Cyberpunk 2077: Where does Phantom Liberty take place within the timeline?

With any RPG, fitting in a whole expansion takes some careful planning. You can’t just throw in any old story willy-nilly. It needs to fit with the narrative. Cyberpunk 2077 is adding a whole storyline full of new characters, quests, and missions to take part in. However, the events take place during the middle of Cyberpunk 2077. This leaves us with the question, where does Phantom Liberty take place in the Cyberpunk 2077 timeline?

When does Phantom Liberty take place?

Phantom Liberty timeline begins just after Act One in the game. Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion takes place after you have done a few missions and executed the heist on the Arusaka tower. Once this has been completed, you can continue with the game, and you will eventually receive a call inviting you to Dogtown. From this point on, you can choose to visit Dogtown and dip into the all-new Phantom Liberty storyline.

PC Invasion

It is worth noting that you need to complete the Phantom Liberty storyline before the point-of-no-return timeline event in order to unlock the extra ending the expansion provides. It is important that you complete all the missions and meet all the core characters in order for it to be available.

The Phantom Liberty expansion adds a lot of new characters to the game, including the detective played by their latest celebrity cameo, Idris Elba. As you complete the expansion, these characters will continue to have an impact on your Cyberpunk 2077 playthrough, even outside of Dogtown.

Can you play the expansion any time through the game?

You must wait until after Act One, as Johnny Silverhand is instrumental in the story. Phantom Liberty focuses on the remedy for the problems V faces after her Arusaka heist, so fit’s into the timeline that way. However, you must also start the expansion before the final showdown in Cyberpunk 2077. Otherwise, the timeline will be all wrong, and it won’t make any sense.