Should I play Cyberpunk now or wait for Phantom Liberty?

With the release of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty around the corner, you may be wondering if it is worth starting a new game —or finishing your old one —before the expansion comes out. Patch 2.0 released on September 21, while Phantom Liberty is set for September 26. Is five days enough to advance a new playthrough?

Should you wait to play Cyberpunk Phantom Liberty?

Although it will be possible to jump into Phantom Liberty from the menu —without having to play any of the base game content —there are many reasons why you might want to avoid doing that:

1. If you are a new player, you will miss the beginning of the story and the opportunity to learn about the gameplay mechanics at a slower pace. Besides, the intro was one of my favorite parts of Cyberpunk 2077: it has a welcoming pace and immerses you into Night City as it develops your relationships with every main NPC.
2. You will be given a character that is already leveled up and is far enough into the story for the expansion's plot to make sense; to me, this feels like wearing someone else's shoes, and not in the good way. Although doing this does not lock you out of any of the base game content, I fear the story wouldn't feel as smooth if it isn't played in the right order.
3. The plot is the most enjoyable if you take your time and let it flow as intended. Not only that, but the expansion content will fit much better if you leave it for later in the game.

Related: All changes in Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty 2.0 Update

Should you start a new playthrough after Cyberpunk 2.0?

The patch brings an abundance of changes to the gameplay and a complete overhaul of some of the game mechanics. Although the plot remains the same, there are good reasons why you might consider a fresh start:

1. Among the many changes that will be applied to the game, you will get a whole new perk tree, a new police system with levels of heat, vehicular combat, new weapons, cars, clothing, and a new armor system. It is expected that some of that will impact how you play through the story and how you tackle certain quests or fights.
2. CD Projekt Red (developers of Cyberpunk 2077) have stated the update won't break any of your previous playthroughs. However, they recommend starting a new game once 2.0 is launched, to get a full refined experience of the game.
3. If like me, you were disappointed by the features that had been promised and never made it to launch, this could be the chance of playing the game we deserved. I can't erase the base game from my memory —and I wouldn't do it, because despite all the bugs, I had a blast playing it —but this is as close as it gets to a second chance; let's call it a rebound with an ex-lover.

Related: Can you replay missions in Cyberpunk 2077?

How long does it take to beat Cyberpunk 2077?

In case you have already decided to charge through the base game and finish it before Phantom Liberty arrives, you should know it can be done in 24 and a half hours; that is if you do the main quest line only. If, on the other hand, you would like to complete every side quest too, you would be looking at 103 hours of gameplay.

Final Verdict

If after all these arguments you still don't know what to do, I recommend starting a new game when 2.0 comes out and leaving the expansion for the final act, right before meeting Hanako at Embers. This is because Phantom Liberty unlocks a new ending for the game, and it will flow seamlessly if you leave the new content for the final part.

For more information on Cyberpunk 2077, check out All Upcoming Characters in Cyberpunk Phantom Liberty on Pro Game Guides.