In 2026, a first-time player named Lena found herself frozen on the start screen of Cyberpunk 2077. She had read the old horror stories about the 2020 launch—glitches, unbalanced combat, broken promises—but she had also heard how CD Projekt Red spent years repairing the damage. Update 2.0 and the Phantom Liberty expansion had transformed the game into something critics and fans finally celebrated. Now Lena faced a strange modern dilemma: should she begin with the original Lifepath prologue, or press the tempting “skip ahead to Phantom Liberty” button? It was no longer a question of whether the game was worth playing. It was a question of where the real Night City story should begin.
The redemption arc mattered. Many gamers still remembered the abysmal debut, when Cyberpunk 2077 arrived riddled with glitches and unbalanced combat. But CD Projekt Red did not duck their heads in embarrassment. They patched, updated, and rebuilt. The massive 2.0 update overhauled combat, perks, AI, and progression. Phantom Liberty then added a gritty spy-thriller storyline set in Dogtown. By the time Lena started her run in 2026, the conversation had shifted from “is it fixed?” to “how should a new player actually start?”
The Weight of the Original Opening
Before Phantom Liberty existed, every player had to walk the same slow road. Cyberpunk 2077 begins by asking players to create their own version of V and choose a Lifepath background. Street Kid, Nomad, or Corpo—each choice changes dialogue options and offers one of three playable prologues. These prologues introduce V to Jackie Welles, an important ally who looms large over the early story.
Here is the problem Lena quickly noticed. All three Lifepath prologues eventually lead to the same place, and the game summarizes V and Jackie’s growing friendship with a short montage before cutting to the main plot. The opening can feel padded, delaying the real story until V finally meets Dexter DeShawn. For players who already know where the journey leads, replaying those early hours can feel less like world-building and more like waiting.
But what does a player lose when that prologue disappears? That was the question Lena kept turning over.
Jumping Straight Into Dogtown
Phantom Liberty owners have another option. From the New Game menu, they can simply hit the “skip ahead to Phantom Liberty” button and start directly at the expansion’s opening mission, Dog Eat Dog. This places V at the beginning of the lengthy quest to save President Rosalind Myers, immediately dropping the player into one of the most cinematic stretches of Cyberpunk 2077.
Unlike the Lifepath prologues, Phantom Liberty opens with action-packed cutscenes that provide important clues about the storyline and hold the player’s attention far more effectively. For new players who choose this shortcut, Johnny Silverhand steps in to summarize the events of the base game. Silverhand’s quick recap keeps the expansion accessible, while V starts at level 15 with pre-set perks and skills ready to go.
Should a first-time player really skip eleven hours of Cyberpunk 2077? That depends on what they value.
The Trade-Offs, Side by Side
Lena made a list before deciding. It looked something like this:
| Choice | What You Get | What You Lose |
|---|---|---|
| Full Prologue | A slower introduction to Night City, Lifepath flavor, and the full Jackie relationship | Several hours of padding before the main plot truly begins |
| Skip to Phantom Liberty | Immediate action, level 15 start, pre-set perks, and a stronger opening | The original Lifepath setup and the slow-burn foundation of V’s story |
There is one more advantage for those who skip ahead: players can refund the stats used to build V leading into the action. That means the shortcut is not a rigid preset. It is a different starting point that still respects player choice.
A Better First Impression
For many newcomers, Phantom Liberty’s opening simply feels better than the first few hours of the base game. The cinematic presentation, the urgent mission to save President Myers, and the immediate presence of Johnny Silverhand all make the expansion feel like the true hook that the original launch lacked. Lena understood why so many returning players told her to skip ahead. Why struggle through a slow prologue when the game finally knows how to grab your attention from the first minute?
But there was also value in the old road. The Lifepath prologues, for all their padding, give V a sense of history. They make Jackie’s role feel earned rather than summarized. The shortcut trades that slow-burn connection for momentum.
Ultimately, it was another player choice that helped shape her version of Night City. And by 2026, that choice was completely up to her. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty remains available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, offering two very different doors into the same neon-soaked world. The only wrong choice was never stepping through one at all.