Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.0 and Phantom Liberty Expansion Unveiled

Politics, News Sept. 15, 2023, 4:25 a.m.

CD Projekt Reds Night City Wire revealed Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.0, free on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC from September 21. Phantom Liberty expansion follows on September 26. Details included new characters, music, gameplay options, and a documentary on Growl FM.

CD Projekt Red's Latest Night City Wire: Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.0 and Phantom Liberty Expansion

In a thrilling announcement during a special Night City Wire event, CD Projekt Red has unveiled that the highly-anticipated Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.0 is set to launch on September 21st. The best part? It's absolutely free for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC users. Alongside this exciting news, the event provided a deep dive into what gamers can expect from the upcoming expansion, Phantom Liberty, which is scheduled to be released on September 26th. The entire Night City Wire event lasted around 40 minutes, and we've condensed all the essential details for you right here.

The Night City Wire event commenced with a breathtaking cinematic trailer for the upcoming expansion, Phantom Liberty. True to the game's signature high-fidelity visuals, the trailer introduces us to Solomon Reed, portrayed by the illustrious Idris Elba, as he boards a train to depart from Night City. During his journey, Reed engages in a conversation with Song So Mi, also known as Songbird, a new Netrunner character who players' V will encounter in Phantom Liberty.

However, Reed soon realizes that his departure has been compromised, possibly by Song So Mi herself. A brief skirmish with a group of guards culminates in Reed being shot. The trailer then fast-forwards seven years, revealing Songbird on a spaceship with Rosalind Myers, the President of the New United States of America. Unexpectedly, a missile strikes the spaceship while it hovers over Night City, leading to a dramatic crash. This trailer sets the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating journey in Phantom Liberty.

Following the trailer, Idris Elba provided insights into his character, describing Reed as a complex spy with an air of mystery surrounding him. Reed's true intentions remain shrouded in doubt, and players must exercise caution, as not everything is as it appears in this spy-centric storyline. Elba characterized Reed as a dedicated professional who is deeply passionate about his work.

Elba also delved into the new Dogtown district in Night City, an integral part of Phantom Liberty. He portrayed it as the most perilous area in the city, controlled by a potent combination of militia and criminals. The district's scale is touted to be nothing short of impressive.

CD Projekt Red revealed that they have crafted an entirely new score for Phantom Liberty, introducing additional radio stations to Night City. Composer Jack Paciorkowski described the score as having a more "cyberpunk" feel, infused with spy themes. Senior composer P.T. Adamczyk emphasized that the music mirrors the triangular dynamic between V, Reed, and Songbird in Phantom Liberty. Interestingly, the original Phantom Liberty score is now available on all major streaming platforms.

The expansion also brings three new radio stations to the game: Dark Star Radio, Impulse, and Growl FM. Dark Star Radio specializes in "moody, dark tracks" from around the world, featuring two tracks produced by Idris Elba himself, on which he also raps. Adamczyk revealed that Elba will have a DJ set on Impulse Radio, featuring unreleased tracks. Growl FM is a community-driven radio station, further connecting players to the vibrant Cyberpunk 2077 community.

In a surprise reveal, CD Projekt Red announced a documentary about Growl FM and provided a glimpse of what it entails. Additionally, the event featured a teaser with behind-the-scenes footage of musician Dawid Podsiadlo creating the theme song for Phantom Liberty. Podsiadlo, known for his stellar work on "Let You Down" in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, continues to impress fans with his musical contributions.

Game director Gabriel Amatangelo shed light on the action-packed 2.0 update and Phantom Liberty. He emphasized that players can choose to be a stealthy netrunner or a destructive force of nature before exploring the new Relic skill tree, intricately tied to the Phantom Liberty narrative. The Relic serves as a conduit through which Songbird reaches out to players, demonstrating its authenticity by cleansing the Relic of corrupt data and optimizing cyberware for enhanced performance. This allows players to not only augment their abilities but also disrupt enemy cyberware, adding a strategic dimension to gameplay.

Amatangelo and lead gameplay designer Karlo Matyasik showcased three distinct builds possible with Update 2.0. Amatangelo's favorite build, the "bullet time ninja," permits players to utilize dashes and air dashes to approach enemies without sustaining damage. This build incorporates a ninja sword for deflecting bullets and dispatching low-health foes, with the added ability to execute aerial attacks, complete with a captivating slow-motion effect.

Gameplay designer Yuliia Pryimak highlighted the "hack-and-slash netrunner" build, underlining the increased power of hacking in Cyberpunk 2077. The new quick hack queue enables players to stack up to four quick hacks on a single target, including the ability to remotely overtake and detonate vehicles.

Lead gameplay designer Filip Downar introduced the "savage slugger solo" build, perfect for those who prefer brute force. Players can wield hammers, shotguns, or even their bare hands to pummel foes, and supercharging their gorilla arms allows them to send enemies flying.

The Night City Wire event concluded with a sneak peek at the formidable Maxtech security forces that players will encounter in Cyberpunk 2077 after the Update 2.0 goes live next week.

To recap, Cyberpunk 2077 enthusiasts can look forward to the eagerly anticipated Update 2.0, releasing on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on September 21st, with the update being absolutely free for existing game owners on these platforms. Shortly thereafter, on September 26th, the Phantom Liberty expansion will offer players an enthralling new chapter in the Cyberpunk universe.

While waiting in anticipation for Update 2.0, be sure to check out our exclusive interview with the Phantom Liberty development team, where we explore the lessons learned from Cyberpunk 2077's initial launch and offer hands-on insights into the expansion. If you missed it, revisit our comprehensive breakdown of the 2.0 overhaul from earlier this summer, and don't forget to read our impressions of Phantom Liberty based on our hands-on experience in June.

Are you as excited as we are for Update 2.0 and the Phantom Liberty expansion? Share your thoughts and expectations in the comments below!