7 lessons Rockstar can learn from Cyberpunk 2077 to avoid GTA 6 disasters

The hype around GTA 6 is unreal. Rockstar dropped the Trailer 2 on May 6, 2025, and the internet went crazy. But as Rockstar gears up to release the most anticipated open-world game of all time, there’s one cautionary tale they really need to learn from: Cyberpunk 2077. A game that promised the world, but launched as a cautionary mess. Here are 7 quick but crucial lessons Rockstar must keep in mind to avoid turning GTA 6 into a glitchy nightmare.The pre-launch hype around Cyberpunk 2077 was unreal—and ultimately, unsustainable. Fans were sold a vision the game couldn’t deliver at launch. Rockstar already has enormous hype for GTA 6, but they must keep expectations realistic. Fans hate a game that promised something else but delivered something else.Cyberpunk launched under pressure despite being unfinished. The result? Refunds, memes, lawsuits. Rockstar has a solid track record of delaying games for polish (GTA V, Red Dead Redemption 2)—and fans trust them for it. Stick to that.Cyberpunk tanked hard on PS4 and Xbox One. If GTA 6 is too ambitious for older hardware, Rockstar should say it outright. Don’t try to “make it work.” A laggy, downgraded version does more damage than skipping old-gen entirely.Glitches killed Cyberpunk’s immersion. Floating NPCs, broken missions, random crashes—gamers don’t forget that. GTA 6 will likely have a massive open world, but QA testing should be ruthless. Players want chaos in GTA—but not the broken kind.One of Cyberpunk’s biggest letdowns was its static, lifeless NPCs. GTA 6 needs to push the envelope here. Pedestrians should have routines. Reactions. Maybe even memories. NPCs shouldn’t just be props—they should exist.Wall-running, AI-driven city life, deep romance paths—Cyberpunk promised a lot and delivered little. Rockstar must resist the urge to oversell. Instead of talking big, they should focus on delivering what’s confirmed—and nailing it.CD Projekt Red eventually fixed Cyberpunk, but the damage was done. GTA 6 can’t afford to rely on a “we’ll patch it later” mentality. At launch, it needs to work. Period. Patches should enhance—not rescue—the experience.GTA 6 doesn’t need to reinvent gaming. It just needs to do what Rockstar does best—build worlds that feel real, alive, and worth getting lost in. Cyberpunk 2077 tripped over its own ambition. Rockstar has the experience to avoid the same fate. Here’s hoping they use it. Because this isn’t just another game. It’s GTA 6. And the world is watching.