Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Expansion | Everything We Know
The next Cyberpunk 2077 expansion, termed a “spy-thriller” by developer CD Projekt Red, promises to transport you to a completely new area of Night City. We’ll be spying on and attacking armed forces as V, a Cyberpunk for hire, alongside our new pal, FIA Agent Solomon Reed, played by Idris Elba.
The expansion was originally seen at The Game Awards 2022, but there’s still a lot we don’t know about this impending RPG game expansion. Based on CD Projekt Red’s previous titles, Phantom Liberty has a solid chance of redeeming Cyberpunk 2077 despite its rocky start.
Here’s everything that you need to know about the Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty expansion.
Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Development
CD Projekt Red spent more money on Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty expansion than any other DLC, making it more expensive than The Witcher 3’s massive Blood and Wine expansion. According to Parkiet in Poland (and discovered by Eurogamer), CD Projekt Red has announced Phantom Liberty has the “biggest budget” ever committed to one of its DLCs.
Though this was first understood as the “biggest ever DLC,” there is a critical distinction to be made between budget and content size, and Idris Elba joining the cast will almost certainly have increased cost. Given all this information and the latest trailer, the development work has already begun and we will likely see its release at the end of 2023.
Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Expansion Release Date & Platform
The release date for Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is TBD in 2023. Following CD Projekt Red’s decision to discontinue support for the PS4 and Xbox One, the forthcoming expansion will only be available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.
On September 6, 2022, CDPR confirmed this by announcing that patch 1.6 “is the last major update for the old-gen consoles.” The studio is now focusing on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X as it looks to revamp existing systems and create the framework for future Phantom Liberty content.
Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Trailer and Pricing
The first announcement came during The Game Awards 2022 and after that, there was another trailer released in December 2022. However, the trailer doesn’t confirm any pricing.
Historically, CDPR has had some problems with premium expansions. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt featured two major expansions and 16 free DLC patches over its lifespan. The Hearts of Stone addition was released in 2015, just five months after The Witcher 3 was released, for $9.99; the larger Blood and Wine expansion was released in May 2016, for $19.99.
While CDPR has yet to reveal the price of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, Grabowski has reinforced the studio’s expansion policy: “I can also say that our expansions are traditionally cheaper than full-price games.”
Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Storyline
The first Phantom Liberty teaser depicts a vast stadium, implying that at least some of the DLC takes place in the Pacifica District, which is located in the southwestern section of the Cyberpunk 2077 map. It also depicts a greenhouse, which could be the Biotechnica Flats.
However, don’t expect to see many familiar areas, since CD Projekt Red has stated that the majority of the Phantom Liberty DLC will take place in a brand-new area of Night City. As seen in the second teaser, Dogtown will surely become an important location.
Militech appears to play a significant role in the plot. Both trailers hint that a plane catastrophe could be the catalyst for a Pacifica purging. Perhaps a high-profile politician (Rosalind Myers?) was among the passengers. Here’s an educated guess: V is semi-forcefully recruited as an undercover spy by a rogue NUSA politician, then ordered to find out who crashed the jet, but instead ends up fighting to defend Dogtown from a bloodbath.
Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Gameplay
There isn’t much information about new Phantom Liberty gameplay elements, but we can certainly expect to see a new armory of weapons and cyberwar. Based on three short combat segments from the first teaser, including a new whip, shotgun, and katana.
A CDPR representative also confirmed that “budget-wise, Phantom Liberty will be the largest expansion in CDPR’s history,” but that “game-scope-related details will be revealed at a later time.”
The second teaser shows a Ripperdoc putting a cybernetic faceplate on V, which could be another hint at a new gameplay feature. Because the DLC revolves around the theme of espionage, this could be a disguise as part of the storyline.
Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Will Feature Idris Elba
The second trailer also introduces us to Solomon Reed, an FIA Agent portrayed by Idris Elba, who will appear alongside Reeves in Phantom Liberty. Given that ‘FIA’ most likely refers to ‘Federal Intelligence Agency,’ it’s safe to conclude Solomon is a professional spy. Solomon says in this quick teaser that his purpose is to bring about peace. What is his mode of operation? Dogtown is being burned to the ground.
Conclusion
Here you go! Here’s everything we know about Cyberpunk’s premium DLC, the Phantom City. It is not too far from release as we will see its release in 2023 itself. Cyberpunk had a rocky start but it has come far and there are a lot of people who enjoy this game. This expansion is on its way to give the players a new side of the NightCity and more adventure.
