Cyberpunk 2077 is a game that continuously excels at having photo modes, especially when other companies express their concern over games having photo modes. With this, Cyberpunk 2077 has once again won the Best Photo Mode in an RPG award, but this time for the base game, while Phantom Liberty won the award last year for the expansion. To be honest, even the steady enhancements aren’t the main point anymore. They are the new standard now.
While the rest of the world is losing their minds over the announcement, I enjoy the fact that the Cyberpunk game account said thank you to the community. Both Cyberpunk and the Phantom Liberty expansions have proved to be an endless source of beautiful imagery in this game. Photo Mode truly is the shining jewel. CDPR said thank you to all the people taking photos from Night City in response to the excitement, even adding a heart emoji, which was pretty sincere, especially for you folks that keep your cold corporate social media hearts locked away.
The responses? The responses are a full celebration. There isn’t a single person just stating something. They’re all showering the Photo Mode with compliments. One player, Keller88, called it “the best Photomode that exists” with “nearly limitless possibilities especially with mods.” Another user, Alox, retorted with appreciation to CDPR for “making it even better with every update!” which, true, they have been cooking.
Then there’s CALL ME CAM, who casually declared that after beating the game and getting all the trophies, they “took over 600 shots in photo mode.” SIX HUNDRED. That’s not just playing a game. That’s a whole photography career set in Night City. Carlos Rivera, AKA hardrocknguy, said it was his “Favorite Photo Mode I’ve Ever Used.” High praise from a fan.
The Owl Bard, on the other hand, appreciates the photo mode the most because no one has talked about this in gaming journalism. Like, “gold standard” is a phrase only reviewers throw around that means perfection in design and functionality while setting expectations. It’s also the only mode reviewed more than me, so the validation is something “I get” now. I interpret it as Cyberpunk’s photo mode is a game. People are procedurally playing a game about capturing moments, and they’re sharing the cinematic memories worldwide. It’s a benchmark for creativity in games, and when something is compared to Cyberpunk’s photo mode, it specifies the excellence. That’s the best feedback you can get.
You never think about how serious its impact is until you realize players aren’t participating with a button to capture a screenshot. It’s a suite of artistry tools with many elements. The process is tiring; players spend literal hours tweaking and perfecting their shots. Fine-tuning the camera angles, experimenting with depth of field, and countless adjustments to the lighting with the path tracing technology is required. On a related note, user JusDave27 commented about RTX fans who have a 3090 and can’t max out the settings for gameplay, yet with photo mode. This is another low rand. The commitment is authentic.
And then there’s the modding community. Oh man, the mods. They take an already incredible system and just blow the doors off. Custom poses, new props, weather effects, you name it. It’s a big part of why players feel the possibilities are “nearly limitless,” as one reply said. It keeps the creativity flowing long after the main story is done.
The modding community absolutely elevates the Cyberpunk 2077 photo mode. As one user explained, the “nearly limitless” possibilities are due to custom poses, new props, and even weather effects. Pushing boundaries days after the main story is done keeps the masterpiece alive. And it doesn’t stop with the modding community and the creativity it brings; it’s genuinely a collaboration between the developer and the players. CDPR designed a user-friendly interface that the community is now using to iterate infinite jaw-dropping creations. It is further proof of CDPR’s willingness to spend resources on features the players undoubtedly adore.
It reflects the milestone Cyberpunk 2077 has hit. Launch day was a nightmare, and everyone remembers. The great part is they just kept on. They ironed out the bugs, released a phenomenal expansion, and put more effort into side features like this one that the players evidently cherish. This award feels like a victory lap for that entire turnaround story.
What can we expect moving forward? Perhaps more awards—TheNeonArcade even quipped that the community and the developers “are gonna need a bigger shelf soon.” And with the community’s effort, Night City’s photographers will make sure the trophy collection doesn’t dwindle.
While having a photo mode is now expected in games, Cyberpunk 2077 thrives with a photo mode that is not only functional but also the benchmark and the gold standard. CD Projekt Red should be commended, though the true praise is pegged to their players. Every single player that stopped to capture a breathtaking photo in the chaotic and stunning city is a winner as this achievement is one for the players.
