Phantom Liberty may be CD Projekt RED’s only expansion for Cyberpunk 2077, but it’s packed with things to do, from new side missions to activities like Courier Missions. However, the story may be the most intriguing part, as the recent gameplay trailer showed. A new deep dive sees narrative director Igor Sarzyński and senior communication manager Paweł Burza discuss the various characters.
First and foremost is Rosalind Myers, President of the NUSA, who crashes in Dogtown and tries to survive. As a former Marine, she’s capable but can’t take on all of Dogtown. V helps out, but she’s also very logical and has a human aspect (with emotions sometimes taking over). Solomon Reed, played by Idris Elba, is one of the three most important characters, along with V and Songbird.
He’s described as the kind of guy you send to change a government in another country, and no one ever finds out. A master spy for the NUSA, he became a sleeper agent seven years prior. He’s now reactivated and working with V on a mission in Dogtown, though things won’t be very smooth. Though he’s super loyal to his country, that can clash with his commitment to those around him and his principles. Sometimes his loyalties pull him in different directions, which V can also affect.
Finally, there’s Songbird, who feels somewhat similar to V. Sarzyński remarks that she could have been the street punk while V worked for the NUSA in another universe. She’s like a mirror to V and the players, providing a new perspective on V’s motivations, actions and goals. In the various playtests the developer had done, she’s considered divisive – some liked her, and others didn’t – and while she can be seen as helping, sometimes that may not be the case.
CD Projekt RED went with a spy thriller approach with the expansion to incorporate different places and fantasies. It tried to draw inspiration from the real world, specifically books, interviews and real operations, to provide a grounded base. However, some “spice” of the 80s and 90s action movies has also been added.
Also, a note on the giant machine that attacked V and Myers – that’s a Militech Chimera, left behind during the last Corporate War. It’s armed with all kinds of weapons and can cause total mayhem. However, it may or may not be an obstacle for players.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is out on September 26th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, and costs $29.99. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.
