Many players of 'Cyberpunk 2077' are wondering if they should create a brand-new character when the 'Phantom Liberty' expansion drops. We won't dive into the details of 'Phantom Liberty' here, but we can discuss the 'Cyberpunk 2077' 2.0 update and whether it's a good idea to start fresh with a new character once the expansion arrives.
Some players are sticking with their existing characters. They might have already reached the highest level in 'Cyberpunk 2077' with different character builds in separate playthroughs. Starting all over again can seem unnecessary when using an existing character gives you a head start with over 50 skill and attribute points. This means you can create a powerful character right from the beginning. If you have enough in-game money, you can also buy some excellent cyberware right away. Plus, you get to keep your favorite weapons.
However, starting a new character might be a good choice if you fall into one of two categories: A) You were already thinking about starting fresh or B) You don't feel strongly attached to your current character, V. You don't have to start from scratch if you've reached the "Meet Hanako at Embers" part in the game. 'Phantom Liberty' is designed to be a self-contained story, so you won't miss out by continuing with your existing character.
But here's the thing: It's a good idea to start a new character when the 2.0 update drops on September 21. Why that date? Well, between September 21 and September 26 when 'Phantom Liberty' comes out, you won't make much progress. The main reason to start fresh is to experience the whole 'Cyberpunk 2077' game, of which 'Phantom Liberty' is only a small part (about 20%). The 2.0 update brings improvements to almost every aspect of the game.
Creating a new character allows you to enjoy 'Cyberpunk 2077' as it was meant to be played when it first launched three years ago. It might be more fun to slowly build your character from scratch into a powerful cyber-enhanced character and revisit old missions with new abilities, improved enemy AI, and new features like car combat. This is the best way to do it, as long as you haven't already invested a lot of time in multiple playthroughs.
No matter how far you get between September 21 and 26, it won't make a big difference. We're not sure exactly when you'll receive the call to start 'Phantom Liberty' in a new playthrough, and you might not even get that far. But if you do, there's no harm in making 'Phantom Liberty' your last mission before going for the final ending of the base game.
Playing 'Phantom Liberty' won't affect the base game significantly, except for one optional ending, according to CD Projekt Red. So, starting a new character when the 2.0 update arrives and progressing at your own pace won't mess up the core gameplay.
In a nutshell, if you've been thinking about jumping into 'Cyberpunk 2077' for the first time or starting a fresh adventure, this is a great time to do it. There won't be any major updates or expansions after this release. So, starting your journey on September 21 won't cause any issues, even though 'Phantom Liberty' won't be available just yet.
