Cyberpunk 2077’s fifth anniversary is teasing something — why Dec. 10, 12 and 19 matter

Why you should care about Cyberpunk 2077’s cryptic December dates

This caught my attention because CD Projekt Red has pulled off one of gaming’s best comebacks: Cyberpunk 2077 went from disastrously buggy at launch to a studio cash cow and a renewed fan favorite. So when the developer posts a mysterious “Secure comms channel established. Standby for incoming priority transmission” message and circles December 10, 12 and 19, it’s worth paying attention – not because every tease equals a blockbuster, but because CDPR has the resources and motive to do something that actually matters to players.

• Dec. 10 – the fifth anniversary and most likely the main reveal
• Dec. 12 – flagged as tied to Solomon Reed (Idris Elba)
• Dec. 19 — tied to Song So Mi (Songbird), though some sources show conflicting dates

Key takeaways

• Don’t expect a giant paid expansion — more likely character-focused content or quests.
• Staggered dates point to multiple reveals: trailers, micro-updates, and possibly sequel teases.
• This is also a PR strategy: keep Night City in headlines through the holidays.

Breaking down the tease — what CDPR actually posted

The studio posted a cryptic calendar-style image and the secure-comms line on December 1, setting the community off. December 10 is obvious — five years since the game’s launch — and that’s where I expect the core announcement: a trailer, a major patch drop, or a curated “anniversary package.” The follow-up dates are explicitly tied to Phantom Liberty characters Solomon Reed and Song So Mi, which narrows the scope. CDPR isn’t teasing some random cross-promo; they’re highlighting characters that fans already care about.

What CDPR is likely (and unlikely) to announce

Let’s be blunt: a full new paid expansion feels unlikely. CD Projekt Red has Phantom Liberty (2023) still fresh, and Project Orion — the next Cyberpunk — is in active development. Building a brand-new blockbuster DLC would eat dev cycles they probably want for the sequel. Instead, expect smaller-but-meaningful things.

• Character-focused quests or epilogues tied to Solomon Reed and Song So Mi — these could be short story beats that add emotional closure or new side missions.
• New cinematics or a trailer that reframes canonical choices — some fans are already shouting about whether CDPR will pick a “canonical” ending. I’m skeptical; a studio that rebuilt trust won’t railroad player agency, but a story trailer or canonical vignette isn’t impossible.
• Quality-of-life patches and technical tweaks — the studio has used anniversaries before to drop polish and QoL fixes.
• A tease for Project Orion or a roadmap hint — anniversaries are convenient marketing moments to shift focus to future projects.

Why this timing matters

There’s a pattern here: anniversaries give developers a low-risk moment to re-engage players. CDPR used The Witcher 3 anniversaries for major next-gen and content pushes, and Cyberpunk’s fourth anniversary surfaced hints about the sequel. Doing staged reveals across three dates keeps community chatter alive during the holidays — smart for streaming traction and social media momentum.

The gamer’s perspective — excitement and skepticism

I’m excited about character content. Phantom Liberty’s Reed and Songbird were expensive, well-acted additions (yes, Idris Elba made Reed stick in people’s heads), and more scenes with them could be genuinely rewarding. I’m skeptical about anything billed as “major new DLC” — that would be great, but the studio’s priorities and the economics surrounding Project Orion make it a long shot. Also watch for marketing smoke: staggered dates are excellent at generating clicks without committing to much.

How to prepare for the reveals

Bookmark December 10, 12 and 19. Make sure your game is updated and, if you haven’t played Phantom Liberty, now’s the perfect time to jump in — any new content linked to Reed or Song will land better with that context. Follow CDPR’s official channels and community hubs for live reactions and dataminer picks — those communities will tear any announcement apart within hours.

TL;DR

CDPR’s cryptic countdown hints at a multi-stage anniversary celebration focused on Phantom Liberty characters and polish rather than a surprise mega-DLC. Tune in Dec. 10 for the main reveal, and expect character content, QoL updates, and maybe a sequel tease across the following dates.