Prerequisites and Initial Access
To begin the Phantom Liberty DLC in Cyberpunk 2077, players must first ensure they have installed the free 2.0 update. The Phantom Liberty DLC itself is a paid expansion, costing $29.99, and needs to be purchased and installed separately. The expansion content is integrated directly into the base game experience, rather than being accessed through a separate menu.
Natural Progression to Phantom Liberty
For players engaging with the main story from the beginning, the opportunity to start Phantom Liberty arises during Act 2 of Cyberpunk 2077. The first mission for the DLC, titled “Dog Eat Dog,” will appear as a message on V’s phone. This occurs after completing the main job “Transmission.” Following this message, Songbird will contact V, initiating the first Dogtown quest. To formally begin the DLC, players must then proceed to the Stadium Parking Terminal, located near the entrance to Pacifica, where they will meet Songbird and enter Dogtown. Choosing to decline the initial offer to meet Songbird by selecting “Nah, not convinced” will not prevent the DLC from triggering; the quest will still provide a waypoint to Dogtown’s entrance.
Skipping Ahead to the DLC
Players who wish to focus solely on the Phantom Liberty content can opt to skip ahead directly to the DLC. This option is available when starting a new game. By selecting “Skip Ahead to Phantom Liberty,” players will bypass Act 1 of the main story. A new character will be created, though attribute editing is not available. This path places V outside the Voodoo Boys’ Chapel in Pacifica, post-“Transmission,” where Songbird’s call for “Dog Eat Dog” will be the first event. Players who choose this method will also begin with a set of items designed to assist them through the DLC. An observed difference when skipping ahead is that certain environmental interactions, such as opening doors, may require fewer attribute points compared to playing through the main game naturally.
Recommended Timing for the Best Experience
While the “Dog Eat Dog” mission becomes available early in Act 2, a more narratively impactful experience is achieved by delaying the start of Phantom Liberty. The DLC takes place chronologically before the final job with Hanako Arasaka in the main story. It is recommended to play through the main campaign until reaching the Act 3 mission “Nocturne Op55N1.” This mission is a point of no return for the base game. By this point, V will have completed Act 1 and key Act 2 missions, including “Playing for Time,” “Automatic Love,” “Ghost Town,” “Down on the Street,” “Play It Safe,” “Gimme Danger,” and “Search and Destroy,” as well as “Tapeworm.”
Engaging with Phantom Liberty after reaching “Nocturne Op55N1” ensures that the new ending provided by the DLC, which can replace the original Act 3 missions and endings, integrates more coherently into V’s overall story arc. Additionally, main game characters who appear in the new Phantom Liberty ending will have a more established context, enhancing their roles and the narrative’s depth.
FAQ
Do I need to install the 2.0 update to play Phantom Liberty? Yes, you must install the free 2.0 update before you can play the Phantom Liberty DLC.
Can I start Phantom Liberty right away if I buy it? Yes, you can start a new game and choose the “Skip Ahead to Phantom Liberty” option to jump directly into the DLC content.
When does Phantom Liberty take place in the Cyberpunk 2077 story? Phantom Liberty’s events occur before the main story’s final job, which involves meeting Hanako Arasaka at Arasaka Tower.
What happens if I refuse Songbird’s call to start the DLC? Nothing significant happens; the quest will still trigger, and you will receive a waypoint to the entrance of Dogtown, allowing you to proceed with the DLC when ready.
Is Phantom Liberty integrated into the main game or a separate menu option? Phantom Liberty is integrated directly into the base game of Cyberpunk 2077, similar to how The Witcher 3 handled its DLC.