Maybe it's the neon. Maybe it's the rain. But mostly, it's the high-stakes espionage that makes You Know My Name one of the best missions CD Projekt Red ever built. This isn't just another shoot-em-up in Dogtown. It’s the centerpiece of the Phantom Liberty expansion, and honestly, if you haven’t played it yet, you’re missing the moment Cyberpunk 2077 finally became the spy thriller it promised to be.
The mission is heavy. You’re infiltrating the Black Sapphire, Kurt Hansen’s personal fortress, during a high-profile party. It’s James Bond meets Blade Runner, but with way more chrome and a lot more existential dread.
Getting Into the Black Sapphire
Getting in is the hard part. Or well, one of the hard parts. You start out in the flooded tunnels beneath the skyscraper with Reed. This section feels claustrophobic. It’s dark, it’s damp, and you’re basically playing a platformer with sniper rifles. You have to guide Reed through the shadows while you're perched up high, taking out guards and disabling cameras. If you mess up the timing, the whole thing goes sideways fast.
The transition from the murky sewers to the opulence of the Black Sapphire is jarring. One minute you’re dodging toxic waste, and the next, you’re in a tuxedo (or an evening gown) sipping champagne with the elite of Night City’s most dangerous district. It's a classic trope, but Cyberpunk pulls it off because the atmosphere is so thick you can practically taste the synthetic caviar.
The stakes are personal here. You aren't just there to steal data. You're there for Songbird. Everyone has an agenda. Reed wants to bring her home. Alex wants her life back. You? You’re just trying not to die from the relic chewing on your brain. It's a mess.
The Roulette Table: Where the Real Game Happens
The heart of You Know My Name is the encounter at the roulette table with the Netwatch twins, Aurore and Aymeric Cassel. This isn’t a boss fight with guns. It’s a boss fight with words. You’re sitting there, trying to scan their personalities so you can eventually impersonate them, while pretending to be a high-roller who belongs in a room full of war criminals and corporate sharks.
Aurore is the one who keeps you on your toes. She’s flirtatious, sharp, and clearly sees through half of what you’re doing. Aymeric is the stoic wall. If you don't play your cards right—literally and figuratively—you lose the chance to get the intel you need.
The dialogue tree here is intense. You have to balance being charming enough to keep them talking but cautious enough not to give yourself away. It’s one of the few times in the game where the "cool" stat feels like it actually matters for something other than crit chance. You’re looking for their behavioral imprints. The game tracks how you interact with them, and those choices dictate how smoothly the next phase of the plan goes.
Meeting Kurt Hansen
Then there’s Hansen. The man is a mountain. When he walks into the room, the energy shifts. He’s not a cartoon villain; he’s a pragmatist who carved a kingdom out of a combat zone. He knows you’re there. Or at least, he suspects you aren't who you say you are.
Talking to Hansen is a masterclass in tension. He’s polite, which is somehow more terrifying than if he were screaming. He talks about Dogtown like it's a social experiment. He talks about Songbird like she's a piece of hardware he's leased. It’s a reminder that in the world of Cyberpunk, people are just assets. You see the power dynamics of the NUSA vs. Barghest play out in real-time right there on the casino floor.
The Stealth and the Sound
Music plays a huge role in why this mission sticks in your head. The track "Braindance" or the pulse-pounding score by Marcin Przybyłowicz kicks in at exactly the right moments. When you’re sniping, the music is low and rhythmic. When you’re on the floor, it’s a distorted, futuristic lounge vibe.
And then there's the escape.
After you’ve got what you need, the mask starts to slip. The tension that’s been building for the last hour finally boils over. Whether you go out quiet or leave a trail of bodies, the feeling of "we barely made it" is universal. It contrasts so sharply with the elegance of the party that it leaves you feeling a bit dizzy.
Why This Mission Defines Phantom Liberty
A lot of people compare Phantom Liberty to The Witcher 3's Blood and Wine. It’s a massive tonal shift. You Know My Name is the peak of that shift. It moves away from the "merc for hire" loops and leans into the political thriller genre. It asks if you can ever really trust a government that views you as a tool.
It also highlights the tragedy of Songbird. You see her in her element—manipulating, surviving, and being the center of attention—and you realize how much she’s suffering under the surface. The tech she’s using is literally hollowing her out. It’s bleak.
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Technical Tips for a Smooth Run
If you’re heading into this quest, don't just rush the main objective. There’s a lot of environmental storytelling hidden in the Black Sapphire. Listen to the NPCs. You’ll hear bits and pieces about the global political climate and the internal power struggles within Barghest.
- Check your gear: You’ll be forced into formal wear for part of the mission, but make sure your actual combat loadout is optimized before you enter the tunnels. You won't have a chance to change once the action starts.
- The Scan: When you're at the table with the twins, pay attention to their "tells." Aurore leans in when she’s interested; Aymeric shuts down when he’s bored. Matching their energy helps the scan reach 100% faster.
- Don't skip the drinks: If you interact with the environment, you get more dialogue options. Buy a drink. Talk to the guests. It makes the "infiltrator" role-play feel way more authentic.
What Most People Miss
The most interesting thing about You Know My Name is how it foreshadows the ending of the DLC. The way Reed handles the twins—and the way Alex looks at you when the plan starts to get dirty—tells you everything you need to know about the moral bankruptcy of the FIA. They aren't the "good guys." They’re just the ones paying you.
If you look closely at the guest list, there are names that pop up in other side quests throughout Night City. It’s a small detail, but it makes the world feel connected. It reminds you that while Dogtown is walled off, the rot of the city flows freely through the gates.
Actionable Strategy for Players
To get the most out of this experience, I’d suggest playing it late at night with headphones. The sound design is incredible.
- Save before the casino floor. You’ll want to try different dialogue options with the twins just to see how they react. Some of the best writing in the game is hidden in the "failed" or snarky responses.
- Focus on the behavioral sync. If you want the "perfect" run, you need to be observant. Don't just click through the blue dialogue options. Listen to what they're actually saying.
- Reflect on your choices. After the mission, talk to Johnny. His perspective on the whole "spy game" is cynical, sure, but he’s often the only one telling you the truth about the situation you’ve gotten yourself into.
Ultimately, this mission isn't just a point on a map. It’s the moment V stops being a street kid and starts playing in the big leagues. And in Night City, the big leagues usually mean you're one step away from a shallow grave.
The next time you load up Phantom Liberty, take your time with this one. Don't fast-travel. Walk into the Black Sapphire and feel the weight of the choices you're about to make. It’s one of the few times a video game actually makes you feel like the most dangerous person in the room—and the most vulnerable at the same time.