Phantom Liberty is Not Free
Despite some players wondering if the Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC would be free, especially given that all prior Cyberpunk 2077 DLCs were free, the Phantom Liberty expansion is not free-to-play. It is a paid expansion that requires the base Cyberpunk 2077 game to access its content. The expansion is priced at approximately $30 US, $40.47 CAD, or £24.22 GBP.
A guide attempting to explain how to acquire the Phantom Liberty expansion for free by engaging in credit card fraud was removed from the Steam community for violating community guidelines. This method involved obtaining stolen credit card numbers, creating a new Steam account, purchasing a giftable copy of the DLC with the stolen card, and then gifting it to one’s main account. This is explicitly stated as a joke within the guide itself, with a disclaimer against credit card theft, which is a felony fraud.
Free Update 2.0 Content for All Players
While the Phantom Liberty DLC itself is a paid expansion, a significant amount of new content and game overhauls arrived with Update 2.0, which is free for all Cyberpunk 2077 players on PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5. This update introduces a wide range of improvements and new features that enhance the core game experience, even without purchasing the DLC.
Key features included in the free Update 2.0 are:
- Game Overhaul and Quality-of-Life Improvements: This includes general bug fixes, UI and UX enhancements, minor changes to existing items, and updates to the crafting system.
- Redesigned Skill and Perk Trees: A complete overhaul of the skill and perk systems, introducing new melee-focused perks like Opportunist (allowing beheading enemies) and Bullet Deflect (to block bullets with a sword). Other new abilities include various Finisher options, Savage Sling (throwing foes at other enemies), and Air Dash (slowing time during jumps to leap in chosen directions). Players can also shoot grenades mid-air with the Pull perk.
- Cyberware System Revamp: The Cyberware system now includes a capacity system, adding more flexibility and potential risk to augmentations.
- Enhanced Police System: The police system has been rebuilt with a new “Heat” wanted system, similar to GTA, ranging from 0 to 5 stars. At maximum Heat, players will face a Max Tac miniboss. Police will actively chase players and engage in vehicle combat.
- Vehicle Combat: Players can now shoot from their vehicles or use Netrunner skills to affect enemy vehicles, such as causing them to explode or stop abruptly. Some vehicles may also feature mounted guns.
- New Music: The update adds new songs to enjoy while driving through Night City.
It’s important to note that the Update 2.0 and the Phantom Liberty DLC are only available on PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5, as resources have been pulled from last-gen consoles.
Phantom Liberty DLC-Specific Features
For those who purchase the Phantom Liberty expansion, additional content and features become available that are not part of the free Update 2.0. These include:
- New District: Dogtown: A brand-new area to explore within Night City.
- New Story and Quests: An action-filled spy thriller campaign involving corporate espionage, featuring Idris Elba, and new side missions.
- Increased Level Cap: The character level cap is raised from 50 to 60.
- Relic Skill Tree: Players gain access to a new Relic skill tree, allowing them to tap into new abilities.
The Phantom Liberty expansion provides a new narrative chapter and expands the game world, building upon the foundational changes introduced in the free Update 2.0.
FAQ
Is the Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC available for free? No, the Phantom Liberty DLC is a paid expansion and is not free. It costs approximately $30 US.
What content is included in the free Update 2.0? Update 2.0, free for all players, includes a redesigned skill tree, revamped Cyberware system, an overhauled police system with vehicle combat, new abilities like Bullet Deflect and Air Dash, and general quality-of-life improvements.
Do I need to buy Phantom Liberty to get Update 2.0 features? No, Update 2.0 is free for all players of the base Cyberpunk 2077 game on PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5, regardless of whether they own the Phantom Liberty DLC.
What platforms support the Phantom Liberty DLC and Update 2.0? Both the Phantom Liberty DLC and Update 2.0 are available on PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5. They are not available on last-gen consoles.
What is the price of the Phantom Liberty DLC? The Phantom Liberty DLC costs around $30 US / $40.47 CAD / £24.22 GBP.
Does Phantom Liberty increase the level cap? Yes, the Phantom Liberty DLC increases the character level cap from 50 to 60.