Johnny Silverhand is arguably Cyberpunk 2077's most popular NPC by a long shot. Voiced by and made in the charming visage of Keanu Reeves, his rebellious and morally gray attitude has led him to become a very striking character. With that said, this could also become somewhat of an issue for the Phantom Liberty DLC.
Though fans loved his appearance in Cyberpunk 2077's base game, Johnny Silverhand's character may be to striking for his own good. There is a possibility that his continued inclusion could dilute the focus of the story. He would ultimately become a looming presence over the narrative, and not in a good way.
The Problem With Johnny Silverhand's Inclusion in Cyberpunk 2077's DLC
Cyberpunk 2077's Johnny Silverhand is an irrational and impulsive character, which often lent itself well to his rebellious nature. His hatred of both the government and corporations was only made tenfold by these character traits, making him the ultimate rockerboy. For that reason, Johnny Silverhand's input in the Phantom Liberty DLC will likely be quite important. The actions the player takes may then greatly affect their relationship with Johnny during those playthroughs.
The main possible issue is that Johnny Silverhand's character arc was already explored throughout the base game. The player could partake in all of his side quests before the end of the game, fully exploring his story and personality. For that reason, his future inclusion could become more so excessive than something that adds to the experience of playing the game. Players already know about many of the things Cyberpunk 2077's Johnny Silverhand did throughout his life, so Phantom Liberty may not add anything of value. With that said, there are some ways that Johnny Silverhand's inclusion could bring some good things.
The player's actions throughout the Phantom Liberty DLC could change the outcome of the possible endings to Cyberpunk 2077 the player can receive, perhaps even adding new ones. For example, getting the Sun and Temperance endings are largely dependent on the player's relationship level with Johnny Silverhand. But for something like this to happen, players will have to pay attention to their dialogue options with Johnny throughout the DLC. Having this level of focus on the character may have negative ramifications on the DLC's story, such as taking away moments that should belong to other characters, such as Idris Elba's character, Solomon Reed.
But with that said, it may be impossible to incorporate the DLC without having Johnny Silverhand present to some extent. After all, there is no ending where the player can continue to the game after Johnny Silverhand has been wiped from V's mind. This would mean that Johnny Silverhand has to be present to some degree, and it will likely be as a lingering shadow that reminds the player of their other priorities. CD Project Red will need to play a delicate balancing act between Johnny Silverhand's demanding personality and the overall story being presented in Phantom Liberty. While nothing is known about how they will approach it, Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty DLC has a tough act to follow.
Still, many players will likely not be upset with the further inclusion of Johnny Silverhand. After all, Keanu Reeves' voice acting and personality make him a beloved figure in gaming too, even if that might trap Phantom Liberty between a rock and a hard place.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
