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Phantom Liberty is a substantial paid expansion, but you do not need it to play the newer Update 2.5 quest, Clampdown. The expansion adds Dogtown, a spy-thriller campaign, new missions and gigs, a skill tree, weapons, cyberware and a new main-game ending route. Clampdown is separate free-update content tied to the Edgerunners 2 prequel story, with its own unlock requirements through Wakako Okada.
For a first playthrough, the smoothest order is to begin Phantom Liberty when it unlocks after Transmission, then start Clampdown whenever its Wakako requirements are complete. That is a recommendation, not a rule: both pieces of content can be played independently, and neither is required to start the other.
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At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Free plan / price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phantom Liberty | Players wanting a large story expansion and new progression systems during the main campaign | Dogtown district, spy-thriller campaign, new quests and gigs, skill tree, weapons, cyberware, alternate ending path | Paid expansion; current price varies by platform and is not stated here | Oct 2026 |
| Clampdown (Update 2.5) | Players seeking the new Edgerunners 2 prequel quest | Focused quest with a separate Wakako unlock route; part of Update 2.5 | Included with the free Update 2.5 game update; no separate expansion purchase | Oct 2026 |
What does Phantom Liberty add to Cyberpunk 2077?
Phantom Liberty is an integrated expansion rather than a detached side game. It adds a new district, a self-contained campaign that intersects with V’s wider story, and systems and equipment that can be used throughout the rest of the game.
Dogtown, a city within Night City
The expansion opens Dogtown, a walled-off district controlled by a militia and presented as a “city within a city.” It has its own streets, interiors, quests and gigs, giving the expansion a setting with a different political and visual identity from the rest of Night City. Dogtown is not simply a menu or a short mission hub; it is a persistent area you can return to while playing the broader campaign.
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A spy-thriller campaign involving the NUS President
V is pulled into a high-stakes operation involving the President of the New United States, espionage, shifting alliances and political intrigue. The tone is closer to a spy thriller than a conventional fixer job, with choices that affect relationships and the direction of the expansion’s story. The campaign is designed to sit inside an ongoing playthrough, so you can move between Dogtown and the base-game districts instead of completing the expansion as a strictly separate chapter.
New missions, gigs and progression
Alongside the main story, Phantom Liberty adds side quests and gigs in and around Dogtown. It also introduces a new skill tree, plus additional weapons and cyberware. These additions matter beyond the expansion’s missions because the equipment and character-building options can be used in other parts of the game once they are available.
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The Update 2.0 systems overhaul
Phantom Liberty launched alongside the major Update 2.0 rework of perks, skill trees, cyberware and related progression systems. The expansion itself is paid, while the broad systems overhaul was delivered as a game update rather than as a separate story purchase. That distinction is important when deciding what you own: buying Phantom Liberty gives access to Dogtown and its campaign, but the underlying 2.0-era changes are not the same thing as the expansion’s narrative content.
A different ending path for the main game
Coverage of the expansion identifies an additional ending for the main game associated with Phantom Liberty. It is another reason to treat the expansion as part of a complete campaign rather than an optional epilogue you must save until every other mission is finished.
What is the new Update 2.5 quest, Clampdown?
Clampdown is the Update 2.5 Edgerunners 2 tie-in. CD PROJEKT RED describes it as a prequel set before the show, following Team King on its last job. The quest introduces King, Meshuga, Miguel and Emily, and uses the same voice actors as Edgerunners 2 for continuity.
Its scope is much narrower than Phantom Liberty’s. Clampdown is a focused quest added to the existing game, while Phantom Liberty supplies a district, a campaign, side content and new progression systems. Update 2.5 also includes several changes outside the quest itself:
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- Dual wielding for pistols and revolvers.
- Cross-platform mod support.
- City Tours.
- An expanded Minor Arcana tarot hunt.
- New clothing sets.
- A new radio station.
- Quality-of-life improvements.
- A field-of-view slider on consoles.
You can approach the quest with only the base game and Update 2.5. Phantom Liberty ownership is not one of its gates.
Do I need Phantom Liberty to play the new quest?
No. Phantom Liberty and Clampdown have independent access requirements. You can unlock the Update 2.5 quest in the base game without entering Dogtown or purchasing the expansion.
The two pieces of content also serve different narrative purposes. Phantom Liberty is V’s Dogtown spy story, while Clampdown is a prequel connected to Edgerunners 2. There is no documented dependency that requires one campaign to be completed before the other.
When should I start Phantom Liberty?
Start Phantom Liberty when it becomes available if this is your first complete playthrough. That timing lets the expansion’s weapons, cyberware and progression options become part of your normal campaign, and it avoids treating Dogtown as a post-game detour.
The recommendation is about flow, not a mandatory sequence. You can pursue Clampdown first if that is your immediate goal, then enter Dogtown later. You can also alternate between the expansion and base-game activities as their missions become available. Neither choice invalidates the other story.
If Clampdown is your priority
Follow the Wakako route as soon as you meet its requirements. The quest is free Update 2.5 content, so beginning it first does not block Phantom Liberty. Once you reach the expansion’s own story gate, you can start Dogtown without needing to replay the earlier quest.
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If you want the most integrated first playthrough
Begin Phantom Liberty after Transmission, then continue exploring Night City and complete Clampdown when Wakako sends its message. This approach exposes you to the expansion’s systems while you still have substantial base-game content left, without making either storyline a required prologue for the other.
How do I unlock Phantom Liberty?
You need a save that has reached the relevant Pacifica portion of the main story. The documented trigger is completion of Transmission in the Voodoo Boys storyline.
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- Finish Transmission. This is the normal story gate for the expansion on an existing character.
- Wait for Songbird’s contact. After the gate is met, Songbird provides the contact that leads into Phantom Liberty.
You do not need to finish the base game’s final mission before starting the expansion. The documented access point is Transmission, not the end of V’s story.
Using the skip-ahead start
The game also offers a start option that places a new character at an expansion-ready point. It completes the prior missions and prepares progression so you can enter Phantom Liberty without replaying the opening acts. Choose this only if you are comfortable beginning with earlier story context already behind you.
How do I unlock the new Cyberpunk 2077 quest?
Clampdown has a separate, base-game route. Complete the following in order before waiting for Wakako’s message:
- Complete The Heist.
- Complete Love Like Fire.
- Complete Playing for Time.
- Complete any two gigs for Wakako Okada.
- Respond to Wakako’s A Request from King message when it arrives.
The message starts the quest. If it does not appear immediately after the second Wakako gig, continue playing until the game’s next message or activity trigger; the unlock path itself remains the same.
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What is the difference between Phantom Liberty and Clampdown?
The practical difference is scale and ownership. Phantom Liberty is a paid expansion built around a new district and a substantial campaign; Clampdown is a free-update quest with a focused Edgerunners 2 connection.
| Comparison | Phantom Liberty | Clampdown |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Paid add-on | Included with Update 2.5 |
| Narrative role | V’s Dogtown spy thriller involving the NUS President | Prequel to Edgerunners 2, following Team King’s last job |
| Access gate | Complete Transmission; Songbird then makes contact | Complete three named main missions and two Wakako gigs; answer A Request from King |
| Content scope | New district, campaign, quests, gigs, skill tree, weapons, cyberware and an ending path | One focused quest plus Update 2.5 features and quality-of-life changes |
| Dependency | Does not require Clampdown | Does not require Phantom Liberty |
Should you watch Edgerunners before Clampdown?
No viewing is required to unlock or understand the quest’s basic objective. Because Clampdown is framed as a prequel to Edgerunners 2 and uses that project’s cast for continuity, watching the related anime can add context, but it is an optional extra rather than a gameplay prerequisite.
The expansion and the quest are best approached with spoiler-light expectations. Official discussion of the Edgerunners connection includes spoilers, so players who want to discover the characters and setting without advance information should start the quest before reading detailed plot coverage.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What order works best for different players?
First-time player starting a new character
Play the main story until Transmission, start Phantom Liberty, and complete Clampdown whenever its Wakako requirements are met. This keeps the expansion’s gear and systems available during the rest of the campaign while preserving flexibility.
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Check whether the character has completed Transmission. If so, Songbird’s contact can begin the expansion. Separately, verify the three main-story missions and two Wakako gigs for Clampdown; the two checks do not replace each other.
Player interested only in the new quest
Follow the Wakako unlock route and play Clampdown without buying Phantom Liberty. The Update 2.5 additions, including dual wielding and the console field-of-view slider, are part of the update rather than a requirement to own the expansion.
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Player who wants every story branch
Start Phantom Liberty at its first available point instead of postponing it until after the finale. Its ending path and integrated missions are designed to be experienced as part of V’s campaign, while Clampdown can be slotted in independently when its message arrives.
Is Phantom Liberty worth playing before continuing the main story?
For most first-time players, yes: beginning at the Transmission gate gives the campaign access to Dogtown, additional builds and equipment, and the expansion’s story before the base game’s final stretch. It also avoids having to return to a completed-feeling save solely to experience an expansion that was designed to integrate with the campaign.
If your immediate interest is the Edgerunners 2 prequel, play Clampdown first. You lose nothing by doing so because its unlock path is separate and it does not determine when Phantom Liberty can start. The important distinction is that the recommended order improves continuity; it is not a lockout system.
What should you remember?
- Phantom Liberty is the paid expansion; Clampdown is separate free Update 2.5 content.
- Phantom Liberty adds Dogtown, a spy-thriller campaign, side content, progression options, equipment and an ending route.
- Its normal story gate is Transmission, followed by Songbird’s contact.
- Clampdown requires The Heist, Love Like Fire, Playing for Time, two Wakako gigs and the A Request from King message.
- Neither piece of content requires the other.
- For a first full playthrough, starting Phantom Liberty when it unlocks is the most integrated choice, but any order that matches your priorities is valid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clampdown included with the Phantom Liberty purchase?
No. Clampdown is delivered as part of the Update 2.5 game update, while Phantom Liberty remains a separate paid expansion. Owning the expansion does not change the Wakako-based unlock route.
Do I need to finish Cyberpunk 2077 before entering Dogtown?
No. The documented gate is Transmission in the Pacifica/Voodoo Boys storyline, followed by Songbird’s contact. The final mission of the base game is not required to begin Phantom Liberty.
Will watching Edgerunners spoil Clampdown?
The quest is a prequel to Edgerunners 2, so related trailers or detailed coverage may reveal character and story context. Watching is optional; players who want the least advance information can start the quest without researching its plot.
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Yes. The expansion is integrated into the main game rather than a separate mode, so its missions and Dogtown activities can be mixed with regular Night City content. The exact mission sequence remains flexible once the expansion has opened.
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