It's been a funny old time for Cyberpunk 2077. Upon launching at the tail end of 2020, it went down as one of the most negatively received games due to its unfinished state. Now, with Phantom Liberty's launch and being one of the top-selling Steam releases of 2023,?? CD Projekt Red's dystopian RPG has finally arrived.

Speaking of top-selling, a recent post on the Cyberpunk Twitter page shows that a lot of people have downloaded the expansion. In fact, since it launched in September, Phantom Liberty has shifted more than five million units, according to the develope??r.

As user KAMI says in a response below the tweet, that's a mighty achievement for DLC. Entire games can only dr??eam of achieving such lofty figures, especially in such a short span of time.

Can we say it's fully redeemed now?

The memory of that initial launch is fast becoming faded, I reckon. Sure, folks like me felt massively let down by a product that was by no means ready ??for release. I was only really able to play it more than a year later.

However, these days, it's a different story. The work CDPR put into rectifying as many errors and issues as possible has rendered the game worthy of praise. The fact that Phantom Liberty has been bo??ught so many times is further evidence of this.

As we move forward, the studio is going to be busy, especially now that there are no more plans to release big updates for Cyberpunk 2077. We can only imagine what we'll experience when the follow-up arrives, not to mention the new Witcher saga that's currently in development.

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Can you believe we're coming up to three years since Cyberpunk 2077 released? What a rollercoaster it's been for CD Projekt Red's non-Witcher game, an??????????????????????????d soon you'll be able to own?? a special Ultimate Edition version of the dystopian RPG.

In a recent post on CDPR's website, the developer has said it will be launching the Ultimate Edition of Cyberpunk 2077 for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC. It's releasing digitally a?nd as a physic??al purchase, both of which will be available from December 5.

As for what's in it, well, you'll get the OG game (natch), along with the free 2.0 update that overhauled a lot of stuff, and the one and only DLC, Phantom Liberty. It's basicall??y an all-in-one package, if that's what you're after in time for Christmas.

We can forgive, but can we forget?

As time goes on, it becomes easier to talk about Cyberpunk without having to remind ourselves of the bad old da??ys. However, I'd wager it's a sting that's still felt by many, especially for those of us who tried to play it on?? console when it released.

Things are, thankfully, much different now. The aforementioned 2.0 update was just one of the ways CD Projekt Red made some key changes to the game, improving things along the way. Before that was the rather substantial patch 1.5 that rolled out in February 2022.

In short: we've finally arrived. However, it's at a time when the studio is looking to move onto new things. While we're getting a Cyberpunk follow-up and a new Witcher saga, CDPR has also said that 2077 is getting no more major updates.

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To craft Cyberpunk 2077's immersive world, plenty of voice actors were necessary. CD Projekt Red ran into a problem when Miłogost Reczek, a Polish performer who did the Polish voice acting for Viktor Vektor, passed away in 2021. As revealed by Bloomberg, the studio over??came this s??etback with the help of artificial intelligence.

In a statement to Bloomberg, the studio explained that when developing the Polish language release of the Phantom Liberty DLC, it considered a few options re??garding Vektor's voice. The studio mulled over replacing Reczek and re-recording his lines in the base game, but as CD Projekt Red localization director Mikołaj Szwed states, this idea was rejected in favor of AI which would keep Reczek's "performance in the game and pay tribute to his wonderful performance as Viktor Vektor."

How AI recreated Miłogost Reczek's voice in Cyberpunk 2077

To recreate Reczek's voice, CD Projekt Red first hired a new voice actor to record all the necessary lines for Phantom Liberty. Following this, a Ukraine-based voice-cloning software called Respeecher created an algorithm to alter the dialog to sound like Reczek. The use of AI in Phantom Liberty w??as done with permission from the Reczek famil??y. According to Szwed, Reczek's sons were very supportive.

This isn't the first time Respeecher has been used in major AAA games. When developing God of War Ragnarok, Santa Monica had to use the software to keep Sunny Suljic's voice consistent throughout the development? process. Suljic (born 2005) is the voice behind Atreus, and h?is changing voice was the consequence of a long development cycle extending across his growth spurt.

Though AI can be exceptionally useful in game development, it does come with the possibility that it could permanently replace human voice actors. This has been a concern for SAG-AFTRA, which also represents perform??ers in the gaming industry.

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These days, most would agree that Cyberpunk 2077 is a fantastic game, rife with dystopian goodness. In fact, CD Projekt Red recently announced it had sold 25 million copies, proving how the tides have truly turned. Not content to rest on its laurels, the studio has also just released the next ??up?date.

Patch 2.01 has started rolling out and, as with ?all good updates, comes with a cavalcade of twea?ks and bug fixes. There are some notable repairs to various quests, as well as addressing the gameplay in general, such as an "issue that could cause V to become invulnerable to all damage."

There's also been fixes to some of the missions in Phantom Liberty, including patc?hing one that could "caus??e V to get stuck in the wall or roof after performing a Finisher on Kurt Hansen."

No more major updates, though

Despite the obvious work that's still being put into Cyberpunk 2077, CDPR has said there'll be no more major updates for the game. The big 2.0 patch and Phantom Liberty DLC were the las?t significant changes the team made to the sci-fi RPG.

Going forward, the developer will likely be putting all its chips into the Cyberpunk follow-up (currently titled "Orion") as well as the new Witcher saga and remake of the first Witcher game. In?? short: it's going to be a ?very busy next few years for the once-disgraced studio.

Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 2.01 notes

Phantom Liberty-specific

• Balls to the Wall - When talking to Paco, repeating the blue dialogue option from the Corpo lifepath will no longer block progress.
• Dog Eat Dog - Fixed an issue where it was possible to earn multiple Relic points by triggering the first meeting with Songbird more than once.
• Firestarter - Fixed an issue that could cause V to get stuck in the wall or roof after performing a Finisher on Kurt Hansen.

Moving Heat

• Fixed an issue that could cause all traffic to disappear after completing the quest.
• Fixed an issue where triggering combat in the garage in specific scenarios could cause various disruptions to quest flow.

• New Person, Same Old Mistakes - Fixed an issue where the gate to Bill's hot dog stand was closed.

Somewhat Damaged

• Fixed an issue preventing the player from scanning the Neural Network system.
• Various fixes for devices in the bunker.

• The Killing Moon - Fixed an issue that caused the doors leading to the shuttle to not open.

You Know My Name

• Fixed an issue where V could remain connected to the sniper nest, blocking quest progress, after repeatedly switching cameras at the end of the sequence.
• Reed will now wear his party outfit during the dialogue with Songbird.

• Addressed an issue where some phone calls necessary to continue the main story began with a delay.
• Various visual fixes for animations, lighting, scenes, VFX, and more.
• Performance improvements for both PC and consoles, especially in the Dogtown area.

Quests & Open World

• Automatic Love - The distortion effect caused by talking to Johnny and selecting a specific dialogue option at the end of the quest will no longer persist on the screen.
• Ghost Town - Fixed an issue where the quest could get stuck on the "Defeat Nash and his people" objective if the game was saved during combat prior to Update 2.0.

Gig: Breaking News

• Fixed an issue where Ted Fox's car didn't spawn.
• Fixed an issue where the gig wouldn't trigger after approaching the quest area.

• Gig: Going-Away Party - Fixed an issue where it wasn't possible to get in the car with Flavio because it spawned underground.
• Gig: The Lord Giveth and Taketh Away - Fixed an issue where the Militech SUV spawned underground.

Killing in the Name

• Fixed an issue where leaving the quest unfinished could block clue scanning, preventing the player from progressing in many quests.
• Fixed an issue where the Bartmoss Collective website wasn't visible in some cases.

• Playing for Time - Fixed an issue where healing and radio icons disappeared from the HUD after the car chase with Takemura.
• Space Oddity - Fixed an issue where the quest didn't activate if the location was approached prior to Update 2.0.

The Heist

• Fixed an issue where Jackie wasn't present in front of the Afterlife.
• Fixed an issue where, when riding the elevator to the 42nd floor with low FPS, V could fall through the floor and die.

• The Prophet's Song - Fixed an issue where completing the quest could cause the police system to turn a blind eye to V's crimes.
• The Ripperdoc - Fixed an issue where, if the player got into the driver's seat from the passenger seat, Jackie would return to the noodle stand and refuse to drive to the ripperdoc.
• Fixed an issue where NCPD Scanner Hustles could remain uncompleted even after looting the necessary containers.
• Fixed an issue where some Iconic weapons wouldn't appear on wall of the Stash in V's apartment.
• Lowered the value of the Attribute check required to enter the area where the Thermal Katana can be looted.

Gameplay

• Made it possible to properly switch to Arm cyberware by cycling through weapons.
• Addressed an issue that could cause V to become invulnerable to all damage.
• A wrecked NCPD cruiser without wheels won't be patrolling the streets of Night City anymore.
• Fixed an issue where some obsolete mods in the Inventory and Stash weren't properly exchanged for a new weapon mod.
• Fixed an issue where weapons obtained pre-Update 2.0 could have a Tier that's too high when compared to the player's level.
• Removed various obsolete Crafting Specs.
• Disassembling a Budget Arms Slaught-O-Matic will now give 1 crafting component.

PC-specific

• Fixed an issue where the UI could show controller inputs when playing on keyboard and mouse.
• Players unable to get achievements due to an issue that prevented Phantom Liberty achievements from unlocking on PC before a backend fix implemented on the day of the release will have them retroactively unlocked on GOG and Steam after loading a save from that playthrough. For the Epic Games Store, the issue is still under investigation.
• Fixed an issue where, after installing Update 2.0 but not the expansion on GOG, a pop-up saying "Phantom Liberty downloaded - please return to the main menu to access new content" could appear in the in-game menu.
• Improved image quality of DLSS Ray Reconstruction in the Ultra Performance setting.

Console-specific

• Addressed the issue of corrupted saves on PlayStation by increasing the maximum save file size limit. Note: this won't fix saves corrupted before the update.
• Fixed an issue where launching the game without an internet connection would prompt the player to log into GOG My Rewards again.

Miscellaneous

• Various crash fixes on PC and consoles.
• Vehicle radio volume has been adjusted so it's no longer too quiet compared to other sounds in the game. If you've turned down the volume of other sounds in order to better hear the radio, you may want to re-adjust the volume before you continue playing.
• Added sounds for the Basilisk that were missing.
• Fixed an issue where the player could earn an infinite score in Trauma Drama by shooting at enemies dropping from a helicopter repeatedly.
• Growl FM and Dark Star websites will now be visible when playing without Phantom Liberty.
• Fixed an issue where disconnecting the internet didn't result in an error message being displayed in My Rewards and Cross Progression tabs.
• The song History by Gazelle Twin and Trash Generation will now be disabled when the "Disable Copyrighted Music" option is turned on.
• Fixed an issue where hair didn't cast shadows when Ray Tracing was enabled.
• Players who pre-ordered Phantom Liberty but didn't get the Quadra Sport R-7 "Vigilante" will now receive it.
• Several improvements and changes to Ukrainian localization, including fixes for lines where the translation lost its original meaning.

REDmod

• Fixed an issue where tweak mods would not compile in REDmod.
• Added Phantom Liberty support to REDmod.

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There's a lot to do in the 2.0 version of Cyberpunk 2077. You can engage in some high-speed vehicle combat, or re-do all your cyberware. Or, maybe, go find an old retro cabinet to while away the hours in Night City. There's still a secret or two to find in Cyberpunk, it seems.

It was already confirmed that Cyberpunk 2077 was getting another arcade game in 2.0, dubbed "Trauma Drama," alongside the previously added Roach Race. But hidden away in a remote corner of the map is another game: a retro boomer shooter called "Arasaka To?wer 3D."

This retro cabinet, hidden out in the far-reaches of Cyberpunk's world?, is not just a neat easter egg. It's also, potentially, a step towards unraveling an ARG surrounding CDPR's work, in and out of Night City. But let's not get ahead of ourselves—first, here's how t??o find the cabinet in question.

Where to find Arasaka Tower 3D in Cyberpunk 2077

The cabinet is tucked away, bu??t not quite hidden, in a church sitting in the middle of the Protein Farms, in the southwest area of the map.

You'll know you're ?in the right place because, well, it's pretty out-of-place. Surrounding the church are miles and miles of industry. Apparently, this chu?rch was previously much less occupied than it was now.

Head into the main building and you'll find a bunch of computers, a laptop, some various confetti of ite?ms and decoration, and the cabinet in question: Arasaka Tower 3D. Boot it up, and you're treated to a very special treat.

The retro cabinet houses a dramatization of Johnny Silverhand's fight out of Arasaka Tower, after planting the nuke there. It's an event you can live out in the game, thanks to V's link to Johnny through the Relic. But hey, if you want a Wolfenstein-esque version of events, it's here too.

Secrets lurk beneath the surface

Arasaka Tower 3D is a neat easter egg in its own right, but internet sleuths speculate its a new step in the ongoing "FF06B5" mystery. It's been a running ARG for some time, and even bled into The Witcher 3 as well.

The whole scope of the ARG and its many mysteries are a bit too much to dig into here, but suffice to say, the community has already uncovered a lot surrounding this church. (What is it with video game secrets and churches?) Folks are still working together on bits and pieces,? speculating on ?what might still remain out there to find in Night City.

Still, even if you're not a secret hunter, there's a cool new retro shooter to play inside Cyberpunk 2077.

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The campaign of Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty is an intense, high-octane spy thriller, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes until the end. If that sounds like a bit too much for you to handle, CD Projekt has also offered an easy way? to say "no, thank you" and leave it, for good.

As it turns out, Phantom Liberty has a dialogue option that will let you ditch its campaign entirely. If the goings get t?ough and you no longer wish to take part in the story, you can walk away, albeit after one extra confirmation. It happens pretty early on in the expansion, but just a heads up that we'll be talking about the mission content in "Lucretia, My Reflection."

After meeting up with Solomon Reed, portrayed by Idris Elba, you'll head back to chat with NUS President Rosalind Myers. The pair of you will discuss what's happened in Dogtown so far, with some foreboding speculation about another force? at work behind the scenes.

At this point, Myers and Reed will ask V to stay on and help with the mission to find Songbird. Normally, one would sign up for this gig. But you also have the option to decline t?hem.

Hit the bricks

Choose "You're right, I'm out" and both parties will question your motivation. Myers reminds you that Songbird was helping V search for a cure for the Relic, and that the NUSA will help V�em>if they offer their help in return.

Decline again with "Made my decision" and congratulations, you have failed the mission and are now locked out of the Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty campaign. This removes yo?u from the quest itself, and cancels any future opportunities, too.

I've tested it out myself and yeah, you can just turn off Phantom Liberty entirely. You can still load an old save and choose the other options, but playing forward from that decision point, you cannot undertake any more of the mainline Phantom Liberty missions. This al??so locks you out of getting the new ending added as part of the ex?pansion, too.

As PC Gamer reports, you do get one tex??t update a few days later from Reed, confirming your "mutual acquaintance" has made it home safe. And then he takes himself out of your contacts. Fair enough.

While I don't see why anyone would do this, I do appreciate that it's here. Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty gets to join the likes of Far Cry 4 in having easy "nah, I'm good" options to just peace out and end th??e game before the dr??ama kicks off.

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Cyberpunk 2077's first DLC, Phantom Liberty, officially releases today. Since the game has been regarded favorably (thanks to post-launch updates), many have been looking forw??ard to new content. However, some may not be impressed by what developer CD Projekt Red has done in preparation.

In a post on Twitter, the studio announced that, in time for Phantom Liberty's launch, the team has decided to disable mods for Cyberpunk 2077.

According to the post, this is to "prevent issues with the game that are caused by mods before they receive their update from the modding community." It's an act of precauti??on and not a permanent move. ??At the time of writing, there's no indication of when the studio will re-enable them.

CDPR keeps a watchful eye

While some will understand CDPR's decision, others will be a little peeved that mods temporarily lost their official suppor?t. For now, at least.

This is also not the first time the Polish developer has maintained a presence in the modding community. Back in December 2022, the studio posted on its forum regarding the then-upcoming "next-gen" release of The Witcher 3.

It seemed that many were concerned that mods would not work correctly for the upgraded version of the RPG. However, CDP??R released a list of popular mods that it had personally checked, outlining which ones would be com?patible with the update.

Hopefully, it won't be long before the developer does turn mods on again for Cyberpunk 2077. A lot of PC gamers have grown accustomed to playing improved, non-vanilla versions of games, so they won't want to stick with the bas?e experience for too long.

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Are you ready for Cyberpunk 2077's first DLC? Well, hold your horses for a second there. If you're excited about Phantom Liberty and yo??u're in the market for some new PC hardware, Nvidia may have you covered.

Team Green is currently offering a chance to win an Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics card, which comes with a custom backplate designed after Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.

If you want a chance to win what is essentially the most powerful GPU on the current market, all you have to do, according to the post on Twitter, is ??like said post and comment with? a specific hashtag. There doesn't appear to be any mention of how long the competition is going on or when a winner will be announced, so keep an eye on social media for details.

All those graphical gubbins

Nvidia launched its RTX 4090 gra??phics card almost a year ago, effectively kick-starting the next generation of GPU tech (with Nvidia naming its 4000 series after English Mathematician Ada Lovelace).

As the post on Twitter itself says, the 4090 boasts DLSS 3.5 �the latest in Team Gree?n's AI upscaler �for all your visual purists out there. It's also, sadly, one of the most expensive pieces of PC kit available, so many of you will be eager to get hold of one for free.

As for the DLC itself, Phantom Liberty will be released on September 26, just a few days away. There's also Cyberpunk 2077 version 2.0 rolling out today, which represents something of an overhaul for the game. Developer CD Projekt Red even recommends starting a new save file due to how many changes this update wil?l be bringing.

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Cyberpunk 2077’s 2.0 update is approaching to clean up the mess wrought by the
launch release. This release is separate from the Phantom Liberty expansion that launches
soon after as the update fo??cuses more on overhauling systems found in the base game.

Although both have been advertised alongside each other, they launch on separate
dates, with the update coming on September 21. A new trailer for the update highlights the
revamped police system, adding functioning police to the game so that committing crimes
has consequences. There's even proper MaxT?ac implementation in case a rampage gets so extreme the NCPD believes V has gone cyberpsycho.

Other prominent features in Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 include a rebuilt cyberware system and
retool??ed skill trees to better balance V’s capabilities. Hopefully, this version is the best as this marks the second time the skill trees have been redone.

Cyberpunk 2077 has been on a long road to redemption since its disastrous 2020 launch. The
game has always had its defenders, but the numerous bugs and missing features made it hard
to enjoy.

Now that it's becoming what it arguably should have been, the hype for it feels real again. While
more tempered than its original pre-release cycle, Cyberpunk 2077 has become something to
be excited about again. It still has some bugs and issues?, but not nearly to the same degree it used to have.

It’s a redemptive arc that places it along other initial disasters like No Man’s Sky or Final
Fantasy XIV which eventually sorted itself out. Hopefully, this update will solidify its
placem??ent among titles that rose amidst the ashes.

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Cyberpunk 2077 fans may find the game significantly heavier on their PC hardware than ever before, according to CD Projekt Red's Lead Scene Programmer Filip Pierściński. Ahead of the release of Cyberpunk 2077 2.0, it appears we should brace for t??he game's perfo??rmance to change.

More specifically, Pierściński claims that the game will now "use all [the CPU power] you have," with the expected processor workload being around 90% on an eight-core system. Some impressive efficiency numbers, at least on paper. That said, Pierściński was ??also careful to point out that cooling may become an issue during such an intensive workload. In fact, he recom??mended that players run performance assessment tools like Cinebench to check whether their systems are stable under these conditions.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty aims to push your PC to its limit

Graphics are, obviously, one of Cyberpunk 2077's strongest features. The game features many visual bells and whistles with full path-tracing enabled, but this doesn't come cheap, hardware-wise. Pierściński's claims are well-timed, as the game will see its second massive visual upgrade with Phantom Liberty.

There's no real reason to doubt what Pierściński is saying, of course. But warning people about their PCs' cooling capabilities over a video game patch is quite curious, all things considered. We'll see how well the game scales with different levels of hardware once update 2.0 hits. After all, this level of efficacy would make Cyberpunk 2077 an even more ubiquitou?s be??nchmarking title in the long run.

At this time, there's no official release date available for Cyberpunk 2077 2.0. But we can reasonably expect the update to launch ahead of Phantom Liberty, which will arrive on September 26.

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Photo mode is one of those features that has become increasingly commonplace, now that social integration and sharing images from your game with the wider world is so easy. It's a fun way to stage those perfect shots, and snap pics of your journey through a game world. And photo mode has been a great way to re-engage with Cyberpunk 2077.

With the impending launch of Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty, the first and only expansion for CD Projekt Red's futuristic RPG, I've been dipping a toe back into the waters of Night City. Much of it is just reacquainting myself, and getting back into the world and feel of it all. I've already spent at least an above-average amount of time both playing and talking about Cyberpunk 2077.

Getting back into it ??though, I'm reminded of the visual splendor that is Night City?. And how, with such an interesting world, its photo mode becomes the perfect lens to re-engage and refresh.

Come on, vogue

There are some prime examples of photo modes in modern games, as the feature has become increasingly commonplace. The advent of the "share button", making capture content an easily accessible feature o??n every home console, meant players could more easily snapshot their best plays or favorite scenes. Tie in social media and forums like YouTube, and it's really never been easier to take something  from your personal? playthrough and put it online.

[caption id="attachment_403753" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

So when I opened Cyberpunk 2077 back up I started going back through my photo mode pictures. It was like a mini-scrapbook of the playthrough I'd had before, letting me revisit all the choices I'd made and branches I we??nt down. And? of course, all the looks my V served.

The Cyberpunk 2077 photo mode may not be the best in the business (I still have a lot of love for XIV's incredible gpose tool) but I have, over the years, found it to be a lot more malleable and effective than most. It's got a great set of tools for manipulating V, so even if you? can't get your pose right before hitting the photo button, you can fix it in the settings.

There's also a lot of room for taking photo?s in a variety of settings. Cutscenes, driving, ??or just walking around, I'm free to pop it open anytime and start toying with the settings.

[caption id="attachment_403756" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

It gives some dramatic weight to certain story moments, too. When I hit certain parts of the Cyberpunk 2077 story I would pop open photo mode and try to capture a good shot of how V was feeling. At the time, it was mostly due ?to the incessant but endearing insistence of my podcast co-host Kenneth Shepard, but now? I'm happy I have them. I can see moments in the story where V was struggling or celebrating. Where I captured a specific vibe, and how badass my V look?ed as they were becoming a Night City legend in real time. You win this one, Ken.

[caption id="attachment_403754" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

On the Night City wire

Really, though, it helps that Night City is an excellent virtual world. There's a lot to be said about the base version of Cyberpunk 2077 and its highs and lows, especially at launch. It's seen something of a renaissance, even, thanks to the massive popularity of its anime spin-off Cyberpunk Edgerunners. Al??l of ??????????????????????????that, I think, points to just how memorable this setting is.

As I'm walking back through Cyberpunk 2077 and snapping my photo mode shots, I'm remembering how good this all looks. The corpo towers that pierce the clouds, the shops on Jig-Jig Street?? that advertise anything, for any desire.?? Pacifica's theme park area looms off in the distance, with its own roller coaster I could fix up if I finish the side quest.

[caption id="attachment_403755" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

And, at the center of all of it, V. I could probably stand to take fewer pictures of my protagonist, but that's part of the role-playing game appeal. My created character has built up a reputation and legend in Night City, and seeing them evolve through the course of 2077 through the photo mode pics I've snapped is like a little journal. It's something I've missed when it's absent, like in Baldur's Gate 3. (You can turn off the UI in BG3 and still get some great pics, but there's no official photo mode yet.??)

So with Phantom Liberty just around th??e corner, I'm eager to see what new sights I'll be able to capture. Night City still has stories to te??ll, and hopefully there are still some gorgeous vistas where I can perch up for a few more candids.

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CD Projekt Red's next major Cyberpunk update is out soon as version 2.0, along with the Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty DLC. Just that paid add-on is a big deal, as it brings a hefty batch of new content. However, one might argue the 2.0 upgrades releasing alongside Phantom Liberty ar??e an even bigger deal, as the update completely revamps many of the game's original mechanics and ?features.

Until now, what's coming as part of Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 versus the paid Phantom Liberty DLC hasn't been totally obvious. That's where CD Projekt Red's latest explainer helps, as the studio provided a rather detailed infographic plainly stating what's updated for free ??and what goodies cost extra.

//twitter.com/CyberpunkGame/statu??s/169761472??2080571820

Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 vs Phantom Liberty Content

The good news is that the most important Cyberpunk 2077 changes update for everyone with the free 2.0 patch. That's regardless of whether or not you intend to purchase Phantom Liberty on day one.

The free Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 brings a complete revamp of the game's skill trees and perks. There's also new cyberware features, substantially improved vehicular combat, and better AI in general. CD Projekt Red also adds various UI/UX improvements and a loot system overhaul. There's still plenty more, with a key highlight being the long-awaited retrofit of Cyberpunk 2077's legendarily shoddy police implementation. Perhaps that's enough to?? keep it climbing on our best 2023 FPS list, but regardless, it's great news.

On the flip side, paying the $30 for Phantom Liberty adds an all-new district and story. The DLC also brings a new Relic-based skill tree, over 100 new items, and a bumped-up level cap. CDPR's Phantom Liberty additions tout "endless dynamic events" via vehicle-based ??missions and airdrops, too—though pl?ayers may wish to wait and see how those pan out in practice.

The Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC ??launches on PC, Pla?yStation 5, and Xbox Series platforms on September 26. Version 2.0 upgrades arrive on the same day.

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As part of the Gamescom Opening Night Live trailer, CD Projekt Red showed off some of the upgrades that are coming to the Cyberpunk 2077 base game and its expansion, Phantom Liberty.

Most of this stuff was already shown off, but it's some appreciable features. The perk system is getting overhauled, new weapons and vehicles are being added, and a number of systems and mechanics are getting brushed ??up. Not all of it looks completely revolutionary, but they did give a peak at the upgraded police system and showed off vehicular weaponry. Both of which I think will definitely improve the moments between narrative.

//youtu.be/zBrkG3aeWCc

They're also finally implementing a Relic upgrade screen. It was viewable on the base game, but for whatever reason, it wasn't implemented. When I played through, I was saving upgrade points for when it would eventually u??nlock, but I got impatient and looked it up and found out that there wasn't a talent tree for it. What a tease.

There are a few other bullet points that sound interesting, including an increased level cap, upgraded combat AI, and redesigned cyberware. I'm hoping that you can now have more visible cyberware, but I'm not holding my breath. I thought Cyberpunk 2077 was a bit up its own ass wh??en it came to showing off its production values, but I'm still looking forward to the expansion.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty expansion releases on September 26, 2023. Even if you'?re not interested in the new narrative, the Update 2.0 overhauls will be incorporated for free into the base version.

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Johnny Silverhand gives his hot take

There isn't long to wait now until Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty DLC releases. Following on from the main story, the new content will be a moodier dive into the underbelly of Night City's already seedy vibes. That?'s according to Keanu Reeves, anyway.

In a recent video posted to the official Cyberpunk 2077 YouTube channel, the actor, who reprises his role as Johnny Silverhand for the upcoming expansion, has been shooting the breeze about the DLC. When asked how he would describe Phantom Liberty, Reeves said that Dogtown, where the new story takes place, goes ??down to a "darker place" when compared to the van??illa game.

//youtu.be/LXXqI6eYD6w

Perhaps channeling his inn?er Johnny, Reeves asserts (after politely asking if he could swear during the interview) that "s**t's gone down" in this new location. He adds that, in spite of the even more dystopian atmosphere that's incoming, he hopes it'll be a fun experience for people to play as ?well.

The Matrix star also talks a little bit about Solomon Reed, a new character in Phantom Liberty played by Idris Elba. His presence represents that extra bit of Hollywood stardom that CDPR wants for the expansion. Reeves says that Johnny has some things in? common with Solomon, such as the "sens??e of being used" and the idea of trying to reclaim one's own life.

//youtu.be/yifBJOwKFw0

Cyberpunk 2077 may have been one of the most controversial launches in game history, but the studio eventually turned things around with patches a-plenty. The upcoming DLC, which drops September 26, will give more than a few fans another reason to dive into this world. It sounds like it's going to be an interesting, if gritty, experience. Keanu Reeves summarizes Phantom Liberty by saying that it's a mixture of mystery, truth, a?? scavenger hunt for information, and whether or not you can count on anything.

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Running to the edge

Since its release, it's been hard to talk about Cyberpunk 2077 without discussing its launch. It's one of the more notable examples of a rough start in recent memory. With every update since, fixing bugs and adding features as well as versions for newer generation consoles, the question of whether Cyberpunk 2077 is going to realize its original vision gets brought up. And after playing some of its expansion Phantom Liberty, I think it's finally there.

Phantom Liberty is Cyberpunk 2077's first, and only, expansion. CD Projekt Red has a good reputation for its expansions, after two phenomenal additions to The Witcher 3. From just a small slice, Phantom Liberty already feels like it's living up to that legacy. The story and setting are excellent, and it delves into some rich narrative potential for Cyberpunk 2077.

[caption id="attachment_386905" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via CD Projekt Red[/caption]

More than that, though, is the absolutely massive amount of updates arriving alongside Phantom Liberty's launch. Every part of this game feels like?? it's getting fine-tuned in some way. Updates, big and sm?all, feel like they're realizing the vision of Night City set out years ago. It's even got me thinking about rolling a new character.

What's new in Night City

As interviews with the team have rolled out, CD Projekt Red is saying it is overhauling Cyberpunk for Phantom Liberty. All the "core main systems" are being updated or redone, CDPR told VGC; this means perks, skill trees, AI, p??rogression, tiers and loot drops, and more.

There's a new police system and vehicular combat, which apparently includes car chases. In a conversation with Kotaku, the team says there are new conversations with romance characters around Phantom Liberty. And yes, there is a new ending that's arriving as part of the expansion, too.

[caption id="attachment_386904" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via CD Projekt Red[/caption]

It's a massive update, and the nice part is, you won't have to spend cash for all of it. While Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty will be a $30 expansion with its own specific updates, many systemic changes are coming to Cyberpunk 2077 at its base level.

Suffice to say, Cyberpunk 2077 will be a very different game when Phantom Liberty launches on September 26 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. (It's not coming to PS4 or Xbox One.) But that's the foundation. The exciting part is that, even in a vacuum, Phantom Liberty seems l??ike it's going to be quite a good?? expansion too.

Space Force One

On top of adding Dogtown, a new region to explore, Phantom Liberty also brings a Cyberpunk f??action into the Night City sprawl: the NUSA. The New United States of America is mentioned a fair bit in the world and lore, but after President Myers' plane is brought down in Dogtown and her netrunner Songbird recruits V for the rescue operation, the NUSA is much more involved.

At the top level, this brings a new kind of tension to Cyberpunk 2077's story. Songbird says she can help V deal with the Relic in their head if they help M?yers out of this mess. It's quite a debacle. And the spy thriller tone, which CD Projekt has been emphasizing, definitely plays out.

[caption id="attachment_386901" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via CD Projekt Red[/caption]

During my time playing, there were casual walk-and-talks with Songbird as she spoke ?to V through their Relic. There was simmering tension that spilled over when Space Force One, Myers' transport, falls in Dogtown and V has to rush over to save her. And it's amplified even more as the pair hole up in a ?Dogtown hideaway, trying to keep the lights on and avoid drawing attention.

I got to ?share a beer with the NUSA president while talking about who could possibly be behind this plot. All the while, Johnny Silverhand is chattering in my ear, encouraging m??e not to trust anything or anyone.

Fortunate son

Going into Phantom Liberty, I was a bit curious about where Johnny Silverhand would fit into all of this. The expansion already has another star lined up in Idris Elba, and Keanu Reeves is a pretty big name; I assumed Reeves would be coming back to put together some lines and maintain ?Johnny's presence in the story, while other characters took up the companion role for V.

[caption id="attachment_386900" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via CD Projekt Red[/caption]

Imagine my surprise, then, when my Phantom Liberty demo segued into a long conversation with Johnny about his past. Those who are familiar with the tabletop world of Cyberpunk may know a good deal of this already, but Silverhand is a military deserter. And Johnny has quite a bit to say as V's destiny entw??ines with the future of the NUSA.

Cyberpunk 2077 already held some poignant character moments, both with its main com??panion characters and Johnny. But seeing Reeves appear again and get even more to do with his portrayal of Silverhand is a welcome surprise. There's a lot of potential avenues here, and I'm pretty psyched to see how V and Johnny's relationship plays out in this n??ew light.

For ages, it feels like we've been talking about the Cyberpunk 2077 success story. Other games with notoriously rocky launches have had one already. Whether or not Cyberpunk has hit that point yet, or could, is one thing. But Phantom Liberty feels like it's realizing a vision of Cyberpunk 2077 that CD Projekt Red has be??en chasi??ng for some time. And that's a very exciting prospect.

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Bag yourself a fancy set of Future Wheels

As part of today's Xbox Games Showcase, CD Projekt RED (and Keanu Reeves himself) announced that it is opening pre-orders on Phantom Liberty, the delayed DLC expansion for its rollercoaster release, Cyberpunk 2077. The DLC is available to pre-order now on all platforms, priced at $29.99 or local equiva??lent.

Anyone pre-ordering the Phantom Liberty DLC will receive a bonus item in the form of a snazzy muscle car, ?the Quadra Vigilante. This car will unlock at the start of the expansion and ensure that V is looking pretty damn ace as they whiz their way around Night City. The new DLC will open up a brand new district in the hazardous 'berg, and will also star Idris Elba as FIA agent Soloman Reed.

The Phantom Liberty expansion DLC was expected to arrive a little closer to Cyberpunk 2077's 2020 launch, but production was slowed as the developer instead focused on polishing the original release, which famously received one of the most notoriously disappointing launches (at least technically) in the modern gaming sphere. Cyberpunk 2077 has since launched on Gen9 platforms? PS5 and Xbox Series X, and is generally considered to be in a f??ar cleaner, higher-quality state.

Cyberpunk 2077 is available now on PlayStation, PC??, and Xbox platforms.

The post Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty DLC launches September?? 26 appeared first on Destructoid.

Just one more job

CD Projekt Red officially revealed Phantom Liberty, its first major expansion for Cyberpunk 2077, this week. And i??t looks like it will be the onl?y one.

In a YouTube comments section, as spotted by sites like XGP, the official Cyberpunk 2077 account responded to a hopeful comment about further expansions beyond Phantom Liberty. The account expressed gratitude but said that Phantom Liberty is the "only planned expansion" for Cyberpunk 2077.

Following up on that, Polygon received comment from CD Projekt Red's global PR director Radek Grabowski. He confirms that Phantom Liberty is "the only planned expansion" for Cyberpunk 2077, and ??ther?e are "no plans for more expansions beyond that."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbVKBoDuhZ0

It seems pretty plain that we won't be seeing two expansions like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt received. And to be fair, Phantom Liberty is st??ill a ways off; it's?? currently aiming for a 2023 launch.

Night City blues

Cyberpunk 2077 feels like it's seen an up-swell in public perception. Patch 1.5, otherwise known as the Next-Gen Update, really did a lot to bring Cyberpunk 2077 closer to w??hat players probably expected at?? launch.

With yesterday's Night City Wire, CD Projekt Red has now bumped it up to 1.6, adding some content with tie-ins to the upcoming Netflix anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. It's also leaving th?e previous generation of consoles b?ehind with this update.

There's still more ahead for Cyberpunk, though. Game director Gabr??iel Amatangelo teased a few upcoming tweaks during the stream, including overhauls to the cop system and vehicle-to-vehicle combat. There is still, at least in the near-future, more for Night City.

While Cyberpunk 2077 ramps up to its first and final expansion, other sections CD Projekt Red are also forging ahead. The studio is currently working on the next Witcher game, built in Unreal Engine 5. And on the Gwent side of things, the studio released a deckbuilding expansion dubbed Rogue Mage earlier this year.

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The expansion won't be coming to previous-gen consoles though

During today's Night City Wire, CD Projekt Red showed off a tease for what's next in the world of Cyberpunk. Phantom Liberty is the name of the Cyberpunk 2077 expansion, arriving sometime next year.

The brief teaser video showed some pretty gorgeous locales, including a facility ??covered in flora. We also get a teaser of V reciting an oath to serve the New United States of America, and Johnny Silverhand warning her it was a bad idea.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbVKBoDuhZ0

As confirmed by the teaser and today's Night City Wire, Keanu Reeves will reprise his role as rockerboy Johnny Silverhand for the Cyberpunk 2077 expansion. As fo?r other story details, we'll have to wait and see.

The expansion will be coming to P?C, PlayStatio??n 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Stadia sometime in 2023. But previous generations will not be getting the expansion.

Running along the edge

CD Projekt Red also confirmed today that the 1.6 update, the Edgerunners update, will be the last one for previous ??generation consoles.

The Edgerunners update is rolling out today, which adds a host of new content to Night City. Some of it centers around Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, the Cyberpunk anime from Studio Trigger that debuts on Netflix next week. Cosmetics and a special side mission are arriving in Cyberpunk 2077 to link the series with the game.

Another fun little egg is being added, in the form of playable arcade machines for Roach Race. So yes, you ?can? finally play the Roach arcade cabinet.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WZJUxJfo9Y

New features include transmog, allowing players to create a wardrobe to their liking. And Ripperdocs will also let you re-sculpt your V, a little like the mirrors currently allow you to change up some cosmetic features. The Edgerunners up??date is due to arri??ve sometime today, September 6.

During the stream, game director Gabriel Amatangelo also says the team is working on an overhaul to the cops of Night City, as well as vehicle-to-ve??hicle combat. All future feature updates will be headed to the newer generation platforms, however, and not previous gen.

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