Cyberpunk 2077 players know that V can make a lot of bold choices throughout the game. From breaking into Arasaka Tower to working with infamous mercenary Johnny Silverhand, almost everything that happens in Cyberpunk 2077 occurs because of an action V took or did not take. What remains to be seen is how the main game's events will affect the plot of the upcoming DLC, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. It's still true that V will be instrumental in the events of the expansion - but they might not be as heroic as they seem.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is highly anticipated by fans, both for the high-octane "spy-thriller" storyline introduced in the release trailer and for vastly expanding the in-game world. According to rumors about Phantom Liberty, the DLC will take place in the "Pacifica Combat Zone" - an area that is off-limits during the events of Cyberpunk 2077. The Combat Zone is rife with crime and may also be the battleground for an imminent - and ruthless - government crackdown. Cyberpunk 2077 doesn't tell players that V's actions against Arasaka might have caused this potential government siege.
Arasaka Might Be V's Enemy, But They Keep Night City Free
One of the defining features of Cyberpunk 2077 is that almost every mega-corporation, gang, and citizen of Night City operates in a morally gray area. While Cyberpunk 2077 takes players along as V and Johnny Silverhand deal catastrophic damage to Arasaka - through revenge, survival, or both - the game doesn't allude to the consequences. Some Cyberpunk fans may be unaware that Arasaka is a big reason why Night City and the "Free States" have remained free from the government of the New United States of America (NUSA). Before the events of Cyberpunk 2077, Night City was constantly under threat of outside corporate and political influences.
In fact, during the Unification War - predating the events of Cyberpunk 2077 - Night City was under threat of being invaded by NUSA and its corporate ally, Militech. The impending invasion was only thwarted through the actions of Councilman Lucius Rhyne, who convinced Saburo Arasaka - a surprising supporter of the Free States - and Cyberpunk 2077's Arasaka Corporation to defend Night City against the attack. Arasaka achieved a significant foothold in Night City in the aftermath of the Treaty of Unification. As a result, Arasaka Tower was constructed as the main headquarters for the company's dealings across the entire continent.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty May Illustrate The Impact of V's Self-Saving Decisions
What might make Cyberpunk 2077 unique is that V is not necessarily a hero. Instead, much of their storyline revolves around saving themselves from the consequences of Johnny Silverhand and the Relic biochip. What is established in the late stages of the game is that V can launch a major assault on Arasaka Tower in an attempt to separate themselves from Johnny. Although, Cyberpunk 2077 does not go into the consequences of destabilizing Arasaka at that moment. In fact, between the death of Saburo Arasaka and the destruction of Arasaka Tower, V's life-saving crusade could have been enough to cripple the company's influence in Night City altogether.
Without Arasaka's influence in Night City, The events of Phantom Liberty could be centered around NUSA and Militech successfully invading Night City without opposition. This could explain the emphasis on government, patriotism, and military occupation that seems to be driving the Phantom Liberty release trailer. It would also correlate Militech's connection to NUSA with their long-standing hatred of Arasaka. The introduction of Idris Elba as NUSA agent Solomon Reed - and V's allegiance to NUSA - might be a ruse to make V seem like a villain. Instead, the purported "spy-thriller" elements of Phantom Liberty might stem from V secretly working to atone for their actions.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
