Cyberpunk 2077's upcoming Phantom Liberty DLC is expected to pull the franchise in a new direction. According to the expansion's announcement trailer, Phantom Liberty will be centered around V's involvement with conflicts in the Pacifica Combat Zone, leading them to make an alliance with the government of the New United States of America (NUSA). The DLC's purported spy-thriller themes will hopefully include more stealth-based gameplay - including the return of the Flathead. The Militech Flathead drone was instrumental to the first act of Cyberpunk 2077, but was only used during one mission.
The Flathead was usurped by numerous stealth-based quickhacks, skills, and enhancements that V could receive, which was a missed opportunity for varied gameplay. During the Cyberpunk 2077 story mission "The Heist," V and Jackie Welles use the drone to hack into Arasaka Tower as part of their mercenary work. Given V will be working with NUSA and has connections to Militech, there's ample possibility that the Flathead - and more tech like it - will reappear to accentuate the DLC's spy-thriller atmosphere.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Would Benefit From Adding More Advanced Spy Tech
One issue with the first act of Cyberpunk 2077 is that V and Jackie spend dozens of hours tracking down the Flathead, but only use it once. Its unique gameplay sets up a precedent for other advanced technology that is not fulfilled. Outside using the Flathead, the only time V seriously interacts with technology beyond implants is when they are riding in the Basilisk with Panam Palmer. In Phantom Liberty, V will be teaming up with FIA and NUSA agent Solomon Reed - played by Idris Elba. While it's unknown what kind of spy missions V will be taking on, Militech may provide another Flathead to use.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty also has a chance to introduce new technology not seen before in the main game. Outside of spy drones like the Militech Flathead, players could see espionage technology unique to the Cyberpunk universe, perhaps some of what Arasaka assassins use in the base game. Since Militech has near-limitless funding from NUSA and serves as the world's largest weapon manufacturer, CD Projekt Red could go nuts by using various new pieces of technology to make gameplay more dynamic and challenging.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Could Have Drone Gameplay Akin to Other RPGs
While Cyberpunk 2077 introduces players to a sophisticated, futuristic world, other RPGs have included hacking in similar ways. In Watch_Dogs 2, Marcus Holloway has a "Quadcopter" drone that can be used to surveil and hack locations remotely. Similarly, in Marvel's Spider-Man Peter Parker can use a "Spider-Drone" to attack enemies automatically and move through indoor areas silently. Phantom Liberty could innovate on these kinds of existing mechanics further, as there's no reason why V could not employ the help of combat drones - akin to those used by Militech in the past - to fight his enemies.
Another potential element of drone-based gameplay could be carrying and deploying a miniature version of the Flathead as a means of scoping out the battlefield when simple camera hacking is not an available option. Some Cyberpunk 2077 modders have created unique content based around building personal droids and allowing V to equip a particular operating system that directs companion drones. This adds an entirely new aspect of gameplay with existing technology, and Phantom Liberty could take inspiration by adding more advanced tech.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
