Should You Regular Start Or Skip Ahead In Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC? (2025)

Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty DLC gives players two ways to get into the game: skip ahead to the new content, or start from scratch. The DLC is massive, expanding the Perk tree and cybernetic upgrades, while adding new story quests, new weapons, and new vehicles to Cyberpunk 2077. It's easy to see why someone would want to jump right into it, especially given the base game's once-lackluster reputation. It's undergone a lot of improvement since release, though, so blowing right past the main campaign might not be the best idea.

The game has seen many changes, most recently in the free 2.0 update to Cyberpunk 2077, which tweaks many of the systems under the hood. The 2.0 update reworks the game's Skill and Perk systems, adds new cyberware mechanics, improves enemy AI in combat, and adds the option for vehicular combat. All of this is present in the updated game from the very beginning, and there's no need to buy, install, or start the DLC to experience the changes. The new additions are great, and range from the long-awaited to the completely surprising, but do they really justify a whole repeat playthrough of Cyberpunk?

Related: "Electrifying, Emotional, And Full Of Twists" - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Review

Pros Of Skipping Ahead To Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty DLC

The main benefit of skipping ahead to the Phantom Liberty DLC is the most obvious one: it allows players to jump right into the new content without delay. Phantom Liberty doesn't start as soon as the new content is installed. It requires completion of a pretty significant portion of the main game to begin, activating automatically after the main quest "Transmission." While most Cyberpunk diehards will have almost certainly completed this mission by the time the DLC comes out, that won't be the case for everyone.

Many others gave Cyberpunk's early hours a shot, deciding for one reason or another that it wasn't for them before finishing up "Transmission." Skipping ahead gives anyone in that situation an easy way into the DLC, with no grinding or story catch-up required to get back into the game. It's easy enough to do, with an option on Cyberpunk's main menu that boots the game straight into Phantom Liberty.

Better yet, those who decide to jumpstart Phantom Liberty can design brand-new characters specifically to fit DLC. It's a spy thriller story, so its quests may necessitate a delicate touch. Stats and skills that level up stealth, netrunning, and vehicular combat may serve V well in the next chapters of the Cyberpunk saga. Starting a new game directly from the DLC is the perfect opportunity to create Night City's own tailor-made James Bond. Also, with heavy in-game references to the tie-in anime, Phantom Liberty may let Cyberpunk players portray edgerunners. If that's not who a player's character already is, they may want to redesign and hop right into the DLC.

Cons Of Skipping Ahead To Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty DLC

The biggest downside to skipping ahead is also the most obvious one: it means missing the entire opening section of the main campaign. While it's not clear whether players will be able to backtrack the early main quests before, during, or after Phantom Liberty, at the very least, this means going into the new content somewhat unaware. That could leave newcomers or long-absent revisitors to Night City totally lost, without the context of the game's basic systems, settings, and characters provided in early missions from the beginning of the DLC.

The main story isn't perfect, but there's plenty of good stuff in there, including the loot and gear rewarded for completing the first few quests. Plus, taking the plunge into Phantom Liberty means missing out on what the new update changes about those segments. Although it's probably fine for repeat players, skipping them isn't recommended for those trying Cyberpunk 2077 for the first time.

Skipping ahead to Phantom Liberty also means saying goodbye to V. That's right, respeccing is one-hundred percent necessary for everyone with the new update, but skipping ahead takes it a step further, requiring players to design a whole new character from the ground up. That might not be the worst thing, especially with the new Perks in the DLC, but those who are attached to their starting characters may not want to abandon them. Of course, it's always possible to simply recreate the same character, but they won't have all the experience afforded them by the introductory chapters when starting a new game.

Pros Of Starting Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty DLC Regularly

For those who are completely new to the game, starting Cyberpunk 2077 from the beginning is better than skipping ahead. Besides the general introduction to the world of the game and its basic systems, they'll also go into the DLC with a wealth of loot, XP, and Perks garnered from those early chapters.

But even for those who have completed enough of the base game to load their saves and start right in on the DLC, starting over wouldn't be the worst thing. It could allow them to explore some different builds, backgrounds, and quest choices the second time around, which could be a rewarding experience. After all, starting a new game for Phantom Liberty is the official recommendation of Cyberpunk developers CD Projekt Red.

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Holding off on Phantom Liberty may also be the more frugal option. Starting a new game doesn't require players to buy the DLC right away. Everything added in the 2.0 update is completely free, and everyone can reap the benefits simply by installing it. New players can buy the game at a discount, take their time with its main story, and then pick up the DLC when it goes on sale. Those who still haven't experienced the old content have no reason to rush into the new stuff. A little patience here can improve the Cyberpunk experience, and save a little money to boot.

Cons Of Starting Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty DLC Regularly

But waiting isn't always so easy, and many are eager to jump into Phantom Liberty even without having played the base game. Whether it's because they've already completed much of Cyberpunk's launch content, they're big fans of Edgerunners, or the DLC just sounds more interesting to them than the rest of the game, many a player will choose to skip straight to Phantom Liberty. It may mean missing out on a few things, but it saves a lot of time.

It's a fringe case, but say a player hasn't progressed their Cyberpunk campaign to the point they can start Phantom Liberty, and they're attached to the mechanics of their current V. If they do choose to resume their save and go through the main quest before starting the DLC, they'll still have to respec. In these rare cases, it may be best to start a brand-new file and relearn the system from the start instead of totally revamping the character. Respeccing isn't a huge deal, since it's possible (and free) to create a character who functions in basically the same way, but it's a hassle some might prefer to avoid.

Whether players should skip directly to Phantom LIberty depends on their experience with Cyberpunk to date. Those who are totally new to the game shouldn't skip the first few chapters, and are better off starting the game regularly and progressing until they unlock DLC. Those who have already played a significant amount of the main campaign should feel free to skip ahead, as long as they're okay with making a new character. Ultimately, the decision between starting Cyberpunk 2077 regularly or skipping ahead to Phantom Liberty comes down to each individual player.