Summary
While the focus ofCyberpunk 2077: Phantom Libertyis on the fight to survive Dogtown, CD Projekt Red also used it as a way to expand the lore of its world considerably. Throughout the adventure, players learn all sorts of new information aboutCyberpunk 2077’s past, present, and possible future. There is a lot of stuff to digest here, which makes it a great experience for lore buffs. And it also sets the scene for a perfect prequel adventure.
CD Projekt Red is going all in on theCyberpunk 2077brand as it begins development onthe mysterious Project Orion. Not much is known about the title yet, however, it will likely expand upon the strong foundations of its predecessor to deliver another thrilling ARPG. If it succeeds, then there will probably be plenty moreCyberpunkadventures on the way, and one of those future adventures should come in the form of a prequel following the turbulent Unification War.
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Cyberpunk’s Unification War Sounds Like an Exciting Premise
Cyberpunk 2077brings players to a futuristic world that has seen a lot of strife.The version of Night Citythat they get to explore has been through unchecked violence, mob rule, multiple wars, and decades of struggle. Because of this, it has become a massively corrupt and unsafe city where everything seems to be stacked against the player. This creates a pretty intriguing setting that some players will never want to leave, which is made even better by the sheer level of immersion its many streets provide.
While this version of Night City is a joy to explore, its backstory sounds even more exciting.Cyberpunk 2077story has alluded to these times of strife, but players have not really been able to see them in great detail. However, Phantom Liberty may be changing all that. For the first time, players actually get to interact withthe president of the NUSAwhile they explore the destruction caused by one of the many wars. And while the story deals with the ramifications of that war, a prequel should put the Unification War front and center.
The Unification War was a relatively brief war that started in the year 2069. President Rosalind Myers, whom the players meet in Phantom Liberty, proposed an idea to bring the Free States under the NUSA banner. Many of these Free States opposed this idea, so the Unification War began. While Night City tried to remain neutral, it was stuck between the warring states of North and South California. As such, the city had to get involved, which resulted inthe creation of Dogtownand the independence of Night City. The Treaty of Unification was then signed in June 2070, and the war ended.
The Unification War may be extremely short, but it was an especially important part of Night City’s story, so it should take center stage in a spin-off adventure. Even if it simply comes in the form of a small DLC fora futureCyberpunk 2077game, it could be a lot of fun for fans. It would not only let them experience this turbulent time but could also add to the franchise’s lore considerably. While it may never happen, CD Projekt Red really should consider putting it on full display sometime.
If the studio does not want to adapt the Unification War, then it should really consider adapting one of the many other warsCyberpunk 2077’s world faced. There have been countless conflicts that feel like great settings for unique spin-off titles. They could simply be ARPGs, they could be strategy titles, they could be a smaller RPG akin toThronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, or they could take center stage in another show likeCyberpunk: Edgerunners. Whatever form they take, they could be fantastic experiences for fans to enjoy.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Libertyis available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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