Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC: Release date, story details, more

Eleni Thomas
Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty

Cyberpunk 2077 got its first and only expansion with the Phantom Liberty DLC. After the rocky base launch, the new offering will hopefully satisfy players in continuing the game’s story: we’ve got the latest on Phantom Liberty’s release date, story, trailers, and more.

Cyberpunk 2077 was first released in December 2020, with the launch of the game going less than smoothly for developer CD Projekt Red. Now almost two years later, the game has mostly been patched and fixed up, no longer suffering from the game-breaking issues it had on release.

In September 2022, CD Projekt Red confirmed Cyberpunk 2077 will finally be getting its first DLC content. The expansion, Phantom Liberty, will bring with it a new setting, new content, and much more. 

However, those playing the game on PS4 and Xbox One, we’ve got some bad news for you. The DLC will only be arriving on current-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles.

Here’s everything we know about Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty DLC including it’s release date, story details, and more.

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Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty release date

Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty will release on September 26, 2023, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Developers CD Projekt Red announced the release date of the DLC at Xbox Games Showcase 2023.

The reveal was made through a release trailer which featured several more details about the DLC and how will it tie in with the main storyline of Cyberpunk 2077.

Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077
Johnny Silverhand returns to the action with V in Phantom Liberty.

Price for Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC

Although fans were hopeful that the Phantom Liberty DLC would be a free add-on, as was the case for the recent Edgerunners DLC, that is not the case. Pre-orders for the upcoming DLC have started on the CD Projekt Red website as well as eligible platforms where players will be able to purchase it for a price point of $30 as a paid add-on to the core game.

Story details for Phantom Liberty DLC

According to CD Projekt Red, Phantom Liberty is a new spy-thriller adventure for Cyberpunk 2077. Players will return as cyber-enhanced mercenary V and embark on a high-stakes mission of espionage and intrigue to save the NUS President.

In the dangerous district of Dogtown, they must forge alliances within a web of shattered loyalties and sinister political machinations. The newly launched trailer for the DLC begins with a NUS intelligence analyst named Songbird who contacts V and promises them to provide a cure for their illness if they help the NUSA with a crucial mission.

Idris Elba in Cyberpunk 2077
Idris Elba plays a NUSA sleeper agent in Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty.

The trailer features a brand new area in Night City as well as weapons that players will use at their disposal. Moreover, Idris Elba is revealed as a NUSA sleeper agent called Solomon Reed who is hinted at as a grey character and might not be as trustworthy as Johnny Silverhand.

The Samurai rockstar returns to the lore as he helps V navigate the chaos in this spy thriller which will open new opportunities for players to experience the game like never before.

According to CD Projekt Red, the DLC will introduce a new skill tree and abilities for players to employ as a brawler, netrunner, or ruthless mercenary. In the former trailers, Silverhand can also be heard scolding protagonist V after they are heard taking an oath to “faithfully serve the New United States of America.”

Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty trailer

The first minute-long teaser trailer announcing the Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC dropped in September 2022 and can watched here.

The trailer gives players a taste of what they can expect from the upcoming expansion, with gameplay, cutscenes, and a bit of voice-over from Johnny Silverhand all included.

In another update, CD Projekt Red announced a new radio station, GrowlFM, and it will be hosted by Ash, played by none other than Twitch streamer Sasha Grey.

Players are also being asked to submit their own music tracks for Growl FM. The top 12-15 tracks will be featured on the radio station with an additional $3,000 cash prize reward.

And during The Game Awards 2022, they released their second official trailer for the Phantom Liberty DLC, which introduced Idris Elba as Solomon Reed, an FIA Agent for the NUSA.

The official story and launch trailer for the Phantom Liberty DLC was announced on Xbox Games Showcase 2023 on June 11 which gave players crucial details about the story and unravels the much awaited spy thriller in action.

On September 14, 2023, the official cinematic trailer for the expansion was released. It centered on Idris Elba’s character Solomon Reed committing espionage aboard a train, seven years prior to the events of Phantom Liberty. The video then depicts Elba’s character in “007 mode” as he escapes an ambush after being betrayed by his partner Songbird, who plays a vital role in designating V missions in the DLC.

Now that the trailer has dropped one of the major bombs regarding the lore and Solomon’s motives, it will be fairly interesting to see how the character’s actions play out in the Phantom Liberty expansion.

CD Projekt Red dropped the official launch trailer on September 25, 2023, a day before the release of the Phantom Liberty expansion. The trailer includes several voice lines from some of the main characters of the expansion like Songbird, Johnny Silverhands, Solomon Reed, and more.

It also shows how Dogtown, the new area of the expansion, looks with new points of interest, weapons, a brilliant background score, and an idea of how the story takes shape that will decide the fate of V and other characters.

Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty gameplay features

At Gamescom 2023, the official gameplay features were unveiled in a 3-minute-long trailer showcasing all the new additions arriving with the Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC and the free update 2.0 for the base game on PC and consoles.

The trailer begins by showcasing the new weaponry that players will have access to in order to combat cyber-psychos and other enemies in the game. Whether it’s a powerful marksman rifle or a Katana fused with a monowire, the DLC will allow V to go on a killing rampage unlike any other.

Phantom Liberty will also introduce a new overclocking feature to Cyberware mods, allowing players to unleash V’s full potential while engaging in combat in Night City. Numerous new perks, including Air Dash, a variety of Finishers, and the ability to deflect bullets with a Katana and draw V closer to enemies, will be added.

If you are a ruthless Netrunner enjoying the chaos with Johnny’s relic in your head, a bunch of new Relic perks like Spatial Mapping, Limiter Removal, and Launch Override will be introduced with Phantom Liberty. In addition to the other thrilling additions, the game will also feature a vast array of new vehicles that V can use to navigate Night City.

A user on X observed that the icons for forthcoming Skill Tree features in the game contain silhouettes of Cyberpunk Edgerunners anime characters David, Lucy, and Rebecca. This could be a further indication that the DLC content the players may receive, might also contain references to the anime.

The highlight of the upcoming features, however, will be vehicular combat, in which players will be able to inflict wrath using the weapons mounted to their cars, remotely hacking enemy vehicles, and even firing while leaning out of a car window during a chase.

These features will not only be a part of the upcoming expansion but will also be offered to owners of the base game for absolutely free.

That’s everything you need to know about the Phantom Liberty DLC! For more on the expansion, check out our content below:

How to defeat Chimera | All Phantom Liberty trophies | Best Cyberpunk 2077 builds for 2.0 update | How to enter Capitan Caliente restaurant | How to get Thermal Katana | How to play Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty DLC | Can you play Phantom Liberty without owning base game? | Should you finish Cyberpunk 2077 before Phantom Liberty? | Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty PC requirements | Best builds | All Perks | All Relic Skills | Which parts of Phantom Liberty DLC are free? | All new weapons | How to claim Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Witcher rewards | Who is Solomon Reed in Phantom Liberty?

About The Author

Eleni is a Melbourne-based journalist. Having completed her Bachelor's in communication (Journalism) at RMIT University, Eleni is now a Senior Writer for the Dexerto Australia team. A big Nintendo fan (with a Triforce tattoo to prove it) and a lover of the zombie genre, Eleni covers gaming, entertainment as well as TV and movies for the site. She is also passionate about covering Queer and female representation. Contact Eleni at eleni.thomas@dexerto.com