Cyberpunk 2077 receiving DLC at first looked like a sign that CD Projekt Red was committed to supporting the game long-term – a confirmation that Cyberpunk 2077 was still alive and well even after its problematic launch – yet it’s now been confirmed that the DLC expansion is spelling the end for the game. Phantom Liberty is the long-awaited DLC that could add a lot to Cyberpunk 2077‘s ending that sets up DLC. The teaser trailer reveals little, but if the game appears to be coming to an end, there are at least some new things for fans to look forward to.
A new region is shown in the Cyberpunk 2077 teaser, as V swears an oath to the new US government before Johnny Silverhand warns V about taking such an action. The DLC certainly has an enticing setup, and should have a smoother release compared to the game’s original launch. CD Projekt Red has released consistent patches improving Cyberpunk 2077 over time, which is why it’s unfortunate that Phantom Liberty will be the last piece of official content. Much like No Man’s Sky getting multiplayer after launch, Cyberpunk 2077 feels poised for another great redemption story that proves continuing support and listening to the community can turn around any project, which makes it all the more puzzling that no further work is planned.
The coming end of support was confirmed on the official CD Projekt Red YouTube channel in a developer comment stating that “Phantom Liberty is the only planned expansion for Cyberpunk 2077.” Phantom Liberty promises to be a major addition to Cyberpunk 2077, but it comes with the ring of disappointment given the game’s untapped potential. Cyberpunk 2077‘s much-anticipated DLC signals an end to the first game in a potentially long-running series. CD Projekt Red at first stated that at least two expansions were coming to the game, now it appears that Phantom Liberty is the only one planned. After CD Projekt Red confirmed Cyberpunk 2077‘s expansion, the vice president of business development stated, in an interview with IGN, “we’re totally, fully committed to developing the Cyberpunk IP further…with new experiences, new content basically. Not just the video game format.” This is most likely referring to Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, an anime set in the Cyberpunk universe on Netflix. What waits beyond the new expansion is anyone’s guess, but if both the developer and vice president are talking about moving past Cyberpunk as a game, the Phantom Liberty DLC might be the last time players ever see Johnny Silverhand and V again.
Phantom Liberty Heralds The End Of Cyberpunk 2077
To make matters worse, Patch 1.6 is Cyberpunk 2077‘s final last-gen update, further confirming that the game is reaching its endpoint. The new DLC will only be available on PC, PS5, Stadia and Xbox Series X, which is a major blow to fans who love Cyberpunk 2077 but won’t or can’t upgrade to current-gen consoles. CD Projekt Red has stated that it will continue providing technical updates to last-gen consoles, although removing access to DLC doesn’t provide PS4 or Xbox One players much of a reason to return to Night City. The company has the resources available to add Phantom Liberty on last-gen hardware, so this decision looks like a clear signal that CD Projekt Red is preparing fans to move away from Cyberpunk 2077.
However, there is hope for modders to continue adding new content to Cyberpunk 2077 for years to come. CD Projekt Red has added REDmod, the official Cyberpunk 2077 modding tool for PC to the game. The new tool adds custom animations and sounds along with several other assets for players to create tons of new content. With any luck, Cyberpunk 2077 could end up gaining the same kind of support from the modding community that Skyrim and Fallout: New Vegas received. This could both keep the game alive and allow modders to add all the requested features after Cyberpunk 2077 loses official support. Phantom Liberty may be the end of CD Projekt Red supporting Cyberpunk 2077 going forward, so it could well be up to modders to keep the game alive.
