During the Xbox Showcase over the weekend, we got to look into the eyes of Keanu Ree-I mean, we got to catch a look at the new DLC for Cyberpunk 2077; Phantom Liberty.
While it shows off a new spy-inspired, thrilling storyline featuring next-in-line-James-Bond Idris Elba and a whole new area for players to play in, it completely forgot to mention that the DLC comes with upgrades to the core of the actual Cyberpunk 2077 game.
According to VGC, who’s had access to a “behind-closed-doors” demo and to Pawel Sasko, the quest director over at CD Projekt Red, the Phantom Liberty DLC is a complete upgrade to the Cyberpunk 2077 game, and players with the base game only will get to experience it as well.
Pawel says that before he leaves for the US to form a team that will work on the sequel, he wants to leave the game in the best shape he can. He talks to VGC about how CDPR have completely overhauled the game’s core systems, from the tech and skill trees to the vehicle combat and even the AI of the NPCs as well.
“We’ve also greatly expanded AI and completely redone the police system, which is rebuilt from the ground up and now has multiple levels with multiple archetypes of enemies who will chase you – ” says Pawel, and he goes on to explain that in Dog Town, the new area for Phantom Liberty, it’ll be different. This hints that Dog Town might be policed by some underground gangs rather than the actual police.
They’ve added in different enemy archetypes, they’ve reworked the gameplay loop, changed the difficulty scale and the loot drops and even reworked the UI for the game. Pawel says that enemies, as well as followers, have a new AI that they can use. “When you play the base game versus Phantom Liberty, you will see the difference. For example, there are car chases that happen dynamically when factions fight.”.
When it comes to the skill trees, the game has been updated to contain more usable abilities rather than just straight stat increases. Examples include a dash, bullet deflection and executions. You’ll then have modifiers for each ability ala-Diablo4 style. CDPR has also included a new “Relic” tree, adding “twists” to your already installed Cyberware. Speaking of, the DLC will include a Cyberware limiter. This is a reflection on cyber-psychosis and how installing too much gear will drive you crazy, however, Pawel says that they have not allowed the player to hit cyber-psychosis themselves. (Yet? Maybe.)
The new vehicular combat will now allow players to swing their katanas at enemies from bikes, fully open up car doors for a more involved gunfight from the seat and even drive vehicles with weapons already attached to them. You can bet I’m about to be riding around in my cyber-Porsche with a whole canon strapped to the bonnet. This vehicle re-design also means that vehicles will have weak spots which can be used to your advantage or detriment if your enemies know where to shoot.
I can only assume that CDPR didn’t punt all these updates as hard because of the original take on Cyberpunk 2077 when it launched. I had a great time in Night City the first time around, even if I didn’t actually get to finish the game, and I’m definitely going to be giving Phantom Liberty a spin to feel the true way that CDPR wants us to experience the game.