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Freedom251 › Blog › Cyberpunk 2077

Which Cyberpunk 2077 Edition Should New Players Buy?

By Freedom251 Team · · 8 min read

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For a new player on PC, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X|S, buy Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition when its current price is reasonably close to the base game. It combines the base game, the Phantom Liberty expansion, Update 2.0, and previously released free DLC in one purchase. That makes it the least complicated way to get the modern version of the game.

Choose the base game alone when the discount is substantial or you deliberately want to postpone Phantom Liberty. You can add the expansion later, but the base game is required. On PS4 and Xbox One, the platform decision matters more than the edition: those versions do not receive the later updates or Phantom Liberty.

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Quick verdict: Ultimate Edition is the default choice

The Ultimate Edition is the best starting point for most new players using a current PC or current-generation console. It packages the complete currently supported game experience instead of making you decide later whether to buy the expansion separately.

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The package contains:

  • The Cyberpunk 2077 base game.
  • The Phantom Liberty expansion.
  • Update 2.0.
  • Previously released free downloadable content.

That bundle is especially useful if the difference between the base-game sale price and the Ultimate Edition is small. It also avoids a second purchase and a later price check. However, “Ultimate” does not make every old-console version current. Your hardware still determines which updates and expansion content are available.

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  • CREATE YOUR OWN CYBERPUNK: Become an urban outlaw equipped with cybernetic enhancements and build your legend on the streets of Night City. · EXPLORE THE CITY OF THE FUTURE: Night City is packed to the brim with things to do, places to see, and people to meet. And it’s up to you where to go, when to go, and how to get there.
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Should I buy Cyberpunk 2077 or Ultimate Edition?

Buy the base game alone when the lower price is the priority

The base game is the lowest-cost entry point and includes the main Night City campaign. Phantom Liberty is not included. This route makes sense when the base game is heavily discounted, you want to see whether you enjoy it before committing to the expansion, or you already know you will wait for a later sale.

The base game is not a dead-end purchase. The official purchase information states that it is required to play Phantom Liberty, which means the expansion can be added later to a compatible version. Before buying separately, compare the combined cost of the base game and expansion with the price of Ultimate Edition on the same platform and in the same region.

Buy Ultimate Edition when the prices are close

Ultimate Edition is the straightforward choice when its price is reasonably close to the base game. You receive both major pieces of paid content immediately, along with Update 2.0 and free DLC, without needing to identify separate products or verify that two discounts work together.

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This is also the better choice if you expect to play the expansion eventually. Buying the complete package now removes the risk that a later separate purchase will cost more than the current bundle. Prices, promotions, stock, and packaging change by retailer and region, so check the live listing before paying rather than relying on an old sale price.

What each purchase path gives you

Edition or path What a new player receives Best use
Base game Night City campaign; Phantom Liberty is not included. Lowest upfront cost or a deliberate plan to add the expansion later.
Ultimate Edition Base game, Phantom Liberty, Update 2.0, and previously released free DLC. Default choice for a new player on supported current hardware.
Base game plus Phantom Liberty separately The same core paid content as Ultimate when both purchases are made on a compatible platform. Useful when separate discounts make the combination cheaper or when you already own the base game.
PS4 or Xbox One copy The older-console feature set; later updates and Phantom Liberty are unavailable on those versions. Only for someone intentionally buying for an older console and accepting those limits.

Which version should I get on PS5?

Get the PS5 version of the base game or Ultimate Edition, not a PS4 copy chosen solely because it is cheaper. PlayStation identifies PS5 as required for patches released after November 8, 2022, and for buying and playing Phantom Liberty.

For a new PS5 player, Ultimate Edition is the simplest purchase because the base game and expansion arrive together. Choose the base game only if the price gap is large enough to justify delaying the expansion. If you are comparing a physical disc with a digital listing, verify that the product is explicitly the PS5 edition and that the package includes the content you expect.

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  • THE ULTIMATE CYBERPUNK 2077 EXPERIENCE - Includes the critically acclaimed spy thriller expansion Phantom Liberty
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  • Explore the city of the future – you decide when you want to go where and how to get there
  • Decide how the story ends – your choices in the main game as well as in the spy thriller adventure Phantom Liberty lead to a complex web of consequences

What happened to PS4 support?

PlayStation says the PS4 version received its last patch on November 8, 2022. A PS5 is required to download and apply patches released after that date and to buy and play Phantom Liberty. In practical terms, a PS4 purchase cannot be turned into the current PS5 feature set simply by buying the expansion.

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If you own a PS4 but now have a PS5, read the store listing carefully to confirm which edition and entitlement you are buying. The important question is not only whether the box says “Cyberpunk 2077,” but whether the playable version is the PS5 version supported by later patches and the expansion.

What about Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One?

Xbox Series X|S

Xbox Series X|S is one of the current-generation platforms supported for later content updates and Phantom Liberty. A new player on either console should compare the base-game and Ultimate prices, then select Ultimate when the bundle premium is modest.

Physical Ultimate Edition availability is documented for Xbox Series X|S, but distribution can vary by market. Check the retailer’s region, stock status, packaging, and whether the listing is for the Series version before ordering. A store page that uses “Xbox” without clearly identifying the generation deserves extra scrutiny.

Xbox One

CD PROJEKT RED states that content updates after Patch 1.6 were made exclusively for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Xbox One therefore does not receive the later update path or Phantom Liberty. An Xbox One copy is appropriate only if you are knowingly buying the older supported feature set and do not expect the current-generation expansion.

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Which PC edition should you choose?

On PC, Phantom Liberty is available through storefronts including Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store; the publisher also lists GeForce Now. The core buying decision is the same on each storefront: compare the base game, Ultimate Edition, and the separate expansion if you already own the base game.

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Choose one storefront deliberately

Buy the base game and expansion on the same storefront unless the store explicitly supports the entitlement arrangement you need. Separate purchases made on different storefronts should not be assumed to combine automatically. For a first purchase, Ultimate Edition on your preferred PC storefront avoids that uncertainty.

Check the edition name, not just the artwork

Digital storefronts can show several products with similar cover art. Confirm that the product title says “Ultimate Edition” if you expect Phantom Liberty to be included. If the title says only Cyberpunk 2077, open the contents or edition details and verify whether the expansion is listed before checkout.

Is Phantom Liberty included?

It is included in Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition. It is not included in the base game by itself. The official purchase information also states that the base game is required to play the expansion, so buying Phantom Liberty alone is not a substitute for owning the main game.

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There are two valid ways to end up with both pieces of paid content:

  1. Buy Ultimate Edition in one transaction.
  2. Buy the base game and then add Phantom Liberty separately on a compatible platform.

Use the second route when you already own the base game or when the separate products are clearly cheaper together. Use Ultimate when you are starting from zero and the bundle is competitively priced.

How to compare the real cost before checkout

No single price is stable across regions, stores, physical stock, or sale dates. Instead of relying on a headline price from an old guide, calculate the total for your exact platform and region.

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  1. Open the current listing for the base game on your chosen platform.
  2. Record the price and whether it is a digital or physical product.
  3. Open the Ultimate Edition listing and record its price, included content, and platform.
  4. If you are considering separate purchases, add the current base-game price and Phantom Liberty price together.
  5. Check whether taxes, delivery, disc requirements, or regional restrictions change the amount you will actually pay.
  6. Choose Ultimate when it is close in price to the base game or cheaper than buying both items separately.

A one-time sale price should be treated as a sale price for that region and date, not as the permanent value of an edition. Physical copies can also disappear from stock while digital editions remain available, so verify availability immediately before ordering.

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Physical or digital: what should a new player buy?

The edition decision and the format decision are separate. Digital is convenient when you want immediate download and do not need a disc. Physical can be preferable if you collect boxes, share or resell discs where permitted, or want a boxed product, but you must inspect the generation label and included content.

For current-generation consoles, look for PS5 or Xbox Series X|S identification. A physical product described only as a PS4 or Xbox One copy will not provide access to the later update path and Phantom Liberty described above. Physical Ultimate Edition distribution is market-specific, so confirm the retailer’s region and packaging details.

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Decision guide for common new-player situations

“I have never played the game and use PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or PC.”

Choose Ultimate Edition if the price is reasonably close to the base game. You receive the base campaign, expansion, Update 2.0, and free DLC without planning another purchase.

“I only want the cheapest way to try it.”

Choose the base game when its discount is substantial. Treat the expansion as a later optional purchase and compare the combined price before adding it.

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“I already own the base game.”

Buy Phantom Liberty separately if it is offered for your platform and storefront. You do not need to buy the base game again, but the platform must support the expansion.

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  • Included is the following: Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition for PlayStation 5 PS5, 2 pack of PremGear 2 Sizes Thumbsticks made to increase accuracy and comfort (1 High-Rise, 1 Mid-Rise), PremGear Quality Cleaning Cloth
  • DISCOVER UPDATE 2.0: Experience new and overhauled gameplay mechanics to fulfill your wildest cyberpunk fantasies. The free Update 2.0 brings brand new ways to play Cyberpunk 2077, including totally redesigned perks and cyberware systems, pulsating vehicle combat and car chases, a revamped police system, enhanced enemy combat AI, and more
  • CREATE YOUR OWN CYBERPUNK: Become an urban outlaw equipped with cybernetic enhancements and build your legend on the streets of Night City
  • EXPLORE THE CITY: Night City is packed to the brim with things to do, places to see, and people to meet. And it’s up to you where to go, when to go, and how to get there
  • BUILD YOUR LEGEND: Go on daring adventures and build relationships with unforgettable characters whose fates are shaped by the choices you make

“I own a PS4 or Xbox One.”

Do not buy expecting the current update set. PS4 stopped receiving patches after November 8, 2022, and Xbox One did not receive content updates after Patch 1.6. To play the later-supported version and Phantom Liberty, use PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X|S.

“I am upgrading from an older console.”

Buy or use the current-generation version on the new hardware and verify the store’s edition and entitlement language. Do not assume that an older-console disc or listing includes every current-generation feature.

Purchase checklist

  • Platform: Confirm PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X|S if you want later updates and Phantom Liberty.
  • Edition: Verify whether the listing is the base game or Ultimate Edition.
  • Expansion: Look for Phantom Liberty in the included-content list.
  • Update content: Ultimate Edition includes Update 2.0 and previously released free DLC.
  • Price: Compare the live total for Ultimate against the base game and the separate expansion.
  • Format: For physical products, check generation, region, stock, and packaging.
  • Existing ownership: If you already own the base game, compare the separate expansion price instead of rebuying the bundle.

Bottom line for each platform

PC: Buy Ultimate Edition when its price is close to the base game; otherwise start with the base game and add Phantom Liberty later. Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and GeForce Now are listed PC options, so keep both purchases on the same storefront where possible.

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PlayStation 5: Ultimate Edition is the default new-player purchase. The PS5 version is required for patches released after November 8, 2022 and for Phantom Liberty.

Xbox Series X|S: Choose Ultimate Edition when the bundle is competitively priced and verify that a physical listing is specifically for Series hardware.

PS4 or Xbox One: Buy only with a clear understanding that you are choosing the older feature set. These versions do not provide the later update path or Phantom Liberty.

Quick Recap

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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Cyberpunk 2077PC gamingPhantom LibertyPS5Ultimate EditionXbox Series X|S

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