Things To Remember And Know Before Starting Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

Phantom Liberty represents the biggest incentive to return to Cyberpunk 2077 (or give it a try for the first time) since the game’s rough launch in 2020. CD Projekt Red recommends starting the game over, or skipping straight to Phantom Liberty early on in the story. For many, however, you will likely be revisiting a save you haven’t touched in a few years. You can find some useful tips to bring back with you, along with some information about the Night City’s new features.

Put Your Gun Away

It’s a very simple trick that was probably second nature to you, but if you want to put away your weapon, double-tap on the weapon changer button (Y or Triangle on PlayStation, Y on Xbox). Cyberpunk’s NPCs react differently to weapons that are holstered or out. You would regret it if, when trying to initiate a discussion, you accidentally triggered a shooting by forgetting to put your gun away. My personal experience is what I am saying.

Hacking: How to hack?

Cyberpunk is full of hacking activities, which I enjoyed in the year 2020. In 2023 I saw only a grid with intimidating numbers. Remember to alternate between vertical and horizontal rows. This will help you quickly get it back. You should plan ahead before starting to hack.

Don’t Forget Scanning

Much like holstering your weapon, this is a very easy mechanic to execute but one that is easy to forget if you haven’t done it in a few years. Hold LB for Xbox, or L1 for PlayStation to scan. This is how you activate various items in the environment, hack your enemies, or just learn more about what you’re looking at.

Take a Look At the Menus

CD Projekt overhauled Cyberpunk 2077’s leveling system as part of its release of Update 2.0. What that means is if you’re returning after a years-long break, you will have to go in and reset all your upgrades. I don’t really have any tips for making that an easier experience but just know that it is a bit time-consuming, and you will have to read through all the upgrades and try to remember what you prefer in terms of playstyle.

You should visit the Ripperdoc near you after you’ve completed all your upgrades. You will also have to remember and reorganize what you want. This will require time but is essential to getting yourself into a powerful position and installing your quickhacks.

Quickhacks And Queues

I’ll end with that! Cyberpunk is known for its quickhacks, which are a unique mechanic. However, remembering to use them may be difficult.

The OS piece that controls your cyberware is what determines how much quickhacks you can perform. You can’t perform any quickhacks if your total load is greater than 22. You might pay seven out of the total 22 for one quickhack, while another may cost eight. With the quickhacks queues, you can combine both hacks onto one enemy and then hit it in rapid succession. This will cost you 15 of your 22. Those 15 will eventually replenish, but until they do, you’ll only be able to use a quickhack costing eight or less (or a combination that equals eight or less).

You can install various quickhacks into your OS, including, for some reason, ones that you don’t have enough load to use. So just make sure you’re wary of that.

You can then use these in battle and stealth by holding down the Scan button.

Phantom Liberty – When Does it Exist?

Phantom Liberty can be accessed in several ways. Though we wouldn’t really recommend it, you can fast-forward to Phantom Liberty straight from a new save. Before Songbird will call and ask you for help, you must play at least Act One. If you have a save file, you’ve already started, and you’ve played at least past Act 1, you should get a call from Songbird right away. To answer the question, Phantom Liberty takes place after Act 1 and before the final act of the game.

What is the Blackwall?

The Blackwall is a complicated part of Cyberpunk’s fiction and an important element of 2077’s main story. Here’s a link to the game’s wiki explaining it in detail, but for your purposes heading into Phantom Liberty, know that it is a scary, potentially world-ending thing. In Cyberpunk’s online connected world, there are rogue A.I.s floating around, eager to set off the events of The MatrixThe Blackwall, a digital firewall that keeps them from running wild and crossing the border at any time. Cyberpunk is a very conservative world, and even the most fearless of hackers will not poke The Blackwall.

What’s Johnny’s Deal? Arasaka, who is he?

Just to offer a refresher on V’s situation, famous rockstar Johnny Silverhand’s (played by Keanu Reeves) psyche (A.K.A. Engrams were placed in a Relic, which is a biochip. a biochip) that is in V’s brain. Arasaka is an evil company that developed Relic technology to let wealthy people continue living forever online. Arasaka wanted to make money by immortalizing celebrities. They put Johnny on a chip, against his wishes. The Relic in V’s brain is slowly killing her and Johnny. Cyberpunk is a game about trying to stay alive with Johnny’s voice in your head. This plot intersects Phantom Liberty. Although there’s a whole lot more, this should serve as a good reminder to you while exploring Dogtown.

Dog Town has New Attractions

Once you get the call to begin Phantom Liberty proper and you’ve entered Dogtown and gotten your bearings, know that there are a few new types of activities. While exploring Dogtown you’ll see red smoke pillars billowing into the distance. This is a supply drop. Sometimes you can see them falling to the ground. It’s a good (and fun!) Investigating them is a good (and fun!) idea. It is common to have a group of enemies that you will need to defeat, but there are usually rewards. It also makes you think that you’re stealing from Phantom Liberty antagonist Kurt Hansen.

You will also see steering wheels on your map, which will give you a mission to deliver stolen cars to Muamar “El Capitán” Reyes and his absolutely atrocious haircut. Sometimes it’s a race to get the car where you want it. Sometimes, you’ll be chased by armed fighters, which will give you the chance to test out your new car combat. In any case, it’s an enjoyable mission type that lets you try out different vehicles and doesn’t feel too samey. Completing these missions also unlocks a discount for the specific vehicle you’ve delivered in the store, so if you fancy a vehicle during one of these missions, completing said missions will net you an easier way to purchase it.

For more, read Game Informer’s Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review by following the link. Game Informer also has the original Cyberpunk: 2077 review. Finally, read our massive feature about the Phantom Liberty extension where we interviewed CD Projekt in depth here.