Cyberpunk 2077 is full of hypersexualized advertisements due to one of the game’s main plot points about fighting against major companies, though one of those advertisements includes a playful nod to the Witcher series. The reference can be found on one of the Cyberpunk magazines, and it is sure to get a laugh out of fans.
Surprisingly enough, the reference has nothing to do with bathtub Geralt. The much-memed sequence of The Witcher’s protagonist in a bathtub was seen all over the internet after the release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and the joke was taken to new levels with bathtub scenes in the Netflix series and the release of a special bathtub Geralt figurine. Cyberpunk does not seem to be keeping the joke going, however, as its Witcher reference is a bit more obscure.
While players may be seeing another take on bathtub Geralt in Fall Guys, Cyberpunk 2077’s nudie magazines mention The Witcher through a connection to Nilfgaard as opposed to a specific character. The often villainous and antagonistic kingdom gets name-dropped in Cyberpunk 2077, though with a slight twist. The magazine’s title, MILFGAARD, is a clear play on the Nilfgaard name. With some dirty-minded fans jokingly using the phrase to describe Yennefer within The Witcher 3, this is a very clever reference on the part of CD Projekt Red.
While the appropriately futuristic woman on the magazine’s cover resembles nobody from the Witcher games, it is still fun to see a playful reference being made by CD Projekt Red about their past work. With Cyberpunk 2077 also pulling from The Witcher 3 in important gameplay areas as well, such as a free DLC plan for Cyberpunk that mirror’s Wild Hunt’s, the game is sure to keep fans playing for some time to come.
This clever Witcher reference being discovered is likely going to revive discussions around a Ciri cameo within the game, as the potential crossover has been brought up by fans for years. With the popular dimension-hopping character mentioning her travels to the Cyberpunk universe during the main story of The Witcher 3, fans have been hoping for an actual appearance from Ciri — or at the very least some easter eggs. Though CD Projekt Red has denied these requests and previously claimed she will not be mentioned in the game, despite narrating a Cyberpunk trailer from 2018, fans are still keeping their dreams of a cameo alive.
Cyberpunk 2077 is now just over a month away from release, so it will not be long before players are facing off against gangs while riding Keanu Reeves’ motorcycles. Based on the easter egg discovered by fans, players will likely notice an issue or two of MILFGARRD on their journeys through Night City.
Cyberpunk 2077 releases November 19 on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S support to follow.