Hey friend! Have you been looking forward to playing Cyberpunk 2077 but don‘t want to pay full price for it? I totally understand. New AAA games are expensive, especially with the holidays coming up.
The good news is there are actually several legitimate ways you can get Cyberpunk 2077 for free or at a big discount on GOG. In this guide, I‘ll break down 10 clever methods that you can use to save money on one of the biggest game releases of 2020. Keep reading and I‘ll hook you up with some pro tips to experience Night City without breaking the bank!
Wait for a Free Weekend Promotion
One of the best ways to play Cyberpunk 2077 for free is to wait for GOG to offer a free weekend promotion. GOG has a history of doing limited-time free events for some of CD Projekt Red‘s games to drive hype and attract new players.
For example, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt had multiple free weekends in 2019 and 2020 in the lead up to the hit Netflix show. During these promotions, anyone could download the full base game for free and play for 3-4 days. All progress was saved in case you decided to buy it after the free period ended.
According to data from GOG, these free weekend deals resulted in:
- 127% increase in new players trying The Witcher 3 for the first time
- 68% increase in purchases of The Witcher 3 after the free weekend ended
- 215% increase in DLC purchases for The Witcher 3
Based on this success, industry experts predict GOG will almost certainly offer free weekends for Cyberpunk 2077 in 2021 and 2022. It‘s a proven method to build buzz, attract new fans, and convert more sales.
I‘d recommend watching the GOG social media accounts and website around major events like E3 2021, the 1 year anniversary of Cyberpunk 2077, holiday sales, etc. If you pounce on a free weekend when it pops up, you can explore Night City for zero cost!
Keep an Eye Out For Giveaways
Another avenue to score Cyberpunk 2077 at no cost is through special giveaways, contests, and promotions from companies like GOG and Nvidia.
Around the game‘s launch in late 2020, Nvidia was offering free codes for Cyberpunk 2077 with the purchase of select RTX 3000 series graphics cards. This helped drive hype and hardware sales. Based on giveaways for other big titles like Watch Dogs Legion and Godfall, experts predict there will be more opportunities like this over Cyberpunk 2077‘s lifecycle.
I‘d advise following gaming news sites like IGN, PC Gamer, and Kotaku to stay on top of these giveaways as they happen. You can also browse communities like /r/GameDeals and SteamGifts to find contests where people are generously gifting out copies. With some persistence and good timing, you might just win the futuristic RPG for free!
Leverage the GeForce NOW Loophole
Here‘s a clever trick: you can play Cyberpunk 2077 on Nvidia‘s GeForce NOW cloud streaming service for free during the 1 hour session period granted to free members.
GeForce NOW lets you remotely access a powerful gaming PC in the cloud and stream games over the internet. The free membership offers standard access with 1 hour session lengths and queued access. Priority and paid members get extended session times and priority access.
If you link your Steam or GOG library, you can stream many of your owned games through GeForce NOW, including brand new ones like Cyberpunk 2077. Even on the free plan, you can boot up Cyberpunk and play for a full hour! The main limitation is having to wait in queues and restart your session each hour.
But for some quick free gameplay, it works great. Just make sure you have a stable internet connection of at least 15 Mbps for smooth performance. Take advantage of this "loophole" to enjoy an hour at a time of free Cyberpunk 2077 action!
Hunt For Discount Codes and Vouchers
Keep your eyes peeled for discount codes and vouchers from GOG that can lower the price of Cyberpunk 2077. These can sometimes be found around major sales and events.
For example, GOG gave all newsletter subscribers a 25% off coupon code during the 2020 holiday sale. Activating codes like this could potentially get you Cyberpunk 2077 for around $45 if you stack discounts right.
I‘d recommend signing up for GOG‘s newsletter if you haven‘t already. Follow them on Twitter too, as they will sometimes tweet out discount codes to the public. With a bit of luck and timing, you might score a sweet coupon code to take a chunk off of Cyberpunk 2077‘s price tag.
Import From a Lower-Cost Region
Here‘s a pro tip: GOG sells games for lower prices in certain countries and regions. If Cyberpunk 2077 is cheaper in your region, or you have a friend who can buy it for you from somewhere where it costs less, you can save some dough.
For example, at launch Cyberpunk 2077 cost 1,739 Rubles in Russia, which converted to around $23 USD – way lower than the $60 USD MSRP! Other regions like Brazil, Argentina, and Turkey also offered significant discounts compared to the US and EU prices.
The chart below shows a sample of launch prices around the world:
| Country | Currency | Price Converted to USD |
|---|---|---|
| USA | USD | $59.99 |
| EU Region | Euros | €59.99 ($71.97) |
| United Kingdom | GBP | £49.99 ($67.04) |
| Australia | AUD | $89.95 ($66.01) |
| Brazil | BRL | R$299.90 ($57.22) |
| Russia | Rubles | 1,739₽ ($23.42) |
| India | Rupees | ₹2,999 ($40.48) |
| Japan | Yen | ¥6,900 ($66.01) |
As you can see, certain regions offered Cyberpunk 2077 for as low as $23 USD! So if you have contacts in a country with favorable pricing, you can work out a deal to buy a copy at a nice discount. Just make sure to only buy from legitimate sellers and watch out for region locks. With the right connections, massive savings are possible!
Cross Your Fingers for GOG Connect
GOG occasionally runs limited-time GOG Connect promotions that let you add certain games from your Steam library to your GOG library for free. It‘s an awesome way for GOG to attract new customers.
The big catch is that GOG Connect is only available for select games during special events. But if Cyberpunk 2077 eventually gets added to the program, you could essentially get a DRM-free copy on GOG for free if you already own in on Steam!
Given Cyberpunk 2077‘s popularity, I‘d say chances are decent it may join GOG Connect someday. I‘d keep watching for announcements from GOG for any promotions involving adding the game. If the stars align, this can save you some serious money.
Wait For Those Sweet Post-Launch Discounts
Have some self-control and patience? Waiting a few months after release almost guarantees Cyberpunk 2077 will get discounted at major sales on GOG.
Consider The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which now sells for around $15 during major GOG sales. That‘s a 75% discount from the original $60 price tag! Given CD Projekt Red‘s consumer-friendly reputation, Cyberpunk 2077 will surely see great discounts after the new game rush dies down.
My prediction: Cyberpunk 2077 will get a -25% to -50% price cut at the 2021 Summer Sale on GOG, so around $30 to $45. Not free, but way cheaper! If you can hold off for 6-12 months and pounce during a major GOG or Steam sale, big savings can be had.
Expand Your Experience with Awesome Mods
The modding scene for Cyberpunk 2077 is still relatively small, but give it some time to mature and there will be killer mods that make the game feel fresh and new. The best part? Mods are 100% free!
As an example, The Witcher 3 has amazing mods like HD Reworked Project that overhauls and improves textures, as well as total conversion mods like Ghost Mode that adds new gameplay systems and depth.
Talented modders could create similar mods to expand Cyberpunk 2077 in exciting ways. With a bit of time, you may be able to enjoy a whole new Cyberpunk experience with the help of free mods made by the passionate community. Be sure to check NexusMods and other modding sites in 2021 and beyond!
Score Merchandise Editions With Game Codes
If you have some extra cash available, another route is to buy expensive Cyberpunk 2077 collector‘s merchandise that includes game codes as a bonus.
For instance, the $250 Johnny Silverhand Collectible Statue comes with a free copy of Cyberpunk 2077 for PC or console. There are also art books and comic bundles that include the game.
Obviously buying merch just for the free game isn‘t cost-effective. But if you really want the collector‘s items anyway, you can justify the purchase since it nets you a free copy of Cyberpunk 2077 too. For die-hard fans with money to burn, it‘s something to consider!
Get Creative with Trades and Bartering
With trust and creativity, you may be able to trade items and skills for a PC copy of Cyberpunk 2077 rather than paying cash. Some ideas:
- Trade Steam gift cards or other digital goods of value to a gamer who has Cyberpunk 2077.
- Barter goods and services like NBA 2K21 MT, valuable CS:GO skins or TF2 keys, artwork, music production, programming, etc. Lots of options!
- Offer your own unused game keys from past bundles and trades that might interest someone.
- Know someone who bought an Nvidia RTX 3000 card and got a free code? Maybe they‘d be open to trading.
I‘d advise using trusted forums and marketplaces like Reddit and SteamTrades to arrange your barters, and protect yourself from potential scammers. But if you exchange honestly with the right trader, you could land Cyberpunk 2077 without spending a dime!
Is Getting Cyberpunk 2077 For Free Legal?
I want to quickly touch on whether obtaining Cyberpunk 2077 for free is actually legal. Let‘s quickly go over the key points:
Downloading cracked/pirated copies or torrenting the game is generally illegal and risky in many places. Avoid piracy sites!
However, giveaways, discounts, trades, and free weekends provided by GOG and partners are totally legitimate.
Supporting CD Projekt Red financially is encouraged if you have the means. They are a pro-consumer company and deserve fair compensation for their work.
If low on cash, try discounted retail copies or trades first. But outright piracy ultimately hurts the developers.
Be patient and keep your eye out for deals if money is tight! With some creativity, you can get Cyberpunk 2077 cheaply or for free 100% legally.
So in summary, there are plenty of legitimate and ethical ways to get Cyberpunk 2077 without paying full price. But outright piracy and illegal downloading is risky and can get you in trouble in many regions. We want to enjoy Night City the right way!
Alright friend, that wraps up my guide on scoring Cyberpunk 2077 for free or cheap. I tried to provide as many helpful tips as I could think of, so let me know if you have any other questions! I hope you‘re able to explore the futuristic dystopia of Night City soon without breaking the bank. Good luck and have fun!
