Navigating the Treachery of Night City: Should You Ditch Dex in Cyberpunk 2077?

Ultimately, in Cyberpunk 2077, whether you choose to cut Dex out of the initial heist deal is more about experiencing different narrative flavors than significantly altering the overarching story. Dex betrays you regardless. Your choices primarily influence the events of the heist itself, offering slight variations in dialogue and interactions, but the core outcome – you getting double-crossed and the heist going sideways – remains constant. Think of it as choosing a different appetizer before the same unavoidable main course of betrayal and near-death experience.

The Illusion of Choice: Evelyn vs. Dex

The initial proposition is alluring: Evelyn Parker offers you a tempting slice of the pie if you bypass Dex DeShawn, your fixer. This seems like a classic cyberpunk dilemma – loyalty versus profit, trust versus opportunity. However, the game mechanics ensure that this choice is largely a narrative illusion. Whether you agree to work with Evelyn behind Dex’s back or remain loyal, the outcome remains tragically consistent: you and Jackie don’t get paid, the heist goes wrong, and Dex ultimately attempts to eliminate you.

Understanding the Narrative Railroading

Cyberpunk 2077, for all its open-world grandeur, operates within a defined narrative structure. The heist mission is a pivotal plot point that needs to occur to set the stage for the rest of the game. Dex’s betrayal, your near-death experience, and the implanting of Johnny Silverhand are crucial for the story to progress. Therefore, the developers have engineered the heist to unfold in a specific manner, regardless of your initial decision.

The Minor Ripples of Your Decision

While the major plot points remain unchanged, choosing to betray Dex does create some minor differences:

• Potential Pay Increase (Briefly): Theoretically, cutting Dex out results in a promise of a larger cut from Evelyn. However, this promise is rendered moot as the heist collapses.
• Altered Dialogue and Interactions: Your conversations with Dex and Evelyn will differ depending on your choice. There are opportunities for different dialogue options and slightly adjusted character interactions during the pre-heist planning.
• A Different Feeling: Some players prefer the “moral” high ground of staying loyal to Dex (initially), even though he ultimately betrays you. Others embrace the morally gray world of Night City and seize the opportunity for personal gain, even if it ultimately backfires.

The Importance of Roleplaying

Given the limited impact on the overall plot, the decision to betray Dex becomes more about roleplaying your character. How does V, your protagonist, approach the morally ambiguous world of Night City? Are they a ruthless opportunist, a loyal friend, or something in between? Your choice in this scenario allows you to express your V’s personality and motivations, even if the consequences are largely predetermined. The Games Learning Society often explores how game choices can affect character immersion. The mission can be replayed to check alternative decisions.

Conclusion: Embrace the Cyberpunk Ride

In essence, the choice of siding with Evelyn or Dex is a microcosm of the Cyberpunk 2077 experience: a world filled with choices that often have predetermined outcomes. Don’t agonize too much over the “right” answer. Instead, consider what choice best aligns with your character’s personality and embrace the wild, unpredictable ride that is the Cyberpunk 2077 story.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Dex and the Heist

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Dex and the Heist, designed to deepen your understanding of this critical part of Cyberpunk 2077:

1. Does siding with Evelyn prevent Dex’s betrayal? No, Dex will betray V regardless of whether you agree to work with Evelyn behind his back. The betrayal is a fixed plot point.

2. What is the benefit of betraying Dex, if any? The only potential benefit is a promised larger cut of the heist money from Evelyn, which ultimately never materializes.

3. Does Dex survive if you betray him? No, Dex dies later in the game, regardless of your initial decision regarding the heist. He is found executed in the landfill.

4. Is it possible to warn Jackie about Dex’s treachery? You cannot directly warn Jackie in a way that prevents the heist from going wrong or Dex’s subsequent betrayal.

5. Does my Street Cred influence Dex’s decision to betray me? No, your Street Cred level does not affect Dex’s actions. His betrayal is a scripted event.

6. What happens if I refuse Evelyn’s offer to cut Dex out? If you refuse, the dialogue and planning stages of the heist will proceed differently, but the ultimate outcome (heist failure and Dex’s betrayal) remains the same.

7. Can I romance Evelyn Parker? No, Evelyn is not a romanceable character in Cyberpunk 2077.

8. What weapon does Dex drop when he dies? Dex drops a unique weapon called “Plan B,” a modified pistol.

9. Does choosing a different Lifepath (Nomad, Streetkid, Corpo) affect the Heist outcome? No, your chosen Lifepath does not alter the fundamental outcome of the Heist mission.

10. Why does Dex betray V in the first place? Dex betrays V because the heist attracted too much heat, and he likely received a better offer to eliminate V and cover his tracks.

11. Can I get a refund from Dex after the heist goes wrong? No, there is no way to recover any money or compensation from Dex after the heist fails.

12. What happens if Jackie survives the heist? Unfortunately, Jackie’s death is a fixed story point. There is no way to save him during the Heist mission.

13. Does my relationship with Johnny Silverhand affect Dex’s actions? No, your relationship with Johnny Silverhand only begins after Dex’s betrayal and does not influence his decisions beforehand.

14. Is there any way to avoid getting shot by Dex? No, V will be shot by Dex.

15. Does siding with Dex or Evelyn have any impact on my ability to achieve different endings in Cyberpunk 2077? This early decision does not affect later game endings.

These FAQs hopefully clear up any confusion.