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No. In unmodded Cyberpunk 2077, you play as V—not David Martinez, Lucy, Rebecca, or another character from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. The official game materials describe the story as V’s, while the anime crossovers add things such as secrets, equipment, appearance options, and quests. You can make V resemble an Edgerunners character or borrow their combat style, but that does not turn V into that character or add an anime-character selection screen.
That distinction still applies to Update 2.5: its new Edgerunners-related quest and King-inspired gear give V another story to encounter, not a new playable protagonist. The practical alternatives are to customize V’s look, build V around a character’s fighting style, and explore the official crossover content.
Can you play as David or Lucy without mods?
No. The documented playable protagonist in the base game and its official crossover content is V. David Martinez, Lucy, and Rebecca are characters from the anime, not selectable player characters in unmodded Cyberpunk 2077. CD PROJEKT RED presents the game as V’s story on its official game page; the available anime-related updates describe crossover secrets, gear, and quests rather than a character-selection feature.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThis answer is about what the publisher documents as playable, rather than a claim that a particular character could never be added in any future release. As of the Update 2.5 information discussed below, there is no documented official mode that lets you start or continue the game as David, Lucy, Rebecca, or King. An NPC encounter, a Photo Mode pose, or an item inspired by a character is not the same as controlling that character.
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It helps to separate five things that can sound similar:
- Playable identity: you control V, not an anime character.
- Appearance: you can change V’s clothes and some visual details, and create an inspired look.
- Playstyle: V’s skills, weapons, and implants can support a build inspired by an Edgerunners character.
- Story participation: V can encounter crossover content and obtain themed gear.
- Mods: a player-created character replacement may change the game, but it is not an unmodded feature—even if it is installed through a menu inside the game.
Only the first point answers the literal “play as” question. The other four are ways to bring the anime into a playthrough while keeping V as the protagonist.
Can V look like an Edgerunners character?
V can be styled to suggest an Edgerunners character, but the official features do not promise an exact character recreation. The game’s clothing and appearance options let you change V’s presentation; they do not supply a documented David, Lucy, or Rebecca character preset or swap V’s model for theirs.
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Patch 1.6 introduced Wardrobe, which lets V change the appearance of an outfit without changing its armor stats. In the September 6, 2022 Patch 1.6 notes, CD PROJEKT RED says: “Wardrobe allows you to change the appearance of your outfit without changing your armor stats.” The system allows up to six saved outfits, made from clothing V owns. That is useful for keeping a themed look separate from the gear chosen for its stats, but it does not provide a character-selection system or guarantee that a specific anime outfit is available in the game.
Update 2.5 expanded some of V’s appearance options: its notes say certain hairstyles previously limited to NPCs became available to V, with body-type restrictions for some styles. It also added hand-cyberware appearance choices at Glamdocs. Those additions expand ways to customize V; they do not make V a different playable person. The available options can vary by character setup, so do not assume every hairstyle or look works with every body type.
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If you want a recognizable reference, treat it as a styling goal rather than an exact preset. Choose among the options available in your game, then save a Wardrobe outfit if you want to switch back to it later. Clothing ownership matters for Wardrobe, and an outfit that looks right can still be different from the anime costume. The official notes confirm the system and its limits, but they do not verify exact item-by-item locations for every piece sometimes described online as David- or Rebecca-inspired. It would be misleading to promise a particular pickup location or complete replica without a verified source.
Can you build V to fight like an Edgerunners character?
Yes, you can take inspiration from a character’s role or signature weapon, as long as you understand that the build remains V’s. The game lets V develop skills, use weapons, hack, and install body-enhancing implants. Those systems give you room to approximate a broad combat concept, not to acquire a character’s exact anime abilities or identity.
For example, the official game page describes V’s skills, weapons, hacking, and implants. The official Edgerunners page describes Lucy as a netrunner and associates Rebecca with a shotgun. Those are reasonable starting points for role-inspired choices: a player could emphasize hacking and netrunning for a Lucy-like approach, or choose a shotgun-focused approach inspired by Rebecca. They are inspirations, not official character builds, exact stat recipes, or proof that V can reproduce what those characters do in the anime.
David is also a useful inspiration for a build centered on cyberware and close-range action, but the available evidence does not establish an official David preset or a one-to-one way to reproduce his abilities. Avoid treating a themed build as a hidden character unlock: you still make choices for V, and V remains the protagonist in dialogue, quests, and the story.
That distinction can help when choosing whether to pursue a look, a playstyle, or both. Wardrobe is about outfit appearance and armor stats; skills, weapons, hacking, and implants shape how V plays. You may be able to pursue both goals at once, but neither changes the playable character.
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What did the 2022 Edgerunners update add?
The September 2022 crossover added anime-related secrets, equipment, and Photo Mode features—not a playable anime cast. Patch 1.6, called the Edgerunners Update, is the official source for those additions and for Wardrobe’s outfit-appearance function.
The update is a reason players may encounter Edgerunners references in the game, but a secret or piece of themed equipment should not be read as an unlock for David, Lucy, or Rebecca. Similarly, Photo Mode lets you arrange and capture images; it does not make the character shown in a picture a playable protagonist.
There is an important limit on how specific a gear guide can be based on the publisher’s patch notes: they confirm anime-related secrets and equipment, but they do not provide a verified pickup location and acquisition sequence for each item sometimes attributed to David or Rebecca. If your goal is to find a particular piece, check a reliable, item-specific walkthrough rather than assuming the update notes establish where it is or how to obtain it.
What does Update 2.5 add for Edgerunners fans?
Update 2.5 adds crossover story content and King-inspired equipment, while keeping V as the player character. The October 2026 update introduces the side quest Clampdown, which the official notes place before Edgerunners 2, and a five-piece King-inspired gear set obtainable during that quest.
To unlock Clampdown, finish The Heist and two Wakako gigs, then wait for Wakako’s message. The quest’s place in the timeline and its rewards make it relevant to anime fans, but neither its subject nor its gear is a character switch. V is participating in an adjacent story. CD PROJEKT RED Associate Game Director Paweł Sasko described the intended relationship this way: “I wanted it to feel like V has simply encountered another story already happening somewhere in Night City.” The publisher’s developer commentary reinforces the distinction between V encountering another story and becoming its protagonist.
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CD PROJEKT RED announced Update 2.5 as available on October 22, 2026, for PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The publisher’s launch announcement is the later source for the broad availability statement; an earlier preview anticipated a later arrival for Nintendo Switch 2 and the Mac App Store version. If you are checking a particular storefront or platform, verify its current listing rather than assuming every storefront’s rollout happened at exactly the same time.
The same launch announcement says Edgerunners 2 was available on Netflix. Watching the anime may add context to its characters and references, but it is separate from controlling them in the game.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does the in-game Mods panel count as “without mods”?
No. A player-created mod remains a mod regardless of how you install it. Update 2.5 adds Cross-Platform Mod Support powered by mod.io, with an in-game menu for browsing and installing player-created mods on supported platforms. That menu makes mod access more convenient; it does not turn a community-made character replacement into official, unmodded gameplay.
Keep the terms separate when describing what you want:
- Unmodded game: official game content and updates, with V as the documented playable protagonist.
- Official Edgerunners crossover: publisher-provided references, gear, appearance options, and quests, still played as V.
- Modded game: player-created changes installed through a supported mod route. A mod that changes a character’s appearance or behavior is still a mod.
The Update 2.5 notes also warn that achievements and trophies cannot be earned on console while playing from a modded save. If achievements matter to you, keep that consequence in mind before continuing a save with mods enabled. For an unmodded playthrough, do not install player-created changes and rely on the official customization and crossover content instead.
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Which option should you choose?
Choose based on whether you want V’s identity, look, playstyle, or the crossover story to change. If you specifically want to control David or Lucy, official unmodded content does not provide that option. If you want the feel of an Edgerunners character without changing protagonists, a themed outfit or build is the closest official route.
| Your goal | What unmodded play supports | What it does not mean |
|---|---|---|
| Control David, Lucy, or Rebecca | V remains the playable protagonist. | No documented anime-character selection or identity switch. |
| Make V look inspired by a character | Use available appearance options and Wardrobe outfits made from owned clothing. | No guarantee of an exact model, costume, or preset. |
| Play with a character-inspired combat style | Develop V’s skills and choose weapons, hacking, and implants to suit a broad concept. | No transfer of the anime character’s identity or exact abilities. |
| Experience official Edgerunners crossover content | Explore the 2022 references and Patch 2.5’s Clampdown quest and King-inspired gear. | Quests and themed equipment do not make their featured characters playable. |
| Use a character replacement made by players | Look into supported mods if you are willing to play a modded game. | It is not “without mods,” even when installed in the game’s own menu. |
For a strictly unmodded answer, the boundary is simple: official content can change what V wears, how V fights, and which crossover stories V encounters; it does not document David, Lucy, Rebecca, or King as selectable protagonists. That is the most accurate way to distinguish “playing as” a character from playing V in a game that includes references to that character.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a Cyberpunk 2077 save from a modded playthrough and still earn console trophies?
The Update 2.5 notes warn that achievements and trophies cannot be earned on console while playing from a modded save. If trophies are important, check the official notes and your save state before continuing with mods enabled.
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CD PROJEKT RED describes Clampdown as taking place before Edgerunners 2. Its placement makes it crossover story content, but it is still a quest played as V.
Does Photo Mode let me play as an Edgerunners character?
No. Photo Mode is for composing and capturing images; it does not change who controls the game or replace V as the protagonist.
Can I save an Edgerunners-inspired outfit and keep its look when I change armor?
Wardrobe is designed to change an outfit’s appearance without changing its armor stats, and Patch 1.6 allows up to six saved outfits using clothing V owns. It can preserve a chosen look, but it does not guarantee the exact clothes of an anime character are available.
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