Cyberpunk 2077 in 2026: State of the Game, Phantom Liberty & Sequel News

Cyberpunk 2077 is now officially feature-complete. After a redemption arc that saw sales top 35 million copies by early 2026, CD Projekt Red has shifted its primary development focus to the sequel, Project Orion. For players jumping in today, the Ultimate Edition represents the finished vision of Night City, combining the massive 2.0 overhaul with the critically acclaimed Phantom Liberty expansion. For a full breakdown of guides and lore, visit our 🎮 Cyberpunk 2077 Game Hub.

We are uncovering the finalized gameplay mechanics, the impact of the Phantom Liberty storyline, and the current roadmap for the franchise's future.

Key Takeaways (2026 Status)

• Feature Complete: The game is in legacy support mode. No further expansions are planned after Phantom Liberty.
• Unified Experience: Update 2.1 finalized the metro system, radio ports, and romantic hangout events.
• Tech Transition: CD Projekt Red has retired the REDengine. Future Cyberpunk titles will be built on Unreal Engine 5.
• Sequel Status: Project Orion is in active development at CDPR Boston (pre-production confirmed May 2025).

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Phantom Liberty: The Definitive Expansion

Released in September 2023, Phantom Liberty remains the sole expansion for Cyberpunk 2077. It introduces Dogtown, a lawless district within Pacifica, and shifts the genre from mercenary RPG to spy-thriller. This expansion unlocks a new ending for the base game, offering a distinct conclusion to V's story.

The expansion is available exclusively on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, bypassing the technical limitations of previous-gen hardware. If you are playing the Ultimate Edition, this content is seamlessly integrated into the mid-game campaign.

Exclusive Features

Owning Phantom Liberty unlocks the Relic Skill Tree, adding combat capabilities like:

• Jailbreak: Unlocks new special attacks for Arm Cyberware (Mantis Blades, Gorilla Arms, etc.).
• Emergency Cloaking: Allows optical camo to drop aggro during combat.
• Vulnerability Analytics: Highlights weak points in enemy armor and cyberware.

Vehicle Combat & Police System (Update 2.0)

The 2.0 update fundamentally changed how Night City feels. Vehicle combat is now a core mechanic, allowing players to fire handguns and SMGs while driving, or utilize vehicle-mounted machine guns and rockets on weaponized Nomad cars. Netrunners can also hack enemy vehicles to force emergency brakes or trigger self-destruction.

The MaxTac police system is now dynamic. If you reach a 5-star wanted level, the game spawns a MaxTac mini-boss squad, providing a genuine endgame challenge that was missing at launch.

Keanu Reeves & Idris Elba

Phantom Liberty features two Hollywood heavyweights. Keanu Reeves reprises his role as Johnny Silverhand, with new dialogue and interactions specific to the Dogtown storyline. Joining him is Idris Elba as Solomon Reed, an FIA sleeper agent. The narrative friction between Reed's loyalty to the NUSA and Johnny's anarchism drives the emotional core of the expansion.

Project Orion: The Sequel (2026 Update)

With Cyberpunk 2077 complete, all eyes are on the sequel, codenamed "Project Orion."

Current Status: The game moved into pre-production in May 2025. It is being developed by CD Projekt Red's new North American studio in Boston. Unlike 2077, which ran on the proprietary REDengine, Orion is being built on Unreal Engine 5. This switch is expected to streamline development and reduce the technical debt that plagued the original's launch.

Release Window: Based on current production cycles, a release window is estimated between 2028 and 2030.

Witcher Crossover Content

While a full narrative crossover never materialized, CDPR included several Easter eggs connecting the worlds. Players who own The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on GOG or linked platforms can claim the Gwynbleidd (White Wolf) sword and a Witcher-themed leather jacket in V's apartment stash.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in the Ultimate Edition?

The Ultimate Edition includes the base game of Cyberpunk 2077, the Phantom Liberty expansion, and all free updates (up to version 2.1).

Is the game still buggy in 2026?

The game is highly polished compared to its launch state. Major crash issues and game-breaking bugs have been resolved, though minor visual glitches may still occur in a dense open world.

Will there be a Cyberpunk 2077 Season 2?

No. CDPR has confirmed Phantom Liberty is the only expansion. The next entry in the franchise will be the full sequel, Project Orion.

Is the 2.0 Update available on PS4/Xbox One?

No. Update 2.0 and Phantom Liberty are exclusive to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Last-gen consoles are capped at version 1.61.

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