Did you read or listen to any of the E3 interviews this year? Because what literally everyone was talking about was the RPG and gameplay systems, freedom of choosing your approaches to quests, character customization and how the world reacts to player's choices.
How is there a sense in calling it a "linear shooter"?
And the only "negative" "news" we got about the world is that you will be limited to one apartment.
All right. I was not the only one to pick up on this, some journalists did too, in their articles.
Both years, the demo comprised mainly of:
- Showing couple contact points, V going to few places and talking couple people.
- One mission, its events and how it can play out, shown intricately.
CDPR didn't really show the branching mission-tree you seem to claim that you did, especially since the world as a whole didn't get to witness the 2019 demo yet. All the actual choices and alternatives seem(according to the articles) to take place within this one mission. All the gameplay options seem awesome, but
it's still just one mission.
So the story can still be a single string of missions from all we know, ie. a linear shooter(action adventure being a better word, since you've shown varied melee). We haven't yet seen enough proof to the contrary. (Emphasis on the word 'seen') We haven't seen how the outcome of this mission affects other missions, or what mission options open up. I prefer to use the word 'mission' instead of quest, since I've outgrown medieval fantasy dependance. I for one haven't truly seen the open world I am looking for.
Now, I can read between the lines enough to get the gist of what CDPR is trying. But the factual proof that its going to happen is rather thin so far.
Besides, important note: Since devs have shown they can change things from what they have said previously, it takes weight off the current interviews. Why should we take these interviews seriously if you are not going to hold on to what has been said? Philosohical question, yes/no?