2023 is a bittersweet year for the Cyberpunk 2077 universe, as the upcoming Phantom Liberty DLC will mark the end of the game’s development cycle – but with everything that’s been revealed about expansion so far, it looks it will be sending the title off with a bang. CD Projekt Red has been rather quiet about Phantom Liberty thus far, but by examining the cinematic trailers and other recent information, some theories are more plausible than others.

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Despite the jump in popularity after Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, CDPR has announced that this DLC will be Cyberpunk 2077‘s first and last. Luckily, the developer does have some exciting content up its sleeve: such as a brand-new game set in the same universe, called Project Orion, but also a remake of the original Witcher game. In the meantime, one can play cyberpunk-themed RPGs such as CY_BORG while waiting for Cyberpunk 2077‘s DLC, but taking a look at all the hints revealed so far could subdue some restlessness, as well.

Related: Cyberpunk 2077: Where Night City Is Located In Real Life


What Is Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC’s Release Date?

A shot of a busy street in Dogtown, the location of Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty DLC.

Although a concrete date has not yet been confirmed, Cyberpunk 2077‘s Phantom Liberty DLC will release sometime in 2023. The new year is still barely underway, so the launch could be as far as ten months away – and indeed, it’s much more likely that Phantom Liberty will launch in the latter half of 2023. Had CDPR planned to release the DLC in earlier months, fans probably would have received a specific date to look forward to by now, or at least more frequent teasers. Because of this, Fall 2023 seems the most likely release window for Phantom Liberty for now.

Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC Trailer & New Gameplay Details

An image of Johnny Silverhand leaning against a railing in the Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty trailer

While the Polish developer hasn’t been all too revealing about when Cyberpunk 2077‘s DLC release date is, the second cinematic trailer – which premiered during The Game Awards 2022, and can now be watched on Cyberpunk 2077‘s YouTube channel – provides some exciting reveals about Cyberpunk 2077‘s Phantom Liberty. The overall theme of the video is quite bleak and paranoid, featuring clips of burning aircraft vehicles and dilapidated structures, as well as a perfectly in-character, cynical monologue from Johnny Silverhand. The Night City rockstar seems worried about a plan, and NUSA President Rosalind Myers seems to share that concern, stating that there’s only one person they can trust.

That character is revealed to be Solomon Reed, who is played by Idris Elba. Reed explains that their only option is to burn down a city named Dogtown and that “peace comes at a price,” portraying an ends-justify-the-means mentality that’s quite typical of Night City. There are also some accompanying shots of what seem to be new gameplay features. For example, V puts on a strange mask that’s reminiscent of Cyberpunk 2077‘s braindance, or BD tech. The high-speed shootout also (finally) implies proper vehicle combat.

How Much Will Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty’s DLC Cost?

Idris Elba as Solomon Reed in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, looking out of a window with broken blinds.

Cyberpunk 2077‘s DLC will be CDPR’s biggest expansion to date, at least in terms of budget. This could very well be indicative of Phantom Liberty‘s contents and price alike. Assuming that the size of the DLC will match its production budget, it will outdo even The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt‘s Blood and Wine DLC, which was priced at $20 (USD). The Cyberpunk 2077 expansion will almost certainly exceed this price – and this wouldn’t exactly be a surprise, considering general inflation since Blood and Wine‘s release in 2016. It’s possible that the price range could even hit upwards of $30, depending on how fleshed out the DLC actually is.

Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC Story Details

MaxTac members jumping out of an airship in Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty DLC.

Until there’s confirmation on specifics like price and release date, the Phantom Liberty trailers have thankfully given the community a sizable amount of content to chew on. Namely, the location of the DLC being in Dogtown, Pacifica, has some interesting implications. Being home to the Voodoo Boys, one of several gangs in Cyberpunk 2077‘s Night City, the Pacifica district is perhaps the most dangerous. It’s a breeding ground for anarchy due to a lack of law enforcement presence, and the Voodoo Boys themselves pose a serious threat with their unmatched Netrunning abilities and double-crossing tendencies. However, what’s even more interesting is that Pacifica is also home to the Combat Zone.

Related: Which Cyberpunk 2077 Lifepath The Witcher 3’s Ciri Would’ve Taken

The area is notorious in Night City history, as it was previously used as war grounds and is now a place of total lawlessness. Not even MaxTac – the most elite task force in Cyberpunk 2077 – were willing to step foot in this area, because it’s rumored to be the NCPD’s dumping grounds for the most vicious cyberpsychos. The trailer depicts MaxTac ready for action, though, which could imply the situation has grown dire. V can actually find the entrance to the Combat Zone in Pacifica, where they’ll overhear an NPC conversation describing its frightening nature.

Even Phantom Liberty‘s Idris Elba, joined by Keanu Reeves, provides some fascinating insight into the DLC. Elba will be playing Solomon Reed, an FIA agent for the NUSA. Knowing his connections with President Myers, it would seem that he is quite a powerful figure in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe. However, the expansion’s themes of stealth and espionage are then an odd combination. Usually, a government operative will hold some semblance of authority over the public – but if V and Reed are going to be sneaking around in fear of some Night City punks, this means things are quite desperate for the NUSA.

Being Cyberpunk 2077‘s first and last expansion, CD Projekt Red looks like it’s going all out on Phantom Liberty. With the largest budget in the developer’s history – and a setting ripe with themes of anarchy, secret intelligence, and high-intensity action – this DLC looks like it could possibly set a new standard industry-wide (especially if it expands on these Cyberpunk 2077 characters). Of course, some details are still missing from the equation, but it looks Cyberpunk 2077‘s Phantom Liberty is right on track: both for its 2023 release, and for overall success.

More: Cyberpunk 2077’s Biggest Mystery Is In Witcher 3’s Next-Gen Update

Source: Cyberpunk 2077/YouTube



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