After washing off the stink of its disastrous launch, CD Projekt Red is set to realize the full potential of Cyberpunk 2077 with the Phantom Liberty DLC release.
Cyberpunk 2077 dropped with a thud in 2020. A serviceable PC release was flanked by unplayable PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions that suffered from extreme performance issues and frequent bugs. That resulted in an extended delay to new in-game content, as the studio behind The Witcher 3 pivoted to repairing the PS4 and Xbox One versions and polishing the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S ports.
Now, fans of the game and the popular anime spin-off Cyberpunk: Edgerunners can look forward to the first proper Cyberpunk 2077 expansion with the release of the Phantom Liberty DLC. Phantom Liberty will add new features, including story content and new facets to the main Cyberpunk 2077 game.
Is Cyberpunk 2077 getting DLC?
Cyberpunk 2077 will receive a major DLC release in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.
The base version of the game has received numerous content updates and free DLC releases since its release in 2020. Phantom Liberty is set to be the largest addition to the game and will be the first and only paid DLC.
The story follows a mercenary named V who is tasked with rescuing the NUSA President in what is labeled as a “spy thriller.” The Cyberpunk 2077 DLC will take place in a new area of Night City named Dogtown, a particularly dangerous area where the NUSA President has been stranded.
When does Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty happen in the story?
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is unlocked during the story of Cyberpunk 2077. It is unclear where the events of Phantom Liberty take place in the timeline, but it does not seem like the DLC will serve as a true sequel to the game.
Instead, a bona fide sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 is in the chamber for CD Projekt Red. Few details are known about the game and whether it is a priority for CDPR as the studio works on a new Witcher game alongside other endeavors.
When does Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty come out?
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is set to come out on September 26, 2023 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
The DLC will be available through all the usual means including Steam and the consoles’ digital storefronts. No physical release has been confirmed, but it’s possible that a “complete edition” bundle with the game and DLC come out on PS5 and Xbox in the future.
Is the Cyberpunk 2077 DLC coming out on PS4 or Xbox One?
Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty DLC will not be available on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One consoles.
CD Projekt Red has not delved into the decision but has confirmed that past-gen consoles will not receive the DLC. This likely stems from the significant development issues associated with the PS4 and Xbox One release of Cyberpunk 2077. It took more than a year and a number of patches to get the console versions of the game running and even then, the games never reached a point where they ran smoothly.
Portions of the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners update weren’t released on PS4 or Xbox One due to “some technical challenges.” Evidently, those technical challenges haven’t gone away and are significant enough that the past-gen consoles won’t be getting the DLC at all. While other major DLC releases on cross-generation games have seen older consoles supported with DLC like Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Is Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty free?
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty will not be free, and will cost $29.99 across all platforms it releases on. Steam will also offer a bundle of Cyberpunk 2077 and its DLC on the day of its release. Though it has not yet been confirmed, there will likely be a “complete edition” physical release for the console versions of the game with all its DLC at some point.
CD Projekt Red has added a number of free DLC packages to the game, but Phantom Liberty will not be among them. Though players who don’t buy the DLC can likely expect a patch to come around the same time, they’ll have to find the money to make the trek to Dogtown.
How long does it take to beat the Cyberpunk 2077 DLC?
It is estimated that the Cyberpunk 2077 DLC will take between 15 and 20 hours to beat. The exact total will vary from player to player, as there will be plenty of opportunities to explore the streets of Dogtown separate from the actual gameplay.
If those estimates prove to be true, it would mark a significant expansion of content. Beating Cyberpunk 2077 takes around 25 to 30 hours to beat, meaning Phantom Liberty increases the amount of story content in the game by more than 50%. Assuming the DLC is of high quality, that would make this a potentially strong investment for any fan that enjoyed the base game.
