While Phantom Liberty looks to be a massive new addition to Cyberpunk 2077, the free update looks just as enticing. VGC learned about changes coming to the police system, AI, cyberware and even vehicular combat from a recent behind-closed-doors demo. In addition, the skill trees are revamped, with new abilities added.
They include a dash, finishers to execute enemies and deflecting bullets, with modifiers for each. As for vehicular combat, creative director Pawel Sasko revealed, “We put a lot of work into vehicle combat. You can aim your handgun through the windshield or windows. There are also weaponized vehicles with gatling guns or rockets that you can use and shoot.
“Some of the cars from the base game will be updated and weaponized, whereas others you can just open up doors like from our original CGI trailer where V was shooting out of the door. On motorcycles, you can use your katana.” You can even target charging ports on vehicles.
Phantom Libery also introduces a new Relic Tree, which alters cyberware (like new skills for the Mantis Blades). You’ll need Relic Points for the upgrades, found in Dog Town. Another new activity is Courier missions.
“Mama Welles, a fixer from the base game, will now have vehicles marked across Night City that you can steal. However, there will be certain objectives you need to complete, such as stealing it without any damage while you’re chased,” said Sasko. “There are many variants of that quest, like having to follow a car and hack it remotely to steal it.
“This activity is infinitely repeatable because players complained that they were not able to obtain all of the cars in the original game. That’s another thing that we’ve overhauled: cars are no longer purchasable from fixers like in the base game. Instead, Mama Welles has a website in the game where he adds more cars – and some of them are weaponized.”
Airdrop activities are also new, as random caches drop from the skies to retrieve. You’ll have to race to get them, though. Sasko noted that the reason for the changes, especially in the free update, is, “I’m one of the directors who are moving to the US. Currently, we’re in the process of organizing everything when it comes to the office and will be heavily hiring during 2024.
“But right now, the majority of our focus is on Phantom Liberty because we just need to leave the game in great shape as well as we can. We need to ensure this is received as well as it can.”
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty launches on September 26th, exclusively for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC. Check out some of its screenshots below.
