Cyberpunk 2077had one of the most controversial launches in video game history. Players who had waited over eight years for the game’s release were met with a bevy of bugs, constant crashes, and unpolished gameplay mechanics. While some of the game’s technical issues could be avoided with a powerful enough PC,Cyberpunk 2077was near unplayable for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 users. Since this disastrous launch, CD Projekt Red has put in the time fixing bugs, overhauling gameplay systems, and adding meaningful content like thePhantom Libertyexpansion. ThoughCyberpunk 2077is now much more well-regarded, one element of the game remains especially divisive: its endings.
Like manygames within the RPG genre,Cyberpunk 2077features branching storylines with major decisions for the player to make. Depending on how the player spends their time in Night City, they can unlock different endings that reflect their choices in a given playthrough.Cyberpunk 2077’s endings are fairly unique when compared with one another, but they all share a similar, melancholic tone. While fans were disappointed thatCyberpunk 2077lacked a happy ending, this unconventional approach could still benefit the game’s upcoming sequel, Project Orion.
The Impact of Cyberpunk 2077’s Endings
Players can encounter sevenpossible endings inCyberpunk 2077— six in the base game and one added inPhantom Liberty. Having different endings is a popular feature in RPGs, as it not only gives weight to the player’s actions but encourages players to restart the game to see how else their character’s story could have wrapped up. This was certainly the case forCyberpunk 2077— especially with the expectations set by the branching storylines of CD Projekt Red’s previous open-world RPG,The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. However, fans were surprised to see — despite the different locations, characters, and twists involved in each ending — just how similarly sad each of the endings were.
There are certainly endings that present a better outcome for V than others, but even the “best” conclusions to V’s story are colored in shades of gray. Consideringhow long it can take to complete the main storyand the side objectives required for certain endings, players were upset to find that none of the game’s endings paid off in wholly satisfying ways. While these reactions are valid, the lack of simplicity inCyberpunk 2077’s endings makes for a much more memorable experience.
A Dystopian Finish to a Dystopian Game
Firstly, the tonal complexity ofCyberpunk 2077’s endings feels far more in line with the game set out to accomplish. V as a character andNight City as a settingare both enshrouded in nuance and constant conflict. For a violent mercenary living in a corporate dystopia, an ending where V and everyone they care about get to live long, happy lives would clash with the rest of the game’s mood and messaging.
The Validity of Every Ending in Cyberpunk 2077
Secondly, the lack of a definitive good ending helps whichever outcome the player achieves feel more unique. There are many games likeRed Dead Redemption 2that present the player with multiple endings, but because there is a “best” ending, each of the others feels more like an alternate timeline. SinceCyberpunk 2077only has murky endings on offer, none of them immediately stand out as the implied canon ending to the game. This helps make whichever ending the player arrives at more poignant, since it is just as valid of an ending as any other and truly reflects the decisions made by the player.
Given the backlash toCyberpunk 2077’s offered endings, CD Projekt Red could easily be deterred from following the same route in Project Orion. That said, the complicated nature of the game’s different outcomes helps to round outCyberpunk 2077’s overall identity. Adding in more options for evil endings could be an interesting way to shake things up in a sequel, but Project Orion would be better off avoiding the inclusion of an entirely positive ending.
Cyberpunk 2077
WHERE TO PLAY
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades.The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?
