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Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure role-playing game from CD PROJEKT RED. You play V, a mercenary trying to survive and build a reputation in Night City while pursuing a prototype implant connected to immortality. The game combines branching story choices, character relationships, cyberware upgrades, gunplay, stealth, driving, and exploration. Phantom Liberty is a separate spy-thriller expansion set in Night City’s Dogtown district; it requires the base game.
Cyberpunk 2077 at a glance
- Developer and publisher: CD PROJEKT RED.
- Genre: open-world action-adventure RPG.
- Player character: V, a mercenary whose appearance, background, skills, and decisions are shaped by the player.
- Setting: Night City, a technology-obsessed, corporation-dominated megalopolis where body modification and cyberware are everyday tools.
- Main hook: V pursues a prototype implant associated with immortality and becomes entangled with Johnny Silverhand.
- Expansion: Phantom Liberty, a spy-thriller campaign in Dogtown involving NUSA agent Solomon Reed.
- Current editions covered by the publisher: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and a Switch 2 edition.
The best version depends on what you value. Choose PC if you want adjustable graphics and a high-end display, PS5 or Xbox Series X|S for a straightforward living-room experience, or Switch 2 if portability and its motion, gyro, mouse, and touch controls matter more than choosing a traditional console setup. Buy the Ultimate Edition if you want the base game and Phantom Liberty together.
What is the story of Cyberpunk 2077?
You play V, a mercenary in Night City
V is the player’s viewpoint and the person whose future is at stake. You decide how V looks, which skills to develop, what equipment to use, and how to respond in conversations. V’s work as a mercenary leads through criminal jobs, corporate conflicts, personal debts, and alliances with people who have very different ideas about power and survival.
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The main story begins with V pursuing a prototype implant linked to the promise of immortality. The device is not simply valuable hardware: it puts V in a crisis that affects identity, memory, relationships, and the amount of control V has over the future. The implant gives the story its urgency while creating a reason to move through Night City’s corporate, criminal, and political worlds.
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- CREATE YOUR OWN CYBERPUNK: Become an urban outlaw equipped with cybernetic enhancements and build your legend on the streets of Night City. · EXPLORE THE CITY OF THE FUTURE: Night City is packed to the brim with things to do, places to see, and people to meet. And it’s up to you where to go, when to go, and how to get there.
- BUILD YOUR LEGEND: Go on daring adventures and build relationships with unforgettable characters whose fates are shaped by the choices you make. · EQUIPPED WITH NEXT-GEN FEATURES: Immerse yourself in Night City like never before thanks to faster load times, improved visual and gameplay features, ray tracing and dynamic 4K support, and more.
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- PHYSICAL EDITION GOODIES: The physical version of Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition includes an exclusive set of stickers and a rewards leaflet with a Wild Hunt Jacket and a Scorch Pistol!
Johnny Silverhand becomes part of V’s story
Johnny Silverhand is tied to the implant and becomes a major presence in V’s journey. His history, goals, and attitude create a second perspective on Night City and force V to question who is in control. The relationship is part of the game’s broader interest in identity, technology, and the price of treating a human body as upgradeable hardware.
Choices shape missions and relationships
CD PROJEKT RED presents the game as a choice-driven RPG. Dialogue, alliances, mission decisions, and the way you approach objectives can change what information you receive, which opportunities appear, and how relationships develop. Not every decision produces a dramatic alternate ending, but the game repeatedly asks you to decide whose interests to support and what risks V is willing to accept.
Why Night City matters to the game
Night City is more than a backdrop between missions. It is a futuristic megalopolis organized around corporate power, advanced technology, and constant body modification. Wealth and violence sit beside one another: luxury towers, industrial districts, crowded markets, entertainment zones, and heavily controlled facilities all belong to the same city.
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Cyberware lets people replace or enhance parts of their bodies. In gameplay, that idea appears as equipment and abilities; in the fiction, it is also a social pressure. Upgrades can provide an advantage, but they raise questions about dependence, identity, and who can afford to improve themselves. The setting’s technology is therefore part of the story’s conflict rather than a decorative science-fiction feature.
Corporate rule drives the tension
Night City’s corporations control infrastructure, security, information, and employment. V’s jobs often place personal goals against the interests of institutions with far more resources. This imbalance explains why a small crew, a mercenary contract, or a stolen piece of technology can have consequences far beyond one street or district.
Exploration supports both story and experimentation
The open world gives you room to leave the main path, investigate side work, meet characters, and test different builds. Exploring is useful even when you are not chasing a quest marker: side activities can reveal factions, provide equipment, unlock conversations, or add context to the people V meets. The city is designed for moving between planned missions and unplanned discoveries.
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- Seek out the weapon fabricators to increase your firepower as you journey deeper, into the dark and terrifying depths, but beware ammo is limited
- Gather materials & schematics for weapon upgrades and suit customizations with buffs
- Harvest DNA material to improve health, toughness and defensive capabilities.Survive an ever changing labyrinth. Each and every expedition into The Persistence will be disorienting and different.Death is just the beginning. Fatal encounters will result in Zimri's consciousness being uploaded into a new cloned body, ready to try again, with any upgraded stats, suits & weapon schematics kept to aid the next attempt to save the ship
How the gameplay works
Build V around your preferred approach
Cyberware and other upgrades let you shape V toward different kinds of play. A combat-focused build can emphasize weapons and direct attacks; a stealth-oriented build can prioritize concealment and careful positioning; a technology-focused approach can use hacking and environmental advantages. You can also mix these styles instead of committing to one role.
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The practical choice is not only which weapon causes the most damage. Consider how you want to solve problems: quietly, from a distance, through close combat, by manipulating security systems, or by combining several methods. Missions generally leave room for experimentation, so it is worth trying a new approach when the current one becomes predictable.
Combat, stealth, hacking, and driving work together
As an action RPG, the game expects you to move between shooting, melee combat, stealth, and technology-based abilities. Driving connects districts and missions, while exploration lets you learn layouts before a fight. Different objectives reward different preparation: a heavily guarded facility may favor reconnaissance and hacking, while an ambush may demand stronger weapons or defensive cyberware.
Relationships are part of progression
Characters are not only vendors or quest dispensers. Conversations and mission choices can deepen relationships, change the help you receive, and reveal additional perspectives on V’s situation. If a character’s story matters to you, follow up on optional conversations and side missions instead of rushing from one main objective to the next.
What is Phantom Liberty?
Phantom Liberty is a separate spy-thriller campaign for Cyberpunk 2077. It takes place in Dogtown, a district of Night City, and puts V in contact with Solomon Reed, an agent of the New United States of America. The campaign centers on espionage and political intrigue rather than being a simple collection of extra combat missions.
What the expansion adds
- A new campaign set in Dogtown.
- New missions and activities tied to the district’s factions and conflicts.
- Additional items for V to use.
- A Relic skill tree that expands the ways V can develop abilities.
What you need to play it
The base game is required. You cannot play Phantom Liberty as a standalone title. The Ultimate Edition bundles Cyberpunk 2077 and the expansion, while a base-game purchase requires a separate expansion purchase if you later want the Dogtown campaign.
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Editions and included content
| Option | Included content | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Base game | Cyberpunk 2077 and its Night City campaign | Players who want to start with the original story or decide about the expansion later |
| Phantom Liberty expansion | The Dogtown spy-thriller campaign, new activities and items, and the Relic skill tree; requires the base game | Existing owners who want the additional campaign |
| Ultimate Edition | Cyberpunk 2077 plus Phantom Liberty | New players who want the complete package in one purchase |
| Switch 2 Ultimate Edition | The base game, Phantom Liberty, and updates released since launch | Players who want the complete package in portable or docked form on Switch 2 |
Store names, prices, stock, and upgrade terms can change by region and date. Confirm the platform and included content on the listing you are buying rather than relying on a similarly named bundle.
Which platform is the best way to play?
There is no single best platform for every reader. Match the edition to your hardware, display, controls, and portability needs.
| Platform | What to know | Choose it when… |
|---|---|---|
| PC | Graphics settings, resolution, frame-rate targets, ray tracing, CPU, GPU, VRAM, memory, and SSD or NVMe storage all affect the required specification. | You want the most control over image quality and performance and can compare your components with the current support table. |
| PlayStation 5 | There is a dedicated PS5 edition. Phantom Liberty requires PS5. | You want a console version with current expansion support and PlayStation accessibility settings. |
| Xbox Series X|S | The Ultimate Edition is documented for Xbox Series X|S. | You already use the current Xbox generation and want a console setup without assembling a PC. |
| Switch 2 | The Ultimate Edition is available digitally and on a physical 64 GB game card. The publisher lists motion controls, gyro aiming, mouse controls, and touchscreen features. | Portable play or the platform’s alternative control options are central to your decision. |
PC: check the target you actually want
CD PROJEKT RED’s current support table separates non-ray-tracing and ray-tracing targets and lists expected resolution and performance alongside CPU, GPU, VRAM, system memory, and storage requirements. The table applies to the base game and Phantom Liberty beginning with Update 2.0. Do not treat one “minimum PC” label as sufficient: a system that meets a lower non-ray-tracing target may not meet a higher-resolution or ray-tracing target.
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- Identify your processor, graphics card, VRAM, installed memory, and available SSD or NVMe space.
- Choose the resolution and frame-rate target you want before comparing parts.
- Decide whether ray tracing is essential; it changes the graphics requirement substantially.
- Compare every component with the publisher’s latest support table, including the storage type.
- Recheck the table immediately before buying or upgrading because requirements can change after updates.
The support page’s displayed requirements were updated eight months before the referenced check, so treat them as a current reference rather than a permanent guarantee.
PlayStation: avoid the PS4 expansion trap
The PlayStation listing states that the PS4 version received its last patch on November 8, 2022 and is no longer supported. A PS5 is required to receive later patches or to buy and play Phantom Liberty. If you own a PS4 copy, verify your upgrade path and console model before purchasing the expansion.
Switch 2: portability and alternative controls
Switch 2 is the distinctive choice for players who want to play away from a television or use motion, gyro, mouse, and touchscreen input. The publisher describes a physical 64 GB game card as well as a digital version. Those are advertised features, not independent performance measurements, so choose this edition for its form factor and controls rather than assuming it matches another platform’s image quality or frame rate.
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- IDEAL SIZE: Keychain design measures approximately 2.75 inches x 0.84 inches
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Accessibility and comfort
The PlayStation listing describes options including clear and large text, visual-comfort settings, subtitle adjustments, separate volume controls, and controller options. Check the accessibility menu on your chosen platform and in the game itself, because feature availability and labels can differ between editions. Adjust subtitle size and background, dialogue and effects volume, camera comfort settings, and controller layout before beginning a long session.
A practical way to choose your edition
- Decide whether you want the complete story. If you already know you want Dogtown and the spy-thriller campaign, start with an Ultimate Edition where available.
- Choose the hardware you will use most. A powerful PC favors adjustable graphics; PS5 or Xbox Series X|S favors simplicity; Switch 2 favors portability and alternative controls.
- Check generation support. Do not buy the expansion expecting it to run on PS4; the publisher requires PS5 for Phantom Liberty and later patches.
- Match controls to your habits. Traditional controller, mouse and keyboard, gyro aiming, motion input, and touch controls each suit different players.
- Verify storage and requirements. PC players should use the latest support table, while console and Switch 2 buyers should confirm available space and the exact edition on the store page.
- Set accessibility options first. Configure text, subtitles, audio channels, visual comfort, and controls before starting the opening missions.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Buying the base game when you expected the expansion
The standard game does not automatically include Phantom Liberty. Read the included-content line and look for “Ultimate Edition” when you want both campaigns.
Assuming PS4 receives current updates
PS4 support ended with the November 8, 2022 patch cited by the PlayStation listing. Use PS5 for later patches and the expansion.
Comparing a PC by one component only
A graphics card alone does not establish whether the game will meet your target. Resolution, ray tracing, CPU, VRAM, system memory, and SSD or NVMe storage all appear in the publisher’s requirements. Compare the complete row that matches your desired mode.
Choosing Switch 2 solely on feature claims
Motion, gyro, mouse, and touchscreen controls are listed by the publisher, but they are not independent performance tests. Choose Switch 2 because its portability or control options fit you, then confirm the physical or digital format you prefer.
How long does Cyberpunk 2077 take to finish?
The official PlayStation FAQ asks, “How long does it take to finish Cyberpunk 2077?” and provides an estimate, but the estimate is undated and should not be treated as a universal completion time. Your total will depend on whether you follow only the main path, pursue character and faction side stories, explore Night City, and add Phantom Liberty. A completionist route is necessarily longer than a focused story run.
Is Cyberpunk 2077 a good fit for you?
Cyberpunk 2077 suits players who want a story-led open world where role-playing decisions matter as much as shooting. It is a strong fit if you enjoy experimenting with builds, meeting characters through optional missions, and exploring a setting built around corporate power and body modification.
It is less suitable if you want a short, linear campaign with one fixed character build or a game that can be bought without checking platform generation and hardware requirements. The most complete starting point is an Ultimate Edition on a supported platform; the best individual platform is the one that matches your preferred controls, display, accessibility needs, and willingness to manage PC settings.
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