Was Phantom Liberty Supposed to Be Free?
No, Phantom Liberty was never intended to be a free expansion for Cyberpunk 2077. From its initial announcement, CD Projekt Red (CDPR) explicitly positioned it as a premium, paid downloadable content (DLC) offering a significant expansion of the game’s world, narrative, and gameplay.
The History of Cyberpunk 2077 and its DLC Strategy
To understand why Phantom Liberty was a paid expansion, it’s crucial to consider the context surrounding Cyberpunk 2077’s launch and CDPR’s subsequent development strategy. The game’s initial release was marred by significant technical issues, particularly on last-generation consoles. This led to widespread criticism and impacted CDPR’s reputation. The company prioritized fixing the core game and delivering on its initial promises.
Prioritizing Fixes and Free Content
Following the turbulent launch, CDPR focused on releasing numerous patches, hotfixes, and free downloadable content (DLC) to address the game’s myriad issues. This included quality-of-life improvements, bug fixes, new weapons, clothing, and even minor quests. These free updates aimed to salvage the game’s reputation and reward players for their patience. The free Edgerunners update, which brought some changes inspired by the Edgerunners Anime, was another prime example of content given out for free.
Phantom Liberty: A Different Scope and Scale
Phantom Liberty, however, was a different beast entirely. Unlike the smaller free DLC packs, it represented a substantial investment in development, featuring a brand-new district of Night City (Dogtown), a gripping spy-thriller narrative with Idris Elba, significant gameplay overhauls, and numerous new characters, quests, and items. Its scope and scale necessitated a different funding model, justifying its premium price tag.
The 2.0 Update: Free But Not Equal to Phantom Liberty
It’s important to distinguish Phantom Liberty from the 2.0 update, which was a free update for all Cyberpunk 2077 owners on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The 2.0 update was a comprehensive overhaul of many core game mechanics, including the perk system, police AI, and vehicle combat. While the 2.0 update significantly improved the game, it did not include any of the new story content, characters, or Dogtown, which were exclusive to Phantom Liberty.
Why a Paid Expansion Makes Sense
Several factors support CDPR’s decision to release Phantom Liberty as a paid expansion:
- Significant Development Costs: Developing a large-scale expansion like Phantom Liberty requires a substantial investment of time, resources, and personnel. A premium price tag helps recoup these costs and ensure the financial viability of future projects.
- High Production Values: Phantom Liberty featured top-tier voice acting, motion capture, and art direction, further contributing to its development costs. The expansion aims to deliver a AAA experience, justifying its premium pricing.
- New Content and Features: Phantom Liberty introduced a wealth of new content, including a brand-new district, a compelling storyline, new characters, quests, weapons, cyberware, and gameplay mechanics. This justifies the expansion’s premium price point.
- Long-Term Support: By charging for Phantom Liberty, CDPR can continue to support Cyberpunk 2077 with further updates, bug fixes, and potentially even more content in the future.
Alternative Perspectives and Fan Expectations
Despite the logical reasons for a paid expansion, some players initially hoped Phantom Liberty would be free, perhaps as compensation for the game’s troubled launch. However, CDPR’s communication consistently indicated that it would be a paid DLC, and the scale of the expansion ultimately justified its price.
While the initial backlash to Cyberpunk 2077’s launch was understandable, CDPR has worked diligently to address the game’s issues and deliver on its promises. Phantom Liberty represents a significant step in that direction and offers a compelling reason for players to return to Night City.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Phantom Liberty
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Phantom Liberty, providing further insight into the expansion and its development.
1. What exactly is Phantom Liberty?
Phantom Liberty is a spy-thriller expansion for Cyberpunk 2077 that introduces a new district called Dogtown, along with a new storyline, characters (including Idris Elba’s Solomon Reed), quests, and gameplay mechanics.
2. When was Phantom Liberty released?
Phantom Liberty was released on September 26, 2023, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
3. How much does Phantom Liberty cost?
The price of Phantom Liberty varied slightly depending on the platform and region, but it generally retailed for around $29.99 / €29.99 / £24.99.
4. Do I need the base game of Cyberpunk 2077 to play Phantom Liberty?
Yes, you need the base game of Cyberpunk 2077 to play Phantom Liberty. It is an expansion, not a standalone game.
5. What is the 2.0 update and is it the same as Phantom Liberty?
The 2.0 update is a free update for Cyberpunk 2077 that overhauls core gameplay mechanics, such as the perk system, police AI, and vehicle combat. It’s not the same as Phantom Liberty, which features new story content, a new district, and new characters, available only with purchase.
6. What platforms is Phantom Liberty available on?
Phantom Liberty is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. It is not available on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One.
7. Why is Phantom Liberty not available on last-gen consoles?
CDPR stated that Phantom Liberty’s scope and technical requirements made it unfeasible to develop for last-generation consoles. Focusing on current-gen platforms allowed them to deliver a higher-quality experience.
8. What are some of the key features of Phantom Liberty?
Key features include a new district (Dogtown), a new storyline, new characters (including Idris Elba’s Solomon Reed), redesigned skill trees, vehicle combat enhancements, and improved AI.
9. How does Phantom Liberty impact the main Cyberpunk 2077 storyline?
Phantom Liberty offers a side-story that intertwines with the main Cyberpunk 2077 narrative. Decisions made in Phantom Liberty can impact the ending of the base game.
10. How long does it take to complete Phantom Liberty?
The main storyline of Phantom Liberty is estimated to take around 15-20 hours to complete, with additional side quests and exploration adding more playtime.
11. Does Phantom Liberty introduce new endings to Cyberpunk 2077?
Yes, Phantom Liberty introduces a new ending to Cyberpunk 2077, depending on the player’s choices and actions throughout the expansion.
12. Are there any performance improvements with Phantom Liberty?
While the 2.0 update brought performance improvements, Phantom Liberty itself is graphically demanding. Performance may vary depending on your hardware. CD Projekt Red continued to release performance patches after the launch of Phantom Liberty.
13. Can I play Phantom Liberty after completing the main game?
Yes, you can play Phantom Liberty after completing the main game, provided you load a save file from before the point of no return.
14. Does Phantom Liberty include any new weapons or cyberware?
Yes, Phantom Liberty introduces a wide range of new weapons, cyberware, vehicles, and clothing items.
15. Will there be more DLC or expansions for Cyberpunk 2077 after Phantom Liberty?
CD Projekt Red has stated that Phantom Liberty is the only major expansion planned for Cyberpunk 2077. However, they have not ruled out future smaller updates or content releases.