Which Ending Does V Live In Cyberpunk 2077? A Deep Dive into V’s Fate
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The burning question on every Cyberpunk 2077 player’s mind: can V actually survive? The short answer is complicated. While no ending guarantees V a long and healthy life, some endings offer a glimmer of hope, while others cement the six-month expiration date. There are also multiple interpretations and fan theories. Let’s break down each major ending and assess V’s chances of survival.
Decoding V’s Fateful Choices
Cyberpunk 2077 throws V into a desperate situation. The Relic, containing Johnny Silverhand’s engram, is slowly overwriting V’s personality and body. Each ending presents a different solution, each with its own set of sacrifices and potential outcomes.
The Sun: A Blaze of Glory, But a Short One
The “Sun” ending is often considered the “default” ending for players who align with V’s ambition and desire to become a Night City legend. V infiltrates Arasaka Tower with Rogue’s help, ultimately taking over the Afterlife and establishing themselves as a fixer of unparalleled reputation.
Survival prospects: In this ending, V returns to their body, but the underlying problem remains. They are still dying and have an estimated six months left to live. They will live the last 6 months of their life and go out as a legend. There’s no promise of a cure or a miraculous reprieve. This ending emphasizes V’s legacy and the impact they leave on Night City, rather than their personal survival.
The Star: A Nomadic Hope
Achieved by siding with the Aldecaldos, “The Star” ending sees V leaving Night City with Panam and the clan to seek a cure outside the city’s corrupt grasp.
Survival prospects: This ending offers the most significant hope for survival. While not explicitly stated, the implication is that the Aldecaldos, with their connections and knowledge of the Outlands, will help V find a solution. Misty’s tarot reading, drawing the Sun card for V, is often interpreted as a positive sign for V’s future, that V will be able to live a long and happy life. However, it’s crucial to understand this ending is hopeful, not definitively curative. The journey will be long and arduous, and success is far from guaranteed.
Temperance: A Sacrifice for Johnny
In the “Temperance” ending, V chooses to relinquish their body to Johnny Silverhand. Johnny crosses the Blackwall to seek out his future.
Survival prospects: In this case, V does not survive in the traditional sense. V’s consciousness is essentially erased, and Johnny lives on in V’s body. It’s a bittersweet ending that prioritizes Johnny’s second chance at life, and V is not alive.
The Devil: A Deal with the Devil
Siding with Hanako Arasaka leads to the “Devil” ending, where V agrees to undergo experimental treatment within Arasaka’s space station.
Survival prospects: This is arguably the bleakest ending. V survives the initial treatment, but the outcome is grim. They are faced with a choice: have their consciousness merged into Mikoshi to become a construct, or return to Earth with only six months to live. Neither option offers a true reprieve, and V’s autonomy is severely compromised. It’s a deal with the devil that ultimately costs V their freedom and any real hope of a fulfilling life.
Don’t Fear the Reaper: A Solo Suicide Run
The “Don’t Fear the Reaper” secret ending is unlocked by reaching a high relationship level with Johnny Silverhand. It involves V storming Arasaka Tower solo, without relying on any outside help.
Survival prospects: The “Don’t Fear the Reaper” ending mirrors the Sun ending in many ways. V returns to their body after breaking into Arasaka Tower, but they remain on the same countdown timer of six months. You will awaken as a legend of Night City and even have your own awesome penthouse. There’s no guarantee of a cure, but V faces their fate on their own terms, cementing their legendary status in Night City.
Phantom Liberty’s Impact: A Chance at Ordinary
The Phantom Liberty expansion introduces a new potential ending that drastically alters V’s fate. This ending sees V undergo an experimental procedure that removes the Relic but also strips them of their cyberware and combat abilities, leaving them a regular person.
Survival prospects: In this ending, V survives in the most literal sense. They are no longer dying from the Relic. However, they have sacrificed their identity, skills, and the life they built in Night City. This choice is viewed as a “cure” from Songbird or V, but not both. It’s a poignant ending that explores the cost of survival and the question of what it truly means to live. V can live without any ambiguity, but it comes at such a cost that it’s impossible to view it as a “perfect,” golden ending. A perfect, morally weightless escape would seem decidedly out of place in the world that Cyberpunk 2077 conjures, and it’s the price you have to pay that makes it so impactful.
The Recurring Theme: Sacrifice
Ultimately, Cyberpunk 2077 drives home the idea that survival often comes at a price. Each ending involves a degree of sacrifice, whether it’s V’s legacy, their relationship with others, their identity, or their very autonomy. The game encourages players to contemplate what they are willing to give up in order to survive, and whether survival at any cost is truly desirable.
FAQs About V’s Fate
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding V’s chances of survival in Cyberpunk 2077:
1. Does V have to die in Cyberpunk 2077?
No, not definitively. The Phantom Liberty ending offers a path to survival, albeit at a great personal cost.
2. What is the ending where V lives?
The ending added in Phantom Liberty, where V undergoes surgery to remove the Relic, allows V to live.
3. Which ending is canon for Cyberpunk 2077?
CD Projekt Red has not declared any ending as canon, allowing players to choose their own version of V’s story.
4. Is there a happy ending for V?
There are no purely “happy” endings. Each ending involves sacrifice and carries a degree of bittersweetness. There are no happy endings for V because they are meant for the ones that V encounters. Much like Death Stranding, it’s meant to promote selflessness. You are making V into a better person with everything you do.
5. Can V get a cure with the Aldecaldos?
The Star ending offers the best hope of finding a cure, but success isn’t guaranteed.
6. What happens to V in the Arasaka ending?
V either merges with Mikoshi or returns to Earth with six months to live.
7. Does V get to keep their cyberware in any ending?
Not in the Phantom Liberty ending where V survives; they lose all their cyberware.
8. Can both V and Johnny live?
In the Temperance ending, Johnny lives on in V’s body, but V’s consciousness is erased. In other endings, the two characters separate, but V is still affected by the Relic. After this mission is complete, you’ll have a choice: have V return to their body, or let Johnny take full (and permanent) control. To get this ending, choose V. They return to their body, but only with six months to live; while Johnny goes beyond the Blackwall to possibly survive in cyberspace.
9. How many endings are in Cyberpunk 2077?
There are five main endings in the base game, plus the new ending added in Phantom Liberty.
10. Is the Sun ending a good ending for V?
The Sun ending is a fitting ending for a lot of Cyberpunk 2077 players is going to be The Sun. It solidifies V’s legacy, but doesn’t solve the problem of the relic and only provides a final 6 months to live.
11. What’s the secret ending in Cyberpunk 2077?
The secret ending is “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” where V storms Arasaka Tower solo.
12. Can V and Judy end up together?
Yes, V can romance Judy Alvarez, but it requires playing as a female V with a female body type. You’ll meet Judy Alvarez during The Information, which is a Main Job given to you by Dexter DeShawn in Act 1. In order to romance Judy, you’ll need to be Female V with a female body type.
13. Does V sleep in Cyberpunk 2077?
V doesn’t ever get tired, so there’s no need for her to own a bed.
14. Why does V only have 6 months to live?
The Relic, containing Johnny Silverhand’s engram, is slowly overwriting V’s personality and body, leading to their eventual demise if left unchecked.
15. Where can I learn more about the themes and narrative of Cyberpunk 2077?
You can explore discussions about the game’s narrative, character development, and themes on platforms like the Games Learning Society, which examines games as tools for learning and cultural understanding. Visit Games Learning Society or GamesLearningSociety.org to find more information.
In conclusion, V’s fate in Cyberpunk 2077 is far from straightforward. While true survival is elusive, the game offers a range of endings that explore different aspects of life, death, sacrifice, and legacy. The choice ultimately rests with the player, forcing them to confront the difficult questions at the heart of the cyberpunk genre.