The upcoming Patch 2.0 and Phantom Liberty expansion for the Cyberpunk 2077 role-playing game, scheduled for release in two weeks, present significant improvements for 8-core CPUs.

Reports from the developer suggest that the enhancements will strain hardware, particularly emphasizing 8-core processors which might operate at around 90% capacity. Players are recommended to evaluate their CPU's stability and heat management before the launch.

Filip Pierściński, a developer at CD Projekt Red, communicated via a tweet the necessity of understanding the escalated CPU performance requirements. He recommends players to assess their computer's cooling mechanisms in advance of the new release. As a means of measurement, he proposes using tools like the Cinebench benchmark to determine system robustness. It's worth noting that a recent study by the ComputerBase community aligns with this recommendation.

The developer mentioned, "Expect a CPU usage of approximately 90% across 8 cores." This might translate to nearly full engagement of 16 threads via Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT). Unlike the current scenario where enabling SMT support on AMD processors requires adjustments, the upcoming patch will inherently support SMT. Pierściński further notes that while SMT can be beneficial for gaming on CPUs with up to 8 cores (equivalent to 16 threads), for systems with 12 cores or more, turning off SMT during gameplay might be wise. He also added that players will have the option to toggle SMT on or off within the game settings. The Patch 2.0 and the Phantom Liberty expansion are set to launch on September 26th, offering an opportunity to further understand the system demands introduced by these updates.

Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.0 & Phantom Liberty: Enhanced 8-core CPU Support Confirmed by Developer