Cyberpunk 2077 is about to undergo its biggest transformation since its botched release in 2020.
The game just received a major free upgrade and will release its paid expansion, dubbed Phantom Liberty, next week. Together, the updates will introduce a drastically overhauled skill tree, wilier enemies and police, and a dangerous new district. Oh, and Hackney’s very own Idris Elba will join Keanu Reeves as the latest A-lister to star in the dystopian sci-fi.
Here’s what you need to know about Cyberpunk 2077, including its release date and gameplay features.
When is Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty coming out?
Cyberpunk’s first and only expansion will arrive on September 26 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. You can pre-order the game now.
Phantom Liberty will not be released for the PS4 and Xbox One versions, despite Cyberpunk being available on those platforms.
The expansion will cost £24 on its own. Console and PC players who missed the action the first time round can grab a bundle of the base game and new content for £52 or £50.58 respectively.
What is Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty about?
While the original was a brutal, existential morality tale, the expansion sounds more like a genre game.
Cyberpunk developer CD Projekt Red describes Phantom Liberty as a “spy thriller adventure”. Playing as V, you’re thrust back onto the neon-infused streets of Night City, only this time there’s a sinister new district to explore called Dogtown. Located on the south-western block of the map, the area has been walled off from the rest of the sprawling metropolis.
In the expansion’s espionage-filled story V tries to save the NUSA president with the help of sleeper agent Solomon Reed, played by none other than Idris Elba. For an extra dose of star power, Keanu Reeves will return as rocker-turned-anarchist Johnny Silverhand, who lives rent-free in your head.
What’s new in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty?
Alongside new characters and storyline-altering choices, the paid expansion features a slew of new missions and items. It’s also worth mentioning that Phantom Liberty is preceded by the free 2.0 Update (September 21), which includes the real gameplay updates. Therefore, we have listed the main features for both below.
Cyberpunk 2077 patch 2.0 gameplay changes
- Redesigned skill trees and perks
- Revamped cyberware and new capacity system
- Vehicle combat
- Enemy AI improvements
- New police system
- UI and UX improvements
- Loot, items and crafting changes
- New radio stations
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty gameplay changes
- Dogtown – a dangerous new district
- New storyline and characters
- New quests, gigs, boss fights, and more
- Vehicle missions and airdrops
- New Relic skill tree and abilities
- 100+ new items, weapons, cars and clothes
- Vehicle missile launchers
- Level cap increased to 60
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty reviews
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty has received widespread acclaim. Critics have heaped praise on its gripping story, fully realised characters, and epic open-world environment. The expansion has an 88 score on review aggregators OpenCritic and Metacritic.
If you’ve picked up the game in recent months, you’ll know that it has completely turned around from its bug-riddled roots. The update sounds as if it will further invigorate the world of Night City, while Phantom Liberty will offer a new locale to explore.
We’d recommend jumping in before the expansion arrives next week, which is a no-brainer if you already own the base game. Hell, you even have time to binge the animé spinoff on Netflix, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, to get a feel for its lore.
