Despite launching in a state as rough as the relic chip lodged in its protagonist’s brain, Cyberpunk 2077 was eventually able to fulfill many players’ pre-release expectations. CD Projekt Red’s post-launch patches and updates culminated with the simultaneous releases of Update 2.0 and the Phantom Liberty DLC last September. In addition to Cyberpunk 2077‘s new espionage storyline, this major content drop overhauled multiple gameplay systems and gave players the ability to further fine tune their version of V.
With the game’s sequel — currently codenamed Project Orion — in development, there are plenty of lessons CD Projekt Red can learn from their work on Update 2.0 and Phantom Liberty. While some changes like the clothing system rework in Update 2.0 could be left behind, one mechanic added in the DLC absolutely needs to make its way into the next entry in the series: relic points.
The Value of Cyberpunk 2077’s Relic Points
Unlike many of the changes that came with this update, the relic point system could only be used by players who bought Phantom Liberty and explored the dark underbelly of Dogtown. By venturing into this new zone, players were able to obtain relic points by downloading them from the many Militech data terminals scattered across the map. The points could be used to fill out a new skill tree associated with V’s biochip from the main story.
Not only were the relic points integrated into Cyberpunk 2077‘s narrative, but the upgrades they provided made V feel far more powerful than they did prior. V could choose to jailbreak the already deadly cyberware housed in their arms, visualize weakspots on enemies to deal additional critical damage, utilize optical camo during combat, and more. This system paired nicely with the perks and cyberware in Cyberpunk 2077 as it allowed players to further customize V and noticeably enhance their combat performance.
A Relic-Fueled Power Fantasy in Night City
Especially if the Tower ending from Phantom Liberty is ignored and V somehow returns as the protagonist in Project Orion, CD Projekt Red should leave the relic point system intact. It’s a popular trend in video game sequels — one example being Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood — to completely strip a protagonist of the upgrades that they earned in the previous title. This is done so that the designers can implement a natural power curve for the player’s progression and not have to balance their encounters around high level abilities from a prior game.
Though this design mentality is understandable from a developer’s perspective, it remains highly unpopular among players. Nobody wants to grind out hours and hours of playtime only to acquire a fraction of the power that they just had at the end of the previous game. Project Orion should fully embrace the power fantasy that Phantom Liberty provided its players. Give players a majority of V’s abilities from the previous game and make that the baseline for progression in this next game. That might seem difficult to balance, but the Cyberpsychosis from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners could be brought over as a perfect way to allow for overpowered builds while still encouraging players to consider moderation.
Even if V isn’t the main character of this next entry, relic points — or a reskinned version of them that suits the new narrative — are a needed inclusion. The powers they bestowed were instrumental in curating the hectic yet fluid gameplay of Phantom Liberty, and the relic points also gave players a worthwhile reason to explore CD Projekt Red’s intricately crafted world. The value that relic points added to Cyberpunk 2077 shouldn’t be overlooked, especially when deciding what features will make the cut in Project Orion.
