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V is the player-defined mercenary protagonist of Cyberpunk 2077, trying to make a name in Night City. You choose V’s background—Corpo, Streetkid, or Nomad—then shape the character through decisions during the story. V’s defining crisis begins when a heist at Konpeki Plaza goes wrong and an experimental implant starts overwriting V’s personality with that of Johnny Silverhand.

Who is V in Cyberpunk 2077?

CD PROJEKT RED describes V as “a mercenary working their way up the ranks to Night City legend.” That gives the protagonist a clear role and goal, while leaving room for the player to shape V’s background and choices. V is not a single fixed personality: the game lets players define aspects of the character as the story unfolds. CD PROJEKT RED’s official game page introduces V and the central premise.

What happens to V?

V’s chance to rise in Night City comes with the Konpeki Plaza heist. It goes wrong, and V ends up with an experimental prototype implanted in their head. The technology gradually overwrites V’s personality with that of Johnny Silverhand, a figure whose presence turns V’s pursuit of success into a struggle to survive.

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The conflict links the game’s personal story to its broader setting: V is trying to build a reputation while confronting the possibility of losing their identity. Johnny is not simply a separate companion in V’s story; the prototype makes his growing influence central to V’s predicament.

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Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition- Nintendo Switch 2
  • Explore all of Night City’s extremes — From V’s rise as a cyberpunk mercenary in Night City to their journey into the shadowy world of spies in Dogtown, dive into the full story and carve your own path through it.
  • Meet unforgettable characters — Forge relationships with a rich cast of characters all with their own dreams, tragedies, and tales to tell, including Keanu Reeves as rockerboy Johnny Silverhand and Idris Elba as secret agent Solomon Reed.
  • Explore one of the most immersive cities in video games — Experience a breathtaking city of the dark future at home or on the go with the power of Nintendo Switch 2! Customize your journey from the very first steps with performance and quality mode.

What does V’s lifepath mean?

Before character creation, players select one of three lifepaths: Corpo, Streetkid, or Nomad. A lifepath establishes V’s historical background and role-playing context. It should not be treated as a preset personality or as a choice between a correct and incorrect version of V. The official Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition booklet places lifepath selection before character creation, and CD PROJEKT RED says background can influence the game.

Lifepath What it establishes
Corpo One of the game’s three selectable historical backgrounds.
Streetkid One of the game’s three selectable historical backgrounds.
Nomad One of the game’s three selectable historical backgrounds.

The official sources establish the three options and the relevance of V’s background, but do not support a detailed comparison of every lifepath’s scenes or dialogue. Choose the one that fits the kind of role-playing setup you want; none is identified as the canonical or best choice.

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Cyberpunk 2077 - PlayStation 4
  • Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world, action-adventure story set in Night City
  • Become a cyberpunk, an urban mercenary equipped with cybernetic enhancements and build your legend on the streets of Night City
  • Take the riskiest job of your life and go after a prototype implant that is the key to immortality

How do player choices shape V’s story?

CD PROJEKT RED frames Cyberpunk 2077 around choices that shape the story and the people around V. The useful distinction is that V’s starting background is selected up front, while decisions during play continue to shape the character’s relationships and narrative. The official description promises consequential choices in broad terms; it does not mean every decision has the same weight or establish a particular outcome for a specific quest or ending.

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How does Phantom Liberty fit into V’s story?

Phantom Liberty is an expansion that extends V’s story beyond the base game’s core premise. Its official description sends V to Dogtown for a spy-thriller adventure involving espionage, alliances, and consequential decisions. It adds a new plot context; V’s mercenary role, chosen lifepath, and conflict with the prototype originate in the base game.

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BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultimate Edition)
  • THE ULTIMATE CYBERPUNK 2077 EXPERIENCE - Includes the critically acclaimed spy thriller expansion Phantom Liberty
  • CREATE YOUR OWN CYBERPUNK
  • Explore the city of the future – you decide when you want to go where and how to get there
  • Decide how the story ends – your choices in the main game as well as in the spy thriller adventure Phantom Liberty lead to a complex web of consequences
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What is known about V’s romances?

Romance is one part of the relationships players can experience in the game, but the official Update 2.1 notes establish only a specific feature: repeatable apartment hangouts become available after completing a romance path with a character. CD PROJEKT RED published those notes on December 4, 2023. That update detail is not a complete guide to romance options or their outcomes. Read the official Update 2.1 patch notes.

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Cyberpunk 2077 - PlayStation 4
Cyberpunk 2077 - PlayStation 4
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world, action-adventure story set in Night City
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Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code]
  • A Nintendo Switch Online membership may be required for online play. Please check the game detail page on Nintendo.com for membership requirements.
  • 2025 CD PROJEKT S.A. All rights reserved. CD PROJEKT, the CD PROJEKT logo, the REDengine logo, Cyberpunk, Cyberpunk 2077, the Cyberpunk 2077 logo, Johnny Silverhand, the SAMURAI logo, Phantom Liberty and the Phantom Liberty logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of CD PROJEKT S.A. in the US and/or other countries. All other copyrights and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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