How to unlock Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC: Do you need to beat main story?

Nathan Warby
Female V with Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty logo

Being Cyberpunk 2077’s very first paid DLC, Phantom Liberty introduces fresh new content to the story. And if you are one of the many players who are wondering whether they need to beat the main campaign in order to play the DLC, here’s all you need to know.

Cyberpunk 2077 had a tough launch when it first arrived back in 2020, becoming one of the most notorious releases of all time. But in the years since, CD Projekt Red have released plenty of free updates to bring the game closer to what fans had imagined.

Releasing almost three years after the game’s launch, Phantom Liberty is a paid DLC that opens up a brand-new area of Night City called Dogtown and gives players even more skills and upgrades for the playable character V.

But those who never made it to the end of the main story back in 2020 will be wondering if they need to finish Cyberpunk 2077 to play the Phantom Liberty DLC. Here’s everything you need to know about how to access the expansion.

Do you need to beat Cyberpunk 2077 to play Phantom Liberty DLC?

No, you don’t need to beat Cyberpunk 2077 to play the Phantom Liberty DLC. The expansion becomes available during the middle of the campaign, so there’s no need to have seen any of the game’s endings to understand the new story missions.

In fact, it’s advised that you don’t complete the main story, as the new content actually unlocks a new ending to the base game that fans haven’t seen before.

cyberpunk 2077 phantom liberty logo
Phantom Liberty is the first paid DLC for Cyberpunk 2077.

In an interview with WCCFTech, Cyberpunk 2077 Game Director, Gabe Amatangelo, explained that the DLC itself has multiple endings, which then affects the adding of the original main story based on “your new relationships and characters and situations.”

This means that players who might have fallen off Cyberpunk 2077 after the shaky launch can still experience the new content without worrying about rushing through the story first.

How to unlock Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC in-game

Cyberpunk 2077 players can start the Phantom Liberty DLC after they reach the ‘I Walk The Line’ Quest in Act 2. This is the first time that the main story takes V to Pacifca, which is home to the new location of Dogstown in the paid expansion.

Once fans reach this Main Job, the first Phantom Liberty Quest will become available and they can begin exploring the new area.

Alternatively, just like The Witcher 3’s expansions, it’s also possible to jump straight into the Phantom Liberty DLC from the Cyberpunk 2077 main menu. However, this will require players to build a new character from scratch.

That was everything you need to know about how to access the Phantom Liberty DLC in Cyberpunk 2077. For more on Cyberpunk 2077, be sure to check out:

How long is Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty? | All new weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC | How to claim Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Twitch reward | Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty: Paid & Free Content Explained | Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty PC requirements | Who is Idris Elba’s Solomon Reed in Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC?

About The Author

Nathan is a Senior Writer at CharlieIntel. He’s an expert in EA Sports FC, Call of Duty, and Overwatch, as well as superhero games, including Marvel’s Spider-Man. With a master's degree in Magazine Journalism from Nottingham Trent University, he worked as a Trainee Reporter for Derbyshire Live before moving into games media, with bylines at Dexerto, Cultured Vultures, and more. You can contact Nathan by email at [email protected].