This article contains spoilers for Cyberpunk 2077's endings.
The story experience of Cyberpunk 2077 is a massive one, with the bustling world of Night City being reflected in the sheer amount of narrative content that is available to the player. As an RPG, the power lies in the player's hands to shape the story of the title, ultimately leading to a staggering number of different endings that can range drastically in terms of how they leave the characters, factions, and locations of the game.
The broad narrative range in Cyberpunk 2077's different endings makes it difficult for fans to agree upon a "canon" ending, and this could have huge implications for any future projects to fall under the franchise name. As CD Projekt Red looks towards new releases for Cyberpunk, such as its confirmed sequel codenamed Project Orion, the studio may find itself narratively limited thanks to the amount of freedom it gave fans to write their own stories in Cyberpunk 2077.
How Cyberpunk 2077's Sequel Can Shake Up The Original's Crafting System
Like many open-world games, Cyberpunk 2077 features a crafting system, and like many crafting systems, it leaves a lot to be desired.
CD Projekt Red Needs to Make Some Bold Story Decisions For Cyberpunk 2077's Sequel
In all, Cyberpunk 2077 features a staggering seven unique endings that players can achieve, each being triggered by different key decisions that can be made throughout its long-spanning story. Most of these endings pertain to different ways that V, the game's protagonist, can choose to navigate the end of their life, having huge implications for the world of Cyberpunk going forward.
The differences between these endings can see V rise to become Night City's most legendary fixer, the Araska Corporation be taken down, V committing suicide, escaping Night City with Panam, or even allowing Johnny Silverhand to completely take over V's body. It will be difficult to navigate this narrative range going forward, with Cyberpunk 2077's expansion, Phantom Liberty, already showing how constricted CD Projekt Red might be going forward.
As the only major story expansion for Cyberpunk 2077, Phantom Liberty makes the choice to take place roughly halfway through the main narrative of the game, allowing another storyline to be told before the huge stakes of the title's finale. Interestingly, Phantom Liberty even offered a brand-new ending to the main story of 2077, further complicating the future lore of the franchise.
Project Orion Can Still Shine Despite Cyberpunk 2077's Many Endings
CD Projekt Red announced Project Orion in October 2022, being billed as a full sequel to 2077. However, with the many endings of the 2020 title, Project Orion may be forced into telling a completely different story, with the concept of a direct narrative sequel perhaps being completely off the table.
Of course, the Cyberpunk franchise has a wide base of lore to pull from for Project Orion, with there being a number of different locations and timelines that can wow fans just as much as 2077's Night City. The popular animated show Cyberpunk: Edgerunners showed how successful stories can be in the franchise's universe outside the influence of 2077's main plot, but the fact remains that it will be difficult for CD Projekt Red to manage the implications of the game's endings within Project Orion.
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.
Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.
Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades.
The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Publisher(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Engine
- REDengine 4
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- How Long To Beat
- 25 Hours
- Metascore
- 75
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
