Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty's Hidden GTA San Andreas Easter Egg
Phantom Liberty and Cyberpunk 2077 dazzle with hidden Easter eggs, like Dogtown's Big Smoke GTA San Andreas tribute, showcasing CD Projekt Red's brilliance.
You know, as someone who's spent countless hours exploring Night City, I'm always amazed by the little details CD Projekt Red packs into their worlds. It's been a few years since Phantom Liberty launched, but the community is still uncovering its secrets. Just when I thought I'd seen everything in Dogtown, I stumbled upon a conversation online about a brilliant, hidden nod to a completely different open-world classic. Isn't it wild how these small touches create such a wonderful sense of connection between games we love?
Let me set the scene for you. Early in the Phantom Liberty story, you're tasked with contacting the enigmatic FIA agent Solomon Reed, played by the incredible Idris Elba. This happens during the 'Lucretia My Reflection' quest. Your path leads you to a derelict, forgotten restaurant in the heart of Dogtown. Inside, your objective is an ancient, yellow landline telephone. What follows is a short, almost humorous cutscene where Keanu Reeves's Johnny Silverhand, a digital ghost from the past, has to mime how to use a rotary phone to a thoroughly confused V. It's a moment of levity in an otherwise incredibly grim expansion. But here's the kicker—the real joke was hiding in plain sight on the phone itself the whole time!

A sharp-eyed player finally noticed it. Scrawled across the body of that yellow telephone is the entire, legendary fast-food order from Big Smoke in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. You remember it, right? That iconic, absurdly long request that starts with "Two number 9s, a number 9 large..." It's a line that transcended the game itself, becoming a cornerstone of gaming meme culture shortly after San Andreas dropped back in 2004. The sheer audacity of the order even gets a reaction from CJ and the gang in-game. Finding this etched onto a phone in a dystopian future bar is a masterclass in subtle, cross-generational referencing. It's not a flashy, in-your-face cameo; it's a quiet love letter for those who look closely enough.
This discovery really underscores the incredible attention to detail CD Projekt Red is known for. Phantom Liberty was their first and only major expansion for Cyberpunk 2077, and they clearly poured their hearts into making Dogtown feel alive with history and hidden stories. This Big Smoke Easter egg isn't an isolated case. Dogtown is littered with throwbacks to other works. Think about it:
-
References to CDPR's own library: You can find nods to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and the anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners scattered throughout the district.
-
The phone is a multi-functional Easter egg hub: That yellow telephone is more than just a Big Smoke tribute. It's an interactive secret!
| Dial This Number | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 911 | A unique, funny interaction with Johnny Silverhand triggers. |
| 617-555-6277 | The phone plays "Never Fade Away," a classic song by Johnny's band, Samurai. |
| 574-555-2377 | You'll hear a rendition of the main theme from The Witcher. |
Isn't it fantastic? A single, mundane object in a quest becomes a portal to multiple layers of fan service. It makes the world feel so much more tangible and lovingly crafted. In 2026, looking back at the support and content added to Cyberpunk 2077, it's clear that the team wanted to reward dedicated players who explore every nook and cranny. These aren't just random codes; they're conversations with the developers, little winks that say, "We love these things too."
So, what does this all mean for us as players? It turns a simple fetch-and-call quest into a memorable treasure hunt. That moment of recognition—seeing Big Smoke's order—creates a shared laugh across decades of gaming. It connects the lawless, gang-ruled streets of Los Santos in the early 2000s with the corporately dominated, neon-drenched hellscape of Dogtown. Both are worlds where chaos reigns and dark humor is a essential survival tool. This Easter egg does more than just reference a funny line; it acknowledges a shared cultural history among open-world game fans.
In the end, discoveries like this are why I keep coming back to games like Cyberpunk 2077. Long after the main story credits roll and the major endings are seen, the world holds onto its secrets, waiting for an eagle-eyed fan to shine a light on them. It's a testament to a development team that cares deeply about the experience they're creating, down to the tiniest line of text on a prop phone. So next time you're in a game, take a closer look at the environment. You never know what hilarious piece of gaming history might be hiding right under your nose, just waiting to be found. 🕵️♂️
Comments