It's no secret that CD Projekt Red's sci-fi shooter Cyberpunk 2077 hasn't had the smoothest of rides since release. During its long development, the first-person shooter generated a lot of buzz and excitement among the gaming community, and it looked as if Cyberpunk 2077 was set to be one of the defining games of a generation. However, with a mixture of inflated hype, undelivered developer promises, and a premature release, Cyberpunk 2077's release was peppered with disappointment and frustration. With technical issues and corner-cutting to avoid further delay, the game shipped in a sorry state, and controversy has surrounded Cyberpunk 2077 ever since.
Despite the problems that have continued to swirl around the game, Cyberpunk 2077 has had a slight redemption arc. With constant developer support post-launch, a multitude of patches to address graphical, technical, and gameplay issues, and the promise of free DLC as a thank you to fans, Cyberpunk 2077 has started to turn things around. For some, these fixes have come too late, but for others that appreciated the game's scope, design, and originality, they are improving an already great game. DLC could be a great opportunity to completely turn Cyberpunk 2077's fortunes around, and there are plenty of options when it comes to narrative content to explore.
What The Story DLC Could Entail
In addition to the free DLC for Cyberpunk 2077 that includes cosmetic items and other minor updates, CD Projekt Red has big plans when it comes to major expansions for the game. Although some felt that the game's story was a little lacking, others have praised the nuanced and surprisingly touching relationship between the player's V and rebellious rocker Johnny Silverhand, as well as some of the other interactions between Cyberpunk 2077's interesting characters.
With an exciting start to the tumultuous narrative, and a strong ending with weighty choices for gamers to contend with, Cyberpunk 2077 successfully pulled players into the wild world of Night City throughout the game. However, there are still lots of things that could be developed further through story DLC.
Cyberpunk 2077's various endings leave a lot of unanswered questions, and by offering an extra prologue through narrative DLC, the developers could help give V's story a proper and satisfying ending. One of arguably the worst fates for V is the Arasaka ending, which sees V in Arasaka Orbital Station in order to remove the engram. They're faced with the choice of permanently living inside Mikoshi like Johnny's previous fate, or returning to Earth to live out their few remaining days. The DLC could show the consequences of both of these options, either featuring a dark future of integration, or a bittersweet period of life on Earth before V's inevitable demise.
Exploring Life Outside Of Night City
Although the Nomad lifepath is a starting option for Cyberpunk 2077 players and there are a handful of side missions involving the clan, they're not as prominent a feature as other groups. The Badlands desert around Night City offers a striking contrast to the neon-lit streets of the troubled metropolis, and it's interesting to explore another side to the dystopian setting.
With the dust-battered buildings, patched-up vehicles, and hard-as-nails inhabitants, the areas just outside of Night City present lots of intriguing elements to delve deeper into. A narrative DLC that explores this important faction beyond Panam and the handful of Nomads that players meet could be a great opportunity to provide more depth to one of the game's most unique groups.
In addition to some Nomad-focused narrative DLC, the next major expansion could broaden the player's understanding of life outside the city in general. In the same way that fan-favorite and critically acclaimed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine transported players to an area outside the main game in a standalone story, Cyberpunk 2077's DLC could borrow this successful formula. If players were taken to a brand-new location untouched by the other major conflicts in the base game, developers could create a diverse environment with plenty of opportunities for a unique adventure.
Developing Side Characters
Among its colorful cast of characters, Cyberpunk 2077 has some really standout NPCs like the romanceable Judy and Panam, or short-lived allies like Jackie. Some characters feature more than others, and a few of them do get some backstory to flesh out their depictions, but there is definitely more that the developers could provide. Playable backstories for some of these key characters could be an option to not only explore who they are, but also witness previously unseen aspects of Night City as well.
The DLC could also focus on some of the villains that crop up in Cyberpunk 2077. While Adam Smasher may be a memorable enemy, players don't learn much about him beyond his unsettling appearance. Switching the focus to an enemy would open up a whole new world in Night City, with different allegiances and origins to the player's V. With so much pressure on the developers to deliver on the DLC, when Cyberpunk 2077 launches its first major expansion will be key. Fans will have to wait and see what aspect of Night City they'll be able to explore once it's released, but expectations are high for the next round of content.
Cyberpunk 2077 is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.