Twenty million pounds. Nearly 50,000 backers. Five minutes to hit the funding goal.
That’s the Kickstarter math behind Cyberpunk: The Trading Card Game, the most funded TCG in the platform’s history, and it lands October 1.
Developed in collaboration with CD Projekt Red and brought to life by WEIRDCO, the card game promises “bringing high-stakes two-player battles, neon-soaked artwork and plenty for collectors to chase”. That level of demand tells you everything. This isn’t just another TCG launch, it’s a major moment for the hobby.
The comeback nobody saw coming
It’s hard to believe that back in December 2020, a large group of players had to refund Cyberpunk 2077 after running into game-breaking bugs and glitches at launch.
The PlayStation Store and other online outlets pulled the CD Projekt RED title from their shopfronts. The game needed a series of patches before it became playable at all.
Fast-forward six years. Cyberpunk 2077 has cemented itself as one of the greatest RPGs of all time, and that’s down to the tireless work and dedication of CD Projekt RED.
Multiple patches. Constant updates. An award-winning DLC in Phantom Liberty that changed the conversation entirely.
The game is flourishing now, and it’s pulling other developers, studios and creators into its orbit.
Night City is everywhere already
CDPR has collaborated with Epic Games and Kuro Games, putting Cyberpunk into Fortnite and Wuthering Waves.
Beyond that, the property has spawned coffee, official merchandise, graphic novels, arcade machines and plenty in between.
Inspired by Mike Pondsmith’s Cyberpunk TTRPG universe, CDPR brought Night City to life in a way that made the rest of the gaming sphere want a piece of it. The trading card game is the latest piece.
What you can actually buy
Pre-orders are open through GAME, and there are four options on the table.
You’ve got the Cyberpunk TCG Set 01 The Heist Starter Deck, the Cyberpunk TCG Set 01 Booster Pack, the Cyberpunk TCG Set 01 Welcome to Night City Embrace Power Starter Deck, and the Cyberpunk TCG Welcome to Night City Display, which packs 24 booster packs inside.
Booster packs run £4.99 each. Starter Decks are £29.99. The Display is the big one at £119.99.
The pricing isn’t the selling point though. Look at the art, much of it holographic, and you can see how much detail went into these cards.
I’m not usually a fan of TCGs. Even I’m tempted by this one.
Chasing the rare stuff
Collectors will have a set of rarities to hunt, which is where a card game like this either hooks you for years or loses you in a weekend.
Given how fast the Kickstarter cleared its goal, the chase cards are going to be the whole conversation come October.
Six years ago people were filing refund requests. Now they’re spending £119.99 on a box of cardboard from the same world, and they’re doing it in five-minute windows.
Night City always did reward the people who stuck around.