It's no surprise that Cyberpunk 2077 got a pretty rocky start to life, and the game didn't quite deliver what was promised. The version that wowed people at gaming events across the world, prior to the game’s December 2020 release, is something that is still sought after and so a dedicated modder has brought it to life.
Modder Agsilv created "RESTORE3 - Full E3 Restoration'', and it might help sate your appetite for the revolutionary masterpiece we never quite got, by making the game look more like it did in the showcases at E3 in both 2018 and 2019.
Using only old files, the mod promises to deliver “the purest possible restoration of the look, disregarding how (Cyberpunk 2077) does look, and instead focusing on how it should look; allowing you to see behind the scenes, prior to the editing process”.
Cyberpunk 2077 mod restores E3 visuals
Imitating both 2018's 48-minute demo and 2019's deep dive video, this E3-ised version of Cyberpunk looks a little bit grittier in terms of colour palette and atmosphere than the vanilla game, possibly helping to blunt some of the inevitable Bladerunner comparisons the game’s weathered.
Even if the changes aren’t enough to transform the game entirely for you, perhaps it’ll be enough to bring back fond memories of a time when the world of Cyberpunk overflowed with untapped potential and Keanu Reeves was telling us we were breathtaking.
Plus, if Agsilv’s mod proves not to be enough for you, you can always try adding SpookieCL’s mod “Cyberpunk 2077 E3 2018 Trailer - Main Menu Theme” to make even the act of loading up the game remind you of what might’ve been.
If you do decide to install their mod, by downloading the main file manually or using a mod manager, Agsilv invites you to freely upload any screenshots you then take in-game to the mod’s page on Nexus Mods.
So, give it a try and see if the aesthetics fit the dream. The wonder of mods is that you can pile on more and more, so we have some awesome guides like how to install Banksy graffiti across Night City, as well as making the in-game world look like the Matrix! And if you're after more than visuals, there's even a mod that allows you to romance Johnny Silverhand.