Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Developer Recounts Narrative Construction
The development of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty began with the game's ending, with the narrative being constructed in reverse. Designers aimed to make the consequences of player choices clearer than in the base game.
To mark the third anniversary of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, CD Projekt Red's associate game director and lead quest designer, Paweł Sasko, shared details about its development. Sasko revealed that the expansion's narrative was constructed in reverse, starting from its ending.
Sasko acknowledged that the development of Phantom Liberty aimed to avoid the issues that plagued the original Cyberpunk 2077's troubled launch. The development team transitioned to a new organizational model, employing multidisciplinary 'pods' that collaborate on specific content sections. This approach facilitated smoother teamwork and improved the final product.
The expansion's plot, featuring Idris Elba in a significant role, drew inspiration from various spy thrillers, including works by John le Carré, the James Bond franchise, and the Jason Bourne films. The team utilized spy genre elements as a practical tool to create an immersive experience within the game world.
A core focus of development was the impact of player choices. Specifically, V (the protagonist) must decide whether to save Songbird or Alex Reed. This decision was pivotal and served as the starting point for building the narrative. The team wanted to ensure that the consequences of player choices were clear and felt natural within the game world, conveyed through elements like text messages, photographs, or different quest routes.