Finally Redeemed? Phantom Liberty Makes Cyberpunk 2077 the Game it Was Supposed to be

The original launch of Cyberpunk 2077 at the end of 2020 may be one of the most infamous game launches in recent memory. The new expansion, Phantom Liberty, which is set to launch September 26, seems to be a major step in the right direction. I got to play a hands-on demo at Summer Game Fest and here are my impressions of the new, and the only one, expansion to Cyberpunk 2077.

Phantom Liberty sets the protagonist, V, at the center of a political spy thriller story. The demo picked up as the president was landing in Night City, but of course, she didn’t end up landing. Air Force One is shot out of the sky and crashes in Dog Town, where enemy factions are out to either capture or kill the president. The player is tasked with getting to the crash site and keeping the president of NUSA safe.

Spy thriller it is, then.Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, CD Projekt RED, 2023

Decisions are about to be made.Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, CD Projekt RED, 2023

The gameplay escalates quickly: first, the player needs to navigate the busy streets of Dog Town before sneaking into the crash site, which has quickly been closed to the public. Stealth can get you far, but eventually, chances are a firefight will break out. Every moment, from watching the plane crash to infiltrating the crash site, was incredibly cinematic and noticeably free of any bugs or glitches. It was easy to forget during the demo that this game had ever launched with issues whatsoever.

Redemption?

The major takeaway after the demo is that the brief mission felt like how Cyberpunk 2077 was always meant to feel. Everything, from visuals to controls, felt smooth. Dog Town was full of small details and unique characters, and I’m sure if I took the time to look around, I would have heard a lot of interesting tidbits and spotted incredibly thoughtful details – but I did have a plane crash to reach. Playing this short demo at Summer Game Fest managed to change my perception of Cyberpunk 2077 from an ambitious game with a botched release, to an ambitious game that just needed more time before launch. Now, it has evidently had that time.

The developers at CD Projekt Red have been working hard to improve the quality of Cyberpunk 2077 in the many months since its original launch. There have been numerous patches to not only deal with game-breaking bugs, but also quality-of-life changes and general improvements to features of the game. After some serious problems initially, the game has managed to seriously improve its performance, and fans have taken notice. Phantom Liberty is poised to be the cherry on top of the sundae that Cyberpunk 2077 was always meant to be.

The game brings an entirely new location.Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, CD Projekt RED, 2023

Have you seen the president?Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, CD Projekt RED, 2023

Currently, Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty is the only planned expansion for the original title. It launches on September 26th for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S. Thanks to CD Projekt Red and Summer Game Fest for the opportunity to try out Phantom Liberty!