However, for whatPhantom Libertymanaged to do forCyberpunk 2077,it has solidified itself asoneof the all-time greats.
Released in September of last year,Phantom LibertybecameCyberpunk 2077’s first and only expansion and took the base game to a whole new district with a brand-new quest line.
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Featuring Idris Elba as Solomon Reed, the DLC added a touch of espionage to a spy-thriller story as we joined V on a mission to rescue the President of the New United States.
CD Projekt Red
Phantom Libertywas released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC in September 2023 and received critical acclaim with over five million copies sold since its launch.
So much acclaim that it was nominated for two awards at The Game Awards.
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So why wasPhantom Libertysuch a success?
Well, it is no secret thatCyberpunk 2077released in a bit of a sorry state.
With multiple bugs and glitches (many of which were game-breaking), the CD Projekt RED RPG was met with criticism at all angles, with Sony even taking it down from the PlayStation Store.
This was in 2020 and since then, its developers have been hard at work on makingCyberpunk 2077the game it is today.
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Thanks to multiple patches and fixes, the game has become one of the best RPGs of all time but that accolade was helped greatly thanks to Update 2.0 which arrived mere weeks beforePhantom Liberty’s release.
Update 2.0 offered a complete rework of cyberware mechanics, new weapons, items and cars, a perk overhaul, updated AI and more.
Quite frankly, this free update revolutionisedCyberpunk 2077three years on from release and laid the foundations forPhantom Liberty.
Fast forward another year andCyberpunk 2077,as a whole, has become best-known for its incredible comeback, thanks to its regular patches and fixes, updates, and its only DLC.
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CD Projekt Red
With development now packed up forCyberpunk 2077,CD Projekt Red has turned its attention to a sequel and fans are unsure how to feel.
Will its launch be as catastrophic as the OG game’s back in 2020 or will it be at the standardCyberpunk 2077is now from the get go?
That remains to be seen but one thing we can all agree on is thatPhantom Libertyremains one of the best DLCs out there and not just because it cementedCyberpunk 2077’s place in the top RPGs of all time.
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As mentioned,Phantom Libertytold a tale of espionage and turned the game into a spy-thriller more so than a standard action RPG.
The stakes were higher, especially considering we had to protect the President and for once, V’s looming mortality was not at the centre of our choices.
Instead, we had to pick a side: Solomon or Songbird and herein lies one of the hardest choices in gaming.
The DLC introduced new characters, a new map, a new questline and a new faction.
Enemies were bigger and better. Dogtown gave us a look into the underbelly of Night City and as always, corruption lurked in the undercurrent of the story, making it impossible for us to know who to trust.
CD Projekt Red
With multiple endings, including a new ending for the main story, every choice mattered and in a world where the wrong decision could mean the difference between life and death,Phantom Libertyadded a whole other level of unease.
Yes, it’s a detour from the story but an epic one at that and serves as another reminder of the corruption and hopelessness hidden beneath the facade of Night City.
SincePhantom Liberty’s release, there have been plenty of other major DLC releases such asShattered SpaceforStarfieldandShadow of the ErdtreeforElden Ringto name a few.
AlthoughShadow of the Erdtreeadded more story to an already incredible game andShattered Spaceadded… well, moreStarfield,I dare say that neither of them did for their respective games whatPhantom Libertydid forCyberpunk 2077.
Which is why, in my opinion,Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Libertyremains the best DLC in recent times, a year on.
Topics:CD Projekt Red,Cyberpunk 2077,Features,PC,PlayStation,Xbox,Opinion
