Night City is a liar. It promises you the world and then kicks you in the teeth, which is basically what happened to everyone who pre-ordered the game back in 2020. You remember. The memes of flying cars clipping through buildings and NPCs t-posing into oblivion were everywhere. It was a mess. But honestly? Looking at cyberpunk 2077 video games today, specifically after the 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty expansion, we’re looking at one of the greatest redemption arcs in digital history. CD Projekt Red didn't just patch some holes; they basically rebuilt the engine while the car was doing 90 on the freeway.
It's weird to think about how much has changed. If you played at launch, you probably felt burned. If you’re playing now, you’re seeing the game that was actually promised. It’s dense. It’s loud. It smells like chrome and cheap synth-meat.
The Reality of the Night City Renaissance
Let’s be real for a second: the "Cyberpunk" brand was almost radioactive for a year. Critics were savage, and rightfully so. But something shifted when the studio stopped apologizing and started coding. The 2.0 update changed the fundamental DNA of how you play. It wasn't just about fixing the police—though having them actually chase you in cars instead of spawning behind your back was a huge win. They ripped out the skill trees and started over.
You used to have these boring incremental buffs, like "3% more damage with pistols." Boring. Now? You’re air-dashing, deflecting bullets with katanas, and performing "Edgerunner" style takedowns that feel visceral. The game finally understands that being a "cyberpunk" isn't about stats; it's about the power fantasy of being a high-tech mercenary in a low-life world.
Why the Cyberpunk 2077 Video Games Expansion Changed Everything
Phantom Liberty isn't just DLC. It’s a spy thriller stitched onto the side of a neon dystopia. Bringing in Idris Elba as Solomon Reed was a massive flex, but he’s not just there for star power. His character adds a layer of weary, government-sanctioned cynicism that contrasts perfectly with Keanu Reeves’ Johnny Silverhand.
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Dogtown is different. It’s a sub-district that feels more claustrophobic and dangerous than the rest of Night City. There’s no law there, just Kurt Hansen’s militia. It's a localized hellscape. When you’re navigating the ruined stadium or the high-stakes Black Sapphire club, the level design is significantly tighter than the base game. It shows what the developers learned over three years of troubleshooting.
The storytelling in this expansion is brutal. It asks you if you’d betray a friend to save yourself. Most games give you a "good" and "bad" ending. Cyberpunk 2077 video games don't do that. They give you a "bad" ending and a "worse" ending, and you have to live with whichever one you chose. It’s depressing. It’s perfect.
The Technical Debt and the Move to Unreal Engine 5
We have to talk about REDengine. It’s the proprietary tech CD Projekt Red used for The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. It’s capable of some truly stunning visuals—Path Tracing in this game is arguably the best implementation of lighting in any media—but it was also the source of the game's biggest headaches. The engine struggled with the verticality of a massive city and the speed of high-speed chases.
That’s why the studio is moving to Unreal Engine 5 for the sequel, codenamed Project Orion. It’s a bittersweet move for tech nerds. On one hand, REDengine gave Night City a specific "look" that feels unique. On the other hand, the developers spent half their time fighting the tools instead of making content. Moving forward, the goal is to spend less time fixing "jank" and more time building out the world.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Lore
People often think cyberpunk is just "future stuff with neon." It’s not. It’s specifically about the failure of the social contract. In cyberpunk 2077 video games, the government is basically a subsidiary of the corporations. Arasaka and Militech aren't just companies; they are sovereign nations with their own armies and laws.
If you aren't paying attention to the shards (the little text files you find everywhere), you're missing half the game. There’s a whole subplot about rogue AIs living behind "The Blackwall." These aren't just ChatGPT gone wrong. These are eldritch horrors from the old internet that want to wear human skin. When you start digging into the "Mr. Blue Eyes" conspiracies, the game turns from a shooter into a cosmic horror story.
- The Peralez Questline: This is the peak of the game’s side content. You realize a shadowy organization is literally rewriting the memories of a mayoral candidate. No gunfight. No boss battle. Just pure, existential dread.
- Sinnerman: This mission is controversial for a reason. You participate in a televised crucifixion. It’s uncomfortable. It makes you question the commercialization of faith and death. It’s the kind of writing that most AAA games are too scared to touch.
Is It Actually an RPG Now?
One of the biggest complaints at launch was that your choices didn't matter. To be fair, that’s still partially true for the main ending of the base game. But the Phantom Liberty ending is a different beast entirely. Your choices there have massive, permanent consequences for V.
The RPG elements now live in the "builds." You can play as a Netrunner who kills people through their own eyeballs without ever entering the room. You can be a "Solo" who uses a Berserk mod to become literally invincible for ten seconds while punching people into red mist. The synergy between gear, cyberware, and perks is finally cohesive.
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The "Cyberware Capacity" system added in 2.0 is a stroke of genius. It prevents you from becoming a god too early. You have to choose: do I want better legs for jumping, or better armor? Do I want to risk "Cyberpsychosis" (which is now a gameplay mechanic rather than just a lore point) by pushing my body too far?
The Legacy of the Glitches
We can't just pretend the launch didn't happen. It’s a permanent scar on the industry's reputation. It led to the first time Sony pulled a major title from the PlayStation Store. It led to lawsuits. But it also changed how we talk about "Early Access" and "Finished" games.
The current state of cyberpunk 2077 video games is a testament to what happens when a studio has enough money and guilt to actually finish their work. Most companies would have just moved on to the next project. CD Projekt Red couldn't afford to. Their entire identity was tied to being "the guys who do right by the players." They lost that crown in 2020. They’ve spent the last few years trying to buy it back.
How to Actually Get the Most Out of Your Next Playthrough
If you’re diving back in or starting for the first time in 2026, don't play it like GTA. If you try to play it like a sandbox mayhem simulator, you'll be disappointed. The NPCs aren't that smart, and the world isn't as reactive as a Rockstar game.
Play it for the atmosphere. * Turn off the HUD: Use the "Limited HUD" mod or just turn off the mini-map in the settings. Navigating Night City by looking at the actual landmarks makes the world feel ten times bigger.
- Don't fast travel: The drive from the Badlands into the city center at night, with the radio playing "Body Heat Radio" or "Morro Rock," is the peak experience. The way the skyscrapers grow on the horizon is genuinely breathtaking.
- Focus on the Side Jobs: The "Yellow" icons on the map are where the real writing is. The main quest is a race against time, but the side jobs are where you actually get to know the people of Night City.
- Specialize Early: Don't try to be a jack-of-all-trades. Pick a path—Cool for stealth/sniping, Intelligence for hacking, or Body for shotguns—and lean into it. The high-level perks in each tree are what make the combat feel "next-gen."
The story of V and Johnny Silverhand is ultimately about the fear of being forgotten. In a world where your soul can be digitized and sold to the highest bidder, what does it mean to be "you"? It’s a heavy question for a game where you can also install blades in your forearms and jump off a skyscraper. But that’s the charm. It’s high-brow philosophy wrapped in a neon-soaked action movie. Night City might be a liar, but it's a beautiful one.