Why Can’t I Get the Secret Ending in Cyberpunk 2077? A Comprehensive Guide
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So, you’ve plunged headfirst into the neon-drenched world of Night City, battled corpo rats, and navigated the treacherous digital landscape. You’re at the rooftop, staring out at the cityscape, ready to make the ultimate choice, but… the Don’t Fear the Reaper ending – the secret ending – isn’t popping up. What gives? Don’t worry, choomba, you’re not alone. Several factors can prevent you from unlocking this challenging, yet rewarding, finale. The most common culprits are insufficient relationship with Johnny Silverhand, missed or incorrect dialogue choices, and failure to complete essential side quests. Let’s break these down in detail:
Understanding the Prerequisites
The secret ending in Cyberpunk 2077 hinges on a delicate balance of factors. It’s not just about reaching the end of the main storyline; it’s about cultivating a specific connection with Johnny and making critical decisions along the way. You have to earn it. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of what’s required:
1. The Johnny Silverhand Relationship Meter: Aiming for 70%
The most crucial factor is your relationship percentage with Johnny Silverhand. You need to reach at least 70% to trigger the secret ending. This isn’t explicitly displayed in the game, but it’s influenced by the choices you make during specific quests involving Johnny. Think of it as a trust meter; the more you align with Johnny’s ideals and respect his opinions, the higher it climbs.
2. Side Job Completion: The Core Quests
Before even thinking about the rooftop decision, you must complete a series of Side Jobs centered around Johnny Silverhand. These are non-negotiable. The essential quests are:
- Tapeworm: This questline initiates after completing the “Life During Wartime” main quest and serves as an introduction to Johnny’s past and his evolving relationship with V.
- Chippin’ In: Arguably the most critical side job for unlocking the secret ending. This quest involves tracking down Johnny’s old flame, Rogue Amendiares, and culminates in a pivotal dialogue sequence.
- Blistering Love: This is Rogue’s questline that follows after Chippin’ In. Completing this, and by extension the previous two, shows a clear connection and respect for Johnny’s past and his relationships.
3. The Chippin’ In Dialogue Choices: Choosing Wisely
“Chippin’ In” is where you really cement your bond with Johnny. During this quest, there’s a crucial moment where you interact with Johnny’s gravestone after retrieving his Porsche. Your dialogue choices here are absolutely essential to securing that 70% relationship score. The correct dialogue choices are as follows:
- “[Inscribe Johnny’s initials] No f***ing way.”
- “The guy who saved my life.”
- “Nah, f***ed that up too.”
- “What do you want from me?”
- “Okay, I’ll call Rogue.”
- “Let’s do something about that.” (This is arguably the MOST critical choice).
Choosing alternative responses, particularly being dismissive or hostile towards Johnny, can severely damage your relationship and lock you out of the secret ending.
4. The Rooftop Decision: Patience is Key
Once you’ve met all the prerequisites and you’re on the rooftop with Johnny, you’ll be presented with the standard ending options. Here’s where the patience comes in. Do not choose any of the presented options immediately. Instead, wait for approximately five minutes. Johnny will eventually chime in, offering his own plan – the Don’t Fear the Reaper ending. This option will only appear if your relationship is high enough, and the previous side quests and dialogue choices were made correctly.
Why You Might Be Missing Out
Let’s pinpoint the potential issues that might be preventing you from accessing the secret ending:
- Insufficient Relationship: This is the most common problem. You might have rushed through the game without engaging fully with Johnny’s storyline or made choices that negatively impacted your relationship.
- Missed Side Quests: If you haven’t completed “Tapeworm,” “Chippin’ In,” and “Blistering Love,” the secret ending is simply not available. They’re mandatory prerequisites.
- Incorrect Dialogue in Chippin’ In: Even if you complete the quest, making the wrong dialogue choices during the gravestone scene can tank your relationship with Johnny, rendering the secret ending inaccessible.
- Lack of Patience on the Rooftop: Many players, eager to see the ending, immediately choose one of the presented options without waiting for Johnny to offer his plan. You need to be patient!
- Glitches or Bugs: Although rare, glitches can sometimes prevent the secret ending from triggering. If you’re certain you’ve met all the requirements, consider reloading a previous save or restarting the game.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you’re unsure why you’re not getting the secret ending, here are some troubleshooting steps you can take:
- Reload an Earlier Save: Go back to a save before starting “Chippin’ In” and replay the quest, carefully selecting the correct dialogue options. This ensures you haven’t missed anything crucial.
- Revisit Key Locations: Visit Johnny’s grave again. While unlikely to trigger anything new, it can help solidify in your mind the sequence of events and potentially jog your memory about any missed steps.
- Double-Check Quest Completion: Ensure all the necessary side jobs are marked as complete in your journal. Don’t rely on memory; verify it within the game.
- Consult a Guide: Use a detailed walkthrough or guide that specifically outlines the steps for unlocking the secret ending. This can help you identify any missed steps or subtle nuances.
- Check your Game Version: Ensure you are playing on a patched version of Cyberpunk 2077. Older versions may have bugs that can prevent you from getting the secret ending.
The Significance of the Secret Ending
The Don’t Fear the Reaper ending is often considered the “best” ending by many players because it arguably results in the fewest casualties. V takes on Arasaka alone, minimizing the risk to friends and allies. It’s a high-stakes, incredibly challenging mission, but it’s a testament to the bond between V and Johnny and their willingness to fight for their own survival, even against impossible odds. It’s not necessarily a “happy” ending, as V’s fate remains uncertain, but it’s a powerful and memorable conclusion to their story. This reflects the complex narratives that can be explored through games, a concept that the Games Learning Society explores through researching game-based learning and design. For more information about how games are used to explore complex topics, visit GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I get the secret ending if I accidentally chose the wrong dialogue option in “Chippin’ In”?
Unfortunately, choosing the wrong dialogue options can significantly impact your relationship with Johnny, potentially locking you out of the secret ending. The best course of action is to reload a save from before the gravestone scene and replay the quest with the correct choices.
2. Do I need to romance anyone to get the secret ending?
No, romancing Judy, Panam, or River is not a requirement for unlocking the secret ending. Your relationship with Johnny is the only factor that matters in this regard.
3. Is there a way to check my relationship percentage with Johnny Silverhand?
Unfortunately, the game doesn’t provide a direct way to check your relationship percentage with Johnny. You’ll have to rely on your memory of the choices you’ve made throughout the game.
4. Can I still get the secret ending if I’ve already completed the main story?
If you’ve already completed the main story and saved the game, you’ll need to start a new playthrough to unlock the secret ending. The prerequisites must be met before reaching the final rooftop decision.
5. Does difficulty level affect my ability to get the secret ending?
No, the difficulty level does not affect your ability to unlock the secret ending. The requirements remain the same regardless of the difficulty you choose.
6. I completed all the quests and chose the correct dialogue, but the secret ending still isn’t appearing. What should I do?
Double-check that all the necessary side jobs are marked as complete in your journal and that you waited long enough on the rooftop. If you’re still having trouble, try reloading a previous save or restarting the game. There might be a glitch preventing the secret ending from triggering.
7. How long do I really have to wait on the rooftop for Johnny to offer the secret ending?
While the commonly cited time is approximately five minutes, some players have reported needing to wait longer, sometimes up to ten minutes. It’s best to be patient and simply leave the game running while you wait.
8. Can I get Johnny Silverhand’s Porsche without doing “Chippin’ In”?
No, Johnny Silverhand’s Porsche 911 is obtained during the “Chippin’ In” side quest. It’s a key element of the quest and cannot be acquired separately.
9. What happens if I choose one of the other ending options before Johnny offers the secret ending?
If you choose one of the other ending options before Johnny offers the secret ending, you’ll be locked into that ending and will need to reload a previous save to try again.
10. Does Phantom Liberty affect the secret ending?
While Phantom Liberty adds new endings, it does not directly affect the original Don’t Fear the Reaper secret ending. The prerequisites for unlocking it remain the same.
11. Is the secret ending the “canon” ending of Cyberpunk 2077?
There is no official “canon” ending to Cyberpunk 2077. All the endings are valid and represent different possible outcomes for V and Johnny. The secret ending is simply one of the most challenging and rewarding to achieve.
12. If V undertakes the secret ending, are allies in Night City impacted?
One reason the Don’t Fear the Reaper ending is seen as a “good” outcome is because allies in Night City are not impacted, since V and Johnny choose to take on Arasaka Tower without any help.
13. Can I redo the dialogue with Johnny in Chippin’ In?
The dialogue with Johnny at the grave during Chippin’ In is a one-time event. If you messed up the dialogue options, your only option is to reload a previous save and redo the entire quest.
14. How can I tell if I’m making good relationship progress with Johnny throughout the game?
Pay attention to Johnny’s reactions to your choices. If he seems agreeable and supportive, you’re likely on the right track. If he’s critical or dismissive, you might need to rethink your approach.
15. Is the ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’ ending really worth it?
That’s subjective! It’s certainly challenging and offers a unique, high-stakes experience. If you’re looking for the most difficult path and a powerful, albeit uncertain, conclusion, then yes, it’s absolutely worth the effort.
Unlocking the secret ending in Cyberpunk 2077 requires dedication, patience, and careful attention to detail. By understanding the prerequisites and troubleshooting potential issues, you can increase your chances of experiencing this unique and rewarding finale. Good luck, choomba!