Do you need to finish Cyberpunk 2077 before starting Phantom Liberty?

Amlan Roy | 29/09/2023
An image showing a screenshot from Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty

Phantom Liberty is the latest paid DLC for Cyberpunk 2077 that brings fresh content to the RPG. However, this content can be accessed through a specific mission and this article will tell you exactly how to start the DLC.

Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty adds a new location called Dogtown and includes various activities and stories to explore. Additionally, the expansion brings different in-game items that can be acquired by the DLC owners.

Incidentally, people who have already purchased the DLC might face some issues while accessing the content.  However, this carefully compiled explainer will help you reach Dogtown and enjoy every single activity Phantom Liberty has to offer.

Do you need to finish the base story to start the DLC?

No, you don’t have to finish the story of Cyberpunk 2077 to start the Phantom Liberty DLC. If you have finished the game by completing the ‘Point of No Return’ mission, you cannot access this expansion. However, you can start over with a new save and use the ‘Skip Ahead To Phantom Liberty’ to start the DLC.

On the other hand, players who are starting from scratch have to keep progressing in the main campaign. After completing Mission 17: Transmission, players will be able to access the DLC after receiving a call from Songbird. From there, you have to start the ‘Dog Eat Dog’ mission and kick off Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty.

How to begin Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC

To play Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty, you must first install the Update 2.0 and purchase the DLC. If you have auto-updates enabled on the platform of your choice, there is a high chance it is already installed. With that said, here’s how you can start the DLC:

  • If you are starting the game with a new save, keep playing campaign missions until you reach the story quest ‘Transmission.’ However, if you have already finished the base game, you have to open a save file before the mission ‘Point of No Return’ to access the DLC.
  • Once that is done, wait for a call from an NPC named Songbird. This call will be an invitation to Dogtown where the DLC storyline kicks off.
  • Find the quest saying ‘Dog Eat Dog’ and go to Dogtown to start Phantom Liberty.

After purchasing the game, you also have the option to skip the main story till a point to kick off the DLC. This is only recommended for players who have already completed the game and don’t know the story of the main quest.

However, on taking this option, players will be granted a loaded inventory full of various items, cyberwares, and more. Additionally, it should be noted that the Relic Skill Tree will only be available after starting the DLC. In case you can not find the menu, this might be a helpful tip for you.

Post Edited By: Shraman Mitra
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About the author

Amlan Roy

Amlan is an Esports and Game Journalist currently employed at The SportsRush. Before becoming a writer, he completed his Media studies at iLead Kolkata, India. He has been well acquainted with video games since he started gaming at the age of 8. He dived into the world of blogging in 2021 and wrote over 1000 articles across various media houses like Sportskeeda, GGTalks, and Spiel Times. He is also experienced with film and music apart from gaming.

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