The internet is a ruthless place that will poke fun at literally anything. That’s why when Cyberpunk 2077 launched with its bevy of issues, it ended up being a prime target of meme culture across the internet and social media platforms.
From performance problems to writing issues, there was plenty of material to work with when creators wanted to add comedic flair to an image or idea related to the game. CD Projekt Red is currently trying to solve the public relations nightmare it created for itself, but in the meantime, let’s take a look at 10 Cyberpunk 2077 launch memes that are hilarious.
9 Cyberpunk 2077 On Nintendo Switch
During the launch of Cyberpunk 2077, social media was full of images comparing the version of the game on PC to that of it running on the Xbox One and PS4 base systems. The difference in graphical quality was comical, to say the least, and it made fans worry about the developer’s commitment to other platforms.
This meme helps express the joke of how terrible the game would look on the Nintendo Switch if it was ever ported to that console/handheld hybrid device.
8 Cyberpunk PC Fan
The reason people enjoy the cyberpunk future aesthetic is that it looks like a bunch of tech being melded together in interesting ways. This often results in products or tools that look neat, but when thought of in a realistic context, these creations tend to either lose their functional value or aesthetic appeal.
Taping a giant room fan to a PC in hopes of cooling it sounds ridiculous but is just the type of insane combination cyberpunk stories would consider. Many players would probably even love the item if it wasn’t put together with clear tape and the fan in question wasn’t made out of plastic.
7 Excuses, Excuses
Like any major release in entertainment, Cyberpunk 2077 wasn’t without its fair share of corporate apologists. Despite the evidence that CD Projekt Red lied to both consumers and platform holders, several people were defending the company.
They reasoned that the developer was bullied into releasing an unfinished product, despite the game being delayed several times. This meme isn’t funny because of what it says, but rather what it communicates about the people who post it unironically.
6 Future Bicycle
As previously mentioned with the meme featuring a home fan taped to a PC, making fun of cyberpunk tech in creative ways will always find a laugh. The marketing for Cyberpunk 2077 loved to focus on the high tech cars and rugged bikes players could use to drive around the city.
This focus on making driving look cool makes this meme hit even harder. Despite the man in the photo having the ingenuity to fuse his bicycle to a shopping cart, it ends up looking more like a death trap than a serviceable way to get across town.
5 Frames Over Pixels
With the release of the next-generation consoles, gamers are having to decide if they want performance or quality in their games. The tradeoff is whether or not you want a game with a smooth framerate but terrible graphical quality, or a beautiful game that runs like a potato.
Well-optimized titles can find a middle ground, but Cyberpunk 2077 is a game full of issues, forcing users to choose. The Drake decision meme applies to almost anything and this is no exception.
4 Oblivious Garfield
It’s unclear if Garfield comics are still funny in 2020, but this meme, though, manages to poke fun at the root of why Cyberpunk 2077 had such a terrible launch. Despite making a game based on a work of fiction meant to point out the flaws of corporations and capitalist ideals, CD Projekt Red became the very thing the world of Cyberpunk 2077 was meant to shine a glaring light on.
It’s this jaw-dropping lack of self-awareness that makes the entire situation laughable beyond belief.
3 Pixel Burger
A common meme template in the video game space is comparing an older game to a newer game in hopes of shining a light on the lack of innovation. In Cyberpunk 2077’s case, it has had so many graphical and rendering issues at launch, which in turn made the game look like a release on the PlayStation 2 in some areas.
Not only did Battlefield: Hardline have solid graphics for a 2015 title, it shows the development costs between developing a tight first-person shooter or looking to make an open-world game with incredible scope and a sense of density.
2 This Feels Familiar
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was released right when meme culture was coming into its own on the internet. That timing led to the game being the subject of dozens of viral memes, including the editing of the game’s intro into famous scenes both in film, television, and adult films.
The meme above does a great job of incorporating Keanu Reeves’ character and his popular line into the Skyrim intro far too many people are familiar with. Don’t be surprised if Reeves makes his way into the next Elder Scrolls title somehow.
1 Expectation vs. Reality
For years gamers were waiting in anticipation for Cyberpunk 2077. Many believed it would be an open-world full of stealth and espionage set in a futuristic cyberpunk backdrop. Upon release, the internet wasn’t flooded with sleek looking agents, but rather colorful characters pulled straight out of a Ubisoft game.
Instead of diving into an open-world version of a Deus Ex game, players across the globe were spawned into a buggy and problematic playground that, at times, felt much more like a parody than a power fantasy.
NEXT: The 10 Best Western Role-Playing Games (According To Metacritic)
