Pre-alpha Cyberpunk 2077 footage surfaces showing third-person perspective

Observer Synth Potato published pre-alpha footage of Cyberpunk 2077, allegedly captured in 2013. The video shows the game from a third-person perspective – with the camera positioned behind V's shoulder, a stark departure from the final first-person view.

The early materials look predictably rough for such an early development stage. Animations, assets and textures appear in draft form, but the footage provides fascinating insight into what CD Projekt RED envisioned over a decade ago. According to the video, the studio considered a classic over-the-shoulder camera approach before switching to an immersive first-person perspective.

Some players expressed regret over CDPR's decision to abandon the third-person view, though the reaction may stem from the novelty of seeing this alternative perspective. Cyberpunk 2077 has come a long way from its troubled launch to becoming a highly praised game after numerous patches and the Phantom Liberty expansion, making this glimpse at early development stages particularly interesting for fans.

Meanwhile, the studio is working on a sequel, promising "the most realistic and reactive crowd system in any game to date." A release date for the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel hasn't been announced yet, so archival materials like these help pass the wait. Synth Potato's discovery shows just how dramatically the game's concept evolved during development – from a standard third-person action game to a fully immersive first-person experience.