders, etc. Do not acquiesce to the disgruntled audience. It’ll ruin mostly everything. As we’ve seen with many recent popular franchises.

Hopefully that just means they've pushed some of that content into side quests but kept up the quality. It looks like a really rich world and it would suck if it didn't feel like you got to fully experience it.

@TheArt this is so true! No game is really as long as we play them to be. For instance, I played Skyrim for almost 2 years and only did side quests and dungeons. When I decided to do the main quest I finished it less than 2 days. If you want a shorter game then play it as such. Don’t explore and don’t do what’s not necessary. 🤷🏾‍♂️

In principle this isn't an issue, as long as there's quality and variety in the story. I'm sure as they say there will be plenty of side stuff to do.

People moan about the slightest thing these days especially if they have a twitter account and a YouTube channel!

For me this is quite annoying. I like to buy long duration games, MMOs, ARPGs, Looter shooters and the like so the longer the better. If I can get 200 hours from a game great. If I can get 500 even better. If I can get 5000, take my money, all of it. Sounds like a cop out to me "shorter campaign because people complained". Meh. Witcher 3 wasn't even that long I finished it in under a week as a completionist.

Well the fact that this game can kinda be played three times to see how missions can play out differently depending on your initial choice of character back story. I'm hoping the major plotline can be completed in around 50 hours!

Aslong as the gameplay and story line is good that is all that matters!

That's some great news. I'm always boring of long main stories and I much prefer the rich side content, especially in a beautiful interactive environment.

60 more days!!

It took me 3 years to finish witcher 3 so I'm OK with this lol

@oldschool1987 let's pretend it's because it's too long too

@ApostateMage I wish I had a button that put me into sleep mode for 60 days.

I didn’t think the main story was too long, you just get distracted by the side missions. I get them wanting people to experience their story but the drop off of players is massive on any game these days. I just started observation and saw only 60% of people got the first trophy about 20 minutes in. Insane.

I think it's fine if the "main story" is more streamlined. I think most people understand that the meat of a game comes from the sidequests and countless distractions that can lead you away from the main story.

The length of open world games is always subjective. I never bothered with the question marks on the map and finished the main story (most side quests included) in 77 hours. I'd say that's ok.

@Spinachie yes, let's 😢

The game can always be too long or too short. dependant on the person and how you enjoy that game - for me, I loved every minute of this game, did get burnt out by blood and wine, but I wouldn't say the initial game was too long, good length.

@get2sammyb Yeah like the Order 1886 🤣

@get2sammyb that dichotomy just doesn't fit to The Witcher 3.

I wish I could have played through The Witcher, but not long after the tutorial bit (I think I'd just got into the open world), my pc decided to combust from running it, and I never opened it again in fear of it finishing the job D:

@nessisonett Same here, I’d finished off all the main game and hearts of stone and despite blood & wine being absolutely beautiful and intriguing I just couldn’t go on any longer.

@vindicus1982 I’ve yet to see anything that even remotely suggests CDPR are the kind of company to deal in cop outs. You’re in the minority if you smashed that game in a week, did you even sleep? Haha

@kyleforrester87 And you say I go from 0-100 too quickly! Try reeling people in if you want to change a few minds, don’t go straight for the jugular calling an iconic game for many a bit sh*t for how long it is... 😉

Works for me. I did feel like the witcher dragged a little bit near the end. Still one of my favorite games of all time but if cyberpunk is 20% shorter I wouldn't mind.

@GhostInAJar They're my favorite devs. At least my most respected right now. So yea I don't like saying that, but that's what it seems like anyway. And yea I know completing Witcher 3 in a week is the minority, but I was out of work and played 15 hours a day

And now they'll complain its too short, wair for it.

I'm fine with the main campaign being a bit shorter If the optional side content is of the same quality of witcher 3.

In favor of this. I put The Witcher 3 down once or twice for several months before finishing because of how long and consuming it was.

@kyleforrester87

@kyleforrester87

@AJDarkstar
It wasn’t the story that was overly long in Persona 5, it was the dungeons. Planned to get the platinum like I did in P4, but could face a second playthrough if those dungeons!

@Matroska I just know I'd still be tired when I woke up

Hmmm, well this is not an issue for me. I will obviously take 40 hours of quality content over dragged out fetch quests and kill X amount of quests, but this is not the case, really. I'm sure they'll add what they missed into DLC, although, if it is truly because of the complaints that this happens, it's the consumers screwing themselves by making the devs sell extra instead of putting in for free.

I really wish game companies would stop asking all game makers & some game journalists advice on how gamers feel a big % are completely out of touch with how gamers feel!! thanks guys we will now be sold the rest of the story as DLC

I spent about 150hrs on my first playthrough of the Witcher 3 - not including the time I spent on both DLC's. That didn't include ALL the side Activities as I didn't bother with the Gwent, the fist fighting/brawling or Horse Racing but I did do all the treasure hunts, all the contracts and as many Side quests as I found. I also cleared ALL the ? apart from those around the Skellige Islands.

I loved the game and NEVER found it too long. I don't want to 'rush' through a story as part of the attraction to me is being able to explore, to find side quests/activities and things happening off the beaten path. That's what open world offers and different to a 'linear' scripted Single Player campaign. Its what separates these out. If I don't want to play the 'next' story mission, there is a LOT of other things to do.

With the Witcher 3, side quests had impact on the story too and also the outcome of those would crop up later - an encounter with a character or two that would be 'different' depending on the outcome of the side quest or not even be there at all if you didn't do anything. The way side quests interweave with the main quests make them much more interesting than just quests to fill up the world - make a 20hr game into a 40hr+ game...

I am really looking forward to this...

@nessisonett i agree, it's not too long. it's the nature of it being an Open world RPG, and i enjoy coming back to it time and time again. Even years later i am enjoying the Witcher 3, there's no way it could ever be "too long". i am really looking forward to experiencing the world of Night City, and all it's inhabitants for years to come as well.

@DualshockInfinit Heavenly Sword was short but i loved every second of it and i believe that i didnt miss anything. Sometimes a story can feel complete even if its short.

fairly certain the average completetion rate for a given video game is only 20-40% across the board (that is the percentage of players who see the game to the end credits). there are exceptions and it varies on a game by game basis, however, cdpr should not get wrapped up in this data. the length of a game should be what feels right to the developer to fully tell its story. at the end of the day, only 30% of players (in most cases) are going to see it to the end anyways, and whether it is a 20, 50, 80 or 100+ hour game makes little difference at the end of the day. what matters most is keeping the player engaged and usually that requires a strong narrative and reason to see it through.

https://ibb.co/y8zW1t1

@3MonthBeef Yeah quality over quantity here but in other games considered bad thing. Typical pushsquare review.

Thats fine with me. I personally felt the Witcher 3's story also lasted way too long. It could have stopped in several places and I would have been happy.

Who the f**k complained about that!?

@Flaming_Kaiser I agree, games like Inside, Journey, and Limbo were very compelling

@DualshockInfinit But complaining about a RPG being long still is weird. 😆

If its boring or a bad story or padding like the AC series i can agree.

Still nice to see someone agree that games should not be long for being long.

I'm sorry who complains about a story based game being too long? Am I missing something?

@Flaming_Kaiser Must complain, AC Origins and Odyssey is "story trash", all older AC games were great.

@AJDarkstar
Yes, those dungeons. You see the lengthy nature of the game was fine. Good in fact. But the length of the dungeons I personally found made them tedious to play through. Of course you could also say they just weren’t very good if you like, but I wouldn’t have had a problem with the gameplay in them if they didn’t last as long.

Hmm, could be cut content to be later used as DLC..... 🤔 Either way I'm stoked for this game.

Since there are so many different builds and ways to tackle a mission this should only add to the replayability. I did complete the Witcher 3 and all it's DLC over the course of a couple of years. I then started a new playthrough but it's just too much to all do again even though I'm curious to how some of the decisions will play out.

Maybe with Cyberpunk being shorter I might do a full 2nd playthrough.

@kyleforrester87

That is the hottest of hot takes. It singed my eyebrow hairs a little bit actually and I'm considering legal action. My people will be in contact with your people.

I would genuinely prefer "substantially" rather than "slightly". Don't get me wrong the Witcher's great but just waaay too long for the time I'm able to invest these days. So yeah, I'm one of those that ever finished it. Keep meaning to go back, but just looks more and more unlikely as time goes on!

Game reviewers like shorter games. People that actually spend their hard earned money are not going to complain about getting more game for their money. You don't have to play the whole game in one sitting. I want something that will keep me interested until another game comes out. That can take months.
Of course I don't mean I want to grind levels for months rehashing the same content. - Avengers!

@djlard I dont hate the stories but for me its like they put 30 minutes story in a 2 hour game. Look at AC Syndicate the story is fun but with the amount of filler makes you forget what the story is.

If you look at the main story its fine but the Jack the Ripper DLC should be in the game and so they can cut out the o so boring collectables that add nothing and copy and paste missions.

I think that is what people like about the Witcher everything in the game adds too the story its not just a add time. Or Horizon Zero Dawn yes you have collectables but fill you in on the backstory. For me they would make the game even better if they add story in all the quests.

So nomore can you please get a plant with because person A is sick and 5 minutes later you forget who it was or kill someone because he is bad put in a little small story for that.

I rather have a 30 hours of game that are filled with story then 50 hours where halve the game is just boring filler. But that is my personal opinion.

For me if someone asks how long the game is a useless question. Because a 100 hours of boring gameplay is less then a 40 hours of excitement.

in general i dont think anyone should be ecstatic about a shorter game for full price least of all that would end up determining the value.

at the same time im confused about said complaints because if you have a busy life or not alot of time, one game should be enough for you instead of pilediving games and hurting your wallet in the process.

@Flaming_Kaiser Yes I agree. Copy/Paste side quests are evil and Message board in last two ACs are another level of boringness.

What I think would be interresting and easily implemented into game is connected sidequests. These can affect even main story. Something like Shadows Awakening, where were various ways how to complete quests and mini side quests brought bonuses to main quest. Didn't played Witcher 3 yet, so cannot say.

For example Skyrim had huge interesting side stories, that were maybe more interesting than main story, but last 2 ACs fail on both sides. I like collectibles in game. When I'm after night shift and finally reach home, I like something simple in game, so I'm just collecting...

I also like rather 20h story, than 160h open world with hundered forgetable quests, grinding, meaningless leveling (just to open new location) and endless running (because fast travel loadings are slower than run there).

It is sad that from beginning of year I've completed maybe 10 AAA games and only what I remember is Deadpool and DOOM Eternal.

@djlard Skyrim wasnt my game somehow but i see what you mean the quests arent just quests they something bigger.

With Skyrim i got bored but i agree on the quest stuff it just did not really connect with me. Have not played the last 2 AC games yet.

I dont mind collecting stuff but make it something usefull like with HZD that it fills in the backstory. I just dont like collecting just for the sake of collecting.

And i agree i dont feel like wasting a 100 plus hours just with boring quests, grinding and the other stuff you said. I rather have 30 hours of game the leaves a impression.

@Flaming_Kaiser I collect for trophies.... and it is irritating, when you collect everything just to notice there is no trophy for it... so why there are those collectibles?

I like if there is even little reward for collectibles like in early AC (II or Brotherhood, really don't know right now) where you were unlocking pieces of video by collected data shards.

By the way, I am missing trophies for AC1... those hours of collecting all flags...

@djlard But you have too agree those shards so many of them and they are totally not worth it. If there where no trophies i would not go and find them all thats for sure 😆

@Flaming_Kaiser That's why I quickly check trophy list as soon as I install new game. 😀

Sad to see that they're catering to the Netflix Witcher people who are playing to feel included instead of people who actually like the game.

@djlard It was so much easier as a kid. Just play too have fun and nothing else those times where great.

May sound strange but with less games too play because you have less money you take more or have more time enjoy yourself. At least thats what i think.

@Flaming_Kaiser Yes, games had max 8 hour story, cartridge games around 1.5 hour, but it was fun to finish it 10 times... It is because those games were simple. No artificial rpg, no crafting crap, no grinding 20hours just to have next level, just pure story and action.
Games now have so much meaningless mechanics, that one looks like another and that fun is thrown into pit somewhere behind "live life in this world" wall.

How can one make a game to long? If in opinion it’s to long then some don’t like it. I eat Witcher 3 times started on 4 but I couldn’t second play though after add one with the new Witcher mutation. However lover cyber punk can’t believe how short main story is keep it going if player play and can’t handle playing through let them. Never make main shorter from reviews. Every game can learn from the Witcher look they made a tv show from it, what other game has this? I ask punk make a expansion like you did blood a and wine heart of ice