Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty: The 2.0 Overhaul That Reshaped Night City

CD Projekt RED did not simply drop an expansion and call it a day. When Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty arrived on September 26, 2023, it came with the 2.0 update, a sweeping rework that touched nearly every system in Night City. By 2026, that update is old news in one sense — patches have come and gone — but its fingerprints are still all over every serious Cyberpunk build. For players who missed the reveal at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2023, here is the shape of the overhaul that changed V's story forever.

A Body That Fights Back

The old cyberware system got a full-body makeover. Players can equip cyberware for each body part, and that freedom comes with a nasty catch: Cyberpsychosis. If V overloads their body with too many augmentations, the game starts pushing back. According to the lore, that means berserk behavior — friend and foe alike become targets. In gameplay terms, it is risk vs reward, plain and simple. More tech can make V a monster, but it can also slap debuffs on them. Night City does not hand out power for free.

Perks, Perks, and More Perks

The perk system, once a straightforward RPG ladder, got reworked. The UI looks nothing like launch. New perks include:

• Finisher: Bladerunner

• Finisher: Savage Sling

• Bullet Deflect

• Opportunist

• Air Dash

• Pull!

• Deadeye

That is a mouthful, and it is only part of the story. Players can mix these with existing skills to build a V who deflects bullets, dashes through the air, and yanks enemies out of cover. The result is a combat sandbox that feels faster and meaner than the 2020 release.

The Relic Skill Tree

A brand-new Relic Skill Tree gives V abilities tied to the Relic chip — the stolen tech that carried Johnny Silverhand's Engram. Known skills include:

Skill	What it suggests
Launch Capacity Override	Temporary power beyond normal limits
Spatial Mapping	Blink between enemies
Limiter Removal	Push V past safe thresholds

These seem to temporarily overpower V and grant new abilities. Spatial Mapping, in particular, lets the protagonist blink between enemies, which diversifies combat in both the base game and Phantom Liberty. What that means for every build is something players are still debating.

Weapons From the Black Market

A bunch of new varied weapons appeared, many of them illegally sold across Night City's black market. The reference images show a wide spread of hardware, from compact sidearms to heavier options that look like they were assembled in a back-alley ripperdoc clinic. Players who love build crafting get more toys, and players who love chaos get more ways to make Night City traffic stop — permanently.

New Rides and Vehicular Combat

A bunch of new rides were added as well, seemingly as rewards for completing missions. These range from off-road vehicles and muscle cars to more luxurious options. Additionally, vehicular combat is a gameplay addition. These should bolster the player's base game vehicle lineups further. They can also use these in combat thanks to revamped police and vehicular weapons. Night City traffic has a temper, and now V can answer it in kind.

The Base Game Changed Too

Last but not least, many of these changes also came to the base version on current-gen platforms, just like the DLC. In 2026, that means PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S players can enjoy the overhaul even without buying Phantom Liberty. The expansion itself launched on September 26, 2023, and headed to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S only. The old PS4 and Xbox One versions were left out of the expansion, and by 2026 they are firmly in the rearview mirror.

Cyberpunk 2077 is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S, though the definitive experience lives on current-gen hardware. Phantom Liberty and the 2.0 update turned a rocky launch into a genuine comeback story. CD Projekt RED has since moved on to new projects, but Night City in 2026 still runs on the bones of this overhaul. For anyone returning, the message is simple: the game you remember from 2020 is not the game waiting for you now.