Controversy-riddenCyberpunk 2077has managed to clutch a major win, following the release of figures detailing the popularity of some of the internet’s biggest fanbases. Following the collection of data from across Reddit, Twitter, and Google,Cyberpunk 2077has been reported as having the sixth-largest fanbase on the internet.
The CD Projekt title has beaten media giant Marvel to the sixth place spot, as well as seating itself well above one of its open-world rivals,Grand Theft Auto.DespiteCyberpunk 2077’s raft of controversiesafter its rocky 2020 launch, the title has nonetheless shown the quality of its world and characters in alluring such a large fanbase. While halfway down the top 10 list, it’s respectable that the title has managed to claw back some kudos from players through its world and characters, in spite of the gameplay’s poor state at launch.
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By analyzing online traffic for subreddit members, hashtags and Google Trends data, FandomSpot.com’s research concluded thatCyberpunk 2077boasted a large fanbase that propelled it up the list, brushing aside industry giants likeCall of DutyandFortnite.WhileCyberpunk 2077was derided for its buggy gameplay, leading to a host of lawsuits and backlash,Cyberpunk 2077’srich and storied worldseemingly managed to engross players enough to engage with the title in online forums- though, it does raise the question of how much of the title’s engagement was from rightfully angry customers, decrying the bug-ridden launch ofCyberpunk 2077.
Mojang took the overall throne in the fanbase rankings, closely followed by Nintendo. Gaming monolithsMinecraftandPokemonneatly secured the first and second places on the list, respectively, andlockdown darlingAnimal Crossingtook third. A huge win for tabletop game fans crops up on fourth place, withDungeons and Dragonsmanaging to claim the spot just above theZeldafranchise.
The top ten looked like this:
Fanbases across the world surged over the last year, as world-wide Coronavirus restrictions saw millions cooped up in their homes. With the world at a standstill,demand for games and films skyrocketedalongside the fanbases of multiple titles, as evidenced in the list.Minecraft’s sub-reddit alone saw a boom of 2.2 million new members since March 2020, marking a growth of 80% over the year. The period of time recorded makesCyberpunk 2077’s placing on the list all the more impressive, having launched relatively late in the study, in December 2020.
Cyberpunk 2077is a testament to two things- the quality and depth of story within CD Projekt Red’s worlds, and the power of hype. WhileCyberpunk 2077underwent a torrent of negative press, angry reviews, and a refund campaign, the title nonetheless made ripples in the gaming world, for better or worse. The much-anticipatedCyberpunk 2077fell short of many expectations for a triple-A game, perhaps rightfullydamaging CD Projekt’s bottom line, as well as the Polish company’s public image.
At the end of the day, though, CD Projekt made theWitcher 3- one of the last generation’s most celebrated titles. The wave of support, hype, and goodwill for CD Projekt leading up to theCyberpunk 2077’s release ultimately put it in a position to succeed regardless of the backlash, and get enough gamers into its world to catch them with its engrossing story in spite of its misgivings. The factCyberpunk 2077sits so high in this popularity contest is testament to the good, and the bad, within the title- the simple fact that, for all the issues the game had (and still has), there’s a great game in there worth talking about.
Cyberpunk 2077is out now for PC, PlayStation 4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X versions also in development.
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