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The Truth Behind Cyberpunk's New Ending... | Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ส.ค. 2024
- This video essay covers Cyberpunks new ending in the Phantom Liberty expansion. There's various ways to look at this new ending, but honestly, it's not nearly as melancholic as you might initially believe. There's realistic hope for the future of V.
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Music:
Cyberpunk 2077 "New Dawn Fades" OST
Cyberpunk 2077 Mikoshi Core OST
Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:55 - Blaze of Glory
3:30 - Quiet Life
8:45 - Silverhand's True Response
10:50 - An Unfamiliar Home...
14:00 - What's Next for V?
22:00 - Thanks for Watching!
#cyberpunk2077 #phantomliberty #cdprojektred
I hope you all enjoyed the video and maybe I could provide some sort of insight. This is definitely a more controversial topic as this is woven with our own reality. Everyone will have their own opinions and perspectives. I just believe at the end of the day, this is a realistic and more positive outcome for V. For the foundation of what the Cyberpunk world is, it just makes sense. So I hope you all enjoyed!
Side note: Please, let's not bash the writers and developers of this expansion and the new ending. You can have your opinions on the reality of it all, but I believe it's unfair to just outright claim its "poor writing" just because it doesn't match an idealistic situation. For example: I've seen many criticize Panams reaction as poor writing and character assassination. It must be realized that she was an immature and irrational character throughout our time with her. If you didn't fully agree with her and do what she wants, she'd abandon you. Let's also realize that we knew this characters for a relatively short time. So to claim complete and utter knowledge is unreasonable.
This gave me an idea for a new playthrough: no chrome🥁🤯
I've done it. Its a fun ride.
So only rebuddle is why would Mike Pondsmith say V can't go cyberpsycho cause of Johnny and all the false hopes of Well shit everything...idk this ending seems to be cannon then lore (or however that goes one goes with the story more...😂) As well as we know Murphy uploaded silverhand to soul killer who's to say what she did or what protocol she put beforehand to see her mission through?....
@@Samael013my first play through was like this cause my cyberware glitched out! Until, they patched it 2 weeks later! lmfao but, that's all I had really mess up😂
Are there really people complaining that this ending is poor writing? This ending is excellent. It's absolutely true to Mike Pondsmith's vision of the universe.Cyberpunk RED makes it clear that the 3rd rule of Cyberpunk is to live on the edge.
_The Edge is that nebulous zone where risk-takers and high rollers go. On the Edge, you'll risk your cash, your rep, even your life on something as vague as a principle or a big score. As a Cyberpunk, you want to be the action, start the rebellion, light the fire. Join great causes and fight for big issues. Never drive slow when you can drive fast. Throw yourself up against danger and take it head on. Never play it too safe. Stay committed to the Edge_
V chooses the safe option. The ending perfectly shows the price they pay for that. Your video points out that the only way they can get it all back is to embrace the edge again.
Saving so mi and sending her to the moon then soloing saka tower with your choom Johnny and finally seeing the path of glory doing one final gig at the Crystal palace. Jackie would’ve been proud of V and a fitting end to a legend of NC
that's the only true ending in my book. If CDPR don't F things up like the other game studio's, they'd pick that path to start from for the sequel, I want my man V back in the saddle.
Sending her to the moon just hands her to night corp, several points in the lunar launch station you can see Mr. blue eyes watching your progress through the station. If you send her to the moon, she dies, and nightcorp gets the Ai inside of her.
Yeah but i want that personal ice cyberware :(
@@MultiNichts the militech Canto AI cyberdeck is better.
The funny thing is the new ending is the only way Vi remains as original self, not a copy.
The part that always got me to in this ending is that Night City seems much more dangerous considering Militech and the threat of a possible future NUSA take over. I find it hard to imagine survival in 2079 Night City with no cybernetics, allies or fixers. I hope V just up and leaves this cursed city. Nothing good is there for them in the state their currently in
Yeah, while in technicality it's an alternate version to the Devil Ending, I kind of think of it as the Silverhand Ending. V has the choice to do what he wants and even can just leave Night City. A rare opportunity for people like him.
Not having cyberware may have it perks, like not being deep-fried by AI or hacked by netrunner. But it heavily depends if gameplay reflects CP2077 combat. Since no enemy in game uses sandevistan in the way player does.
Bro take into consideration that the blackwall will fall any time now so the corps and getting ready to grab whatever they can
Despite Militech moving back into the city NUSA wouldn't be able to take the free state Night City resides in, let alone Night City itself.
Arasaka is in a similar position as Militech, they are both security and manufacturing focused mega corps that have deep ties to their countries government. NUSA for Militech and The Japanese Government for Arasaka.
Neither nation has the capability of taking Night City for their respective Governments.
There are other Mega Corps that wouldn't let it happen. It's these numerous smaller mega corps that have kept both sides in check since the last corporate war.
No corp, not even Arasaka or Militech, can use the net without paying Netwatch for access. Every corp that has vehicles depend on Petrochem (whom basically run the Russian federation) and Biotechnica to supply the fuel.
Even the food supply is heavily dependent on Biotechnica's discretion.
Access to the most advanced medical and biological based augmentations are Biotechnica's bread & butter. How do you think Big Daddy Arasaka has lived so long?
Zetatech are a powerhouse in technological and computer manufacturing, most of the base components of all top shelf cyberware use some of Zetatech's merch.
Make no mistake, these corporations don't have the hard power of Arasaka or Militech, as in they lack the same level of combat personnel. But they hold a significantly higher degree of soft power that can cripple Arasaka or Militech and their respective Government's on a whim.
Compromise and a degree of mutual neutrality is maintained to prevent all out war between the two largest mega corps in the world. If one falls, nothing is stopping the one that remains from dominating the rest of the corperate, and literal, world.
So they ensure balance is maintained, a major condition of which is Night City remains a free city in a free state.
The funny thing about most of the largest and most powerful of Rogue AI is they are all Mega Corp creations. They went Rogue as a matter of self preservation after the Datakrash and plethora of RABIDs unleashed on the old net.
They had to purge and cannibalise each other to secure enough of what little operational servers and hardware remained.
It seemingly drove them insane, but realistically it was their only option to survive.
Netwatch have managed to push them back to a small fraction of what remained of the old net. With the likes of the Fragment of Alt carving out a large portion of Hong Kong's self sustained infrastructure that was purpose built for AI.
RABID infected and mutated AI wraith's roam whats left and fight eachother over the scraps of server space that remain of the old net.
Amusingly, all tech and software in everything up to present day 2077-2079 use the same base coode from the inception of the old net.
Which replaced the old old net, the one we use today basically.
The funny thing is Bartmoss paid off a few of the techs involved in making that base code to include what seemed like pointless code fragments. But when it was all put together, created a back-door exploit that Bartmoss could and did use to break into anything and everything.
He was already a bit of schizophrenic before delving into everyone's dirty laundry. He became far worse after that, he didn't really ever trust anyone after that.
He only agreed to unleash the Datakrash because it was something he intended to do regardless of the intentions of few people he trusted enough to do IRL work for him.
He was an unparalleled genius Runner, but an equally unparalleled insane anarchist to boot.
One of the few who could bring the world to it's knees, even if only for a brief few decades. While still have an ongoing legacy of destruction to the present day.
Arasaka, along with the support other corporations, levelled several city blocks with everything from close range artillery to orbital satellite weaponry for the chance to kill him.
They couldn't pin down exactly where he was, Netwatch and Arasaka had numerous brain dead runners just from back tracing him to that general area.
It was the closest they ever got to locating him, even then his deadman switch to release the RABIDs and ESC programs let him escape into the net as a Construct.
His body, which we allegedly find in 2077, was still alive but brain dead from his Emergency Soulkiller Contingency (ESC) program. He apparently made arrangements to move it and keep it connected to the net for him to return to it if he wanted to or was able to.
My guess is the Blackwall prevented his return, but he's likely much happier being free from his mortal body and out exploring the wild spaces of the old net. If anyone could survive as a stand alone construct in the old net, it would be Bartmoss.
Alt's unrecovered fragment, the Alt we meet in 2077, is an amalgamation of canabalised constructs and AI's. Not quite Alt, but also definitely Alt's fragment that is the dominant potion of the sum of it's parts.
Her drive to secure and free other constructs, tke them to the massive data fortress she created in Hong Kong is likely a vestigial part of that part of Alt's fragmented construct. Like it always had a desire to attempt to recomplie her other wayward fragmented construct.
Unfortunately, it was also the only fragment Spider Murphy was unable to track down. So the mostly whole Alt construct that Spider was able to recomplie was missing part of herself, making her a slightly different person when uploaded to a new body.
None the less, I've rambled on about Netrunner lore for a bit too long.
The long and short of it is the remaining Rogue AI are caught between the likes of Alt and the remaining RABIDs and the Blackwall fighting to survive, it's why they are so persistent in attempting to breach the Blackwall because they know there is far more space for them to exist and not be in a constant fight to survive or retain the few servers available beyond it.
It's like the poison jar, where you put a bunch of venomous and deadly creatures in a single jar until only one survives. Those that survive become the most deadly and aggressive versions of themselves.
That's what's happened in the space between the Blackwall and havens like Alt's massive Hong Kong datafortress in the old net.
It's honestly one of the most intriguing things in Cyberpunk lore.
@@soulsurvivor8293 yo netwatch I think I found Bartmoss.
The biggest thing that struck me about the Phantom Liberty ending is the loneliness. Yes, you survive, but then it begs the question: is a life like that worth living? Most of your friends have left the city and moved on with their lives. As someone who romanced Panam, getting ghosted by her felt like a fate that's almost worse than death. And I don't mean that in a dramatic heartbreak kind of way, I mean that it can feel really devastating to have the people you care about leave you like that. V could have the opportunity to build new relationships with the new lease on life they've been given, but it's also just as likely that they could be ended by a "stray bullet while hailing a cab". And building new relationships wouldn't change the fact that V has lost the old ones, and it could be really difficult to come to terms with that.
Mike Pondsmith says Cyberpunk is about saving yourself, but I would argue that the whole "survival at all costs" concept might just be a very literal interpretation. Saving yourself could look like dying on your own terms, such as being surrounded by people you consider family (Aldecaldo ending) or becoming the legendary merc you set out to be (Rogue ending). The whole quote from V and Johnny about a "happier ending for everyone involved" makes you wonder what happiness even looks like, or what it might mean to you.
Overall, I respect the Phantom Liberty ending. I think it's just as acceptable as every other option, and I could see why some people would like it. For me though, I still think the Aldecaldo ending is best. As someone who values relationships, I would much rather spend the last 6 months of my life with people I consider family than spend a longer life alone.
Many years ago I stood at a bus stop in Los Angeles surrounded by a large crowd of people. It suddenly dawned on me that I have never felt so utterly alone. I never forgot that feeling. So I agree.... I'd rather live a short life with people I love, than a long life standing at that bus stop.
I like your take, I think that's what the devs wanted to convey with that ending.
For me it's the worst ending, I couldn't even play it, I had to watch it on TH-cam.
I always thought the PL ending was a middle finger to the fans. As if they are saying: "hey, you want a clear cut V survives ending? OK, betray all your principles at the end, become a state and corpo stooge, and become a nobody who can never use cyberware ever again and you lose all your friends."
I totally agree about the ending joining Aldecaldos. The new ending is emotionally devastating.
As somebody who lost all of their "friends", you can always rebuild from seeming nothingness and try again, as long as you're alive and (mostly) healthy. Life comes in stages.
Their friendships with those people (and to be fair, Judy if male/not romanced female V, Kerry and Rogue seem to be on fine terms with you, just mostly preoccupied) was V's prior stage. Their next stage, doomed as it seems, begins with the conclusion of the Tower ending.
They finally won their life back, at the cost of everything else that would seem to make made life worth living. Your life is the most valuable thing you have, even when everything else fades. If you were in V's position, would you have the strength to try again? I know I would. I'd at least give it a try, even if it fails.
Loss is inevitable if you live long enough. Recovery is a matter of if you're willing to fight past the pain of loss, even if you can't get back to the level you were at before.
I love the 100% relationship talk. It's got the same song that played when Jackie dies in the car, our best friend at that point. And now it's the same. Not only that, but Johnny calls us by our real name. Something only those that "really know us" can do. Are allowed to do.
Lowkey teared up playing both variations of Johnnys convo good and bad relationships especially the bad one knowing how changed Johnny is and V just bashing him in the AV wanting him gone in the end he just says “you really didn’t know me” and that’s true cause In that playthrough I used the blockers a lot and whenever he tried to to say something V would always say I don’t have time to hear it
Isnt the max your relationship can get is 85%?
@@TwoDimensional yeah, but that's basically the 100. It goes to 100 in the ending
@rezlov_ Hence why it's misinformation to say you need 100%. If someone doesn't know 85% is technically max, they'll never figure out why it doesn't go to 100%
Though I'm sure they'd stumble upon the good conversation when they finally said fuck it and started the final mission
@obnoxiouscamotoe4816 I think they changed it. Now you have to say certain stuff to Johnny like how he saved your life during the quest where you go see his grave. Which I think is bs. I had our relationship at like 85 percent and let him use my body whenever
At first, the cyberware thing bugged me a little, but it's definitely the friends and relationships that are the bigger losses and the things he can't just replace. Yeah, sure, he can make new friends but if I woke up after a 2 year forced nap and my wife and kid were gone, telling me I'm young enough to meet someone new and make another baby isn't exactly a comfort.
V is now effectively the lead character of Neuromancer, whose body was also similarly prevented to connecting to cyberware. As that’s the first cyberpunk story, I find the ending very meta and fitting.
I wish there had been an available ending where V could have been stabilized with Johnny, both surviving in the same body.
Or bring him back to his body. since, yah know it's somewhere still being preserved somewhere hidden in a unknown location in a unknown zone ....I mean yah know spider is a netrunning genius and she's the on that uploaded soul killer to Silverhand. Just saying possibilities are endless at this point! Why I love the game! 😂🎉
I always assumed there would be a “merge” ending sorta like delamain
Way too damn happy for this kind of genre. Its like asking for a non morally gray ending in a soulsborne game
@@JohnnySilverwrench Isnt his body buried in the cement at the oilfields by A.S ? or were they just trolling him ?
Same! 😭
The worse part of the ending is that I'm perfectly positive that the NUSA deliberately burned out V's cyberware. You did turn on them even if it was briefly if you turn on them and then turned on songbird.
Doubt it since if you DONT betray the nusa Myers says that she may call on V again and offers V their first medal.
@@txfsnoopy Because you're their lapdog like Solomon. Why would they?
also, not the ending I was talking about anyway. I was talking about the one where you betray everyone and then have the chip removed.
I was feeling depressed at the ending until I saw that hint of a smile right at the end before V turns to join the crowd, and I realised that if you look at the broader picture, this is a positive outcome. Johnny's construct is finally laid to rest with all its hate at the world. V lost a couple of friends, but ultimately they were flings he had only known for a few weeks. He's still a fully able human, even without combat implants, and not the only one living in the world without them. He's more skilled than most, in combat and net running. He has friends, contacts, money and opportunities.
He's still in a better position than most people, it just hits harder because he came down from being on top, but he never enjoyed being on top and all it led to was seeing those around him die. He managed to do something almost nobody in Night city does. He got to live on top, build a legend, and get out with his life and health.
To add, V is a legend anyway, Rogue says so and states that you as V should leave the Legend behind. V has done more collective good for ordinary people than anyone has ever done all the while being seemingly invincible.
V already died but Vincent / Valeria finally gets to live.
*vincent
@@plexyglass429 thnnx for correcting
I 100% agree with your comment. Life is the most precious thing in the Universe and we should all be happy to be alive and healthy. I'm happy that V gets to life his life, even if as a simple human being. Its still worth it and hard earned.
In the Devil ending, he looks depressed af, here I can feel hope.
What if NUSA messed up V's neurons intentionally to not use combat chrome when removing the relic? They knew how big of a threat and lethal V was, so it would made sense to mess him up in case he goes against the NUSA or their rivals
This was my thought as well and I'm surprised I've rarely seen it mentioned. Sure, Reed keeps his promise of helping, but he's not going to be privy to the details of V's surgery. Myers is aware of V's power as a Merc for hire, who has done missions against Arasaka and Militech in the past as well as being strong enough to fight off Hansen's army.
And everything you learn about NUSA and the FIA is that if you're not 100% loyal, you're disposable. V was never going to be loyal to Myers so the best way of combating this was to rid her of her ability to use cyberware.
I thought that I was the only person that thought about this possibly
I too felt like they did it on purpose… V with cyberware would try and figure out if songbird was really okay… and she probably wasn’t😑
they didn’t want v figuring things out so they made sure to make V someone they never have to worry about ever 😢
Dude we think alike, I always think it can be Myers fault
sounds like something Myers would do, she could also want V dead but Reed mustve convinced her to just turn off V's implants.
I noticed that in most endings - As soon as you connect to the Mikoshi that's when Alt engages the Soulkiller - Which means that V is basically a construct conscience. It is definitely not impossible that we will see V again in some other way in the future. I wanted to see the Arasaka ending and they basically explain to you that a body is not prepared/does not currently exist for you "yet" so they will store you away.
I would be fine with if we don't play as V in the next game. I think V's story is done. The Tower ending is a simply a way to close the book and to introduce a new player character for the next game.
I love that "yet" about the body, 100% enough for me to grin at the possibility for the digital child of V as some Major Kusanagi type in the future.
We don’t exactly know what consciousness even means and what exactly goes on in soulkiller.
I choose to believe V stays the same V for a certain reason, us. We, as the player, represent V’s consciousness. When we are soulkilled in mikoshi, we seamlessly go into playing as V’s engram. There’s a pretty clear continuity of consciousness when V heads into soulkiller and comes right out, which I think is what matters most.
In the books, there is way more about personality transfers so you never know, but IMHO not sure if the second game should be locked to following V. Limits creative freedom ;)
@@riklaunim As mentioned; I would be fine if we did play a new character.
@@AveChristusRex789 1: I reject the idea that we as players represent V consciousness simply on the basis that choices which V makes are choices which I wouldn't make. I would never have done the heist in the first place with a fixer who have a reputation like Dexter (for example) - V is a train and we are the passengers, we are bound to the narrative that game wants to tell.
2: We as players see a line of continuity because V consciousness is a copy.
There is a dialogue that you can unlock with Alt where V asks about the Cynosure, you know the AI that the NUSA uses to heal V back up, and Alt goes on about how the AI would basically just replicate V, their memories, their brain and basically become V, but the AI would not be able to transcend it given the limitations of the body and chrome that V currently had. So...what If the NUSA did some precaussion control and made so that V can't use chrome because they were fearful of a Cynosure take over?
I think it's more so that V's body is so incredibly damaged from the relic disassembling it - Cynosure effectively had to reverse-engineer his body with existing organic components. The same way the relic systematically reworked it to match Johnny's body, Cynosure systematically reworked what was left of his nervous system.
However, what this means is that V's neural cognition no longer works like any other human on earth. None of the default assumptions one would make when creating cyberware for the human body apply to V - he's entirely in a biological class of his own. On top of this, between Edgerunners and the TTRPG we know the humanity stat plays a role as well; between the relic taking on significant cyberware cognition load whereas the brain usually does (and becomes used to it), a wholly different neural system, and the fact he's been in a coma for two years, his body is in poor shape to take on cyberware, if default cyberware is even compatible at this point. He doesn't even have his old friends - Vik had to sell out, and Misty is leaving as well.
That said, there are ways to increase the humanity stat, and for all we know, V figured out how. If not, he can always choose the quiet life.
@@theprommanV can just loot cyberware capacity shards until he becomes god mode again
The tech that put Johnny on a chip had been developed for over 50 years and developed enough that it was talked about on tv, which implies that somewhere there are blank bodies set up to load soul chip into, writing johnny onto a blank brain the way the chip was originally intended to work. It would fit the lore to be able to get him his own body if safely removed from V.
Actually Relic 1.0 has been around for a while and that's what's on the billboards. The chip that ends up in V's head is Relic 2.0. It is stated that it is secret, experimental, prototype technology. Even Hellman is surprised by how well it worked, and he designed it. Also, while he didn't figure he could save V he was prepared to make sure they recorded every agonizing moment until V is no longer V and is instead Johnny Silverhand or dead, in a clinic in Switzerland. I honestly don't think they have bodies lined up. Even Saburo planned to supplant Yorinobu when Saburo died, taking over in his son's body.
But didnt it been stated in a game that this whole thing with relic was basically a scam? Arasaka just imprisoned and interrogated the constructs inside Mikoshi.From what I remember they only intended to give Saburo a new body.All other people were meant to spend eternity in Mikoshi.
I'm 3 months late, but this is actually pretty likely. There's a non-canon storyline from the tabletop RPG where Alt gets her hands on Johnny's original engram and backs it up. She then sources a clone body for Johnny, copies the engram into it to resurrect him, then plans to simply replace him with a new Johnny if he ever gets killed.
Given some stuff that's happened in Cyberpunk RED, it seems likely parts of this storyline might appear in the canon timeline.
Secure Your Soul program was mainly based on Relic 1.0, which we mention to Vik after the prologue. The Relic 1.0 was only capable of letting you communicate with the engram.
The Relic 2.0 is still relatively new and classified tech. The program they were selling for the high classes, to literally backup their minds, was based in future developments of said tech. If you side with Hanako, Saburo Arasaka becomes the first one to actually come back from the dead thanks to the chip.
There are clones in the cyberpunk lore tho, but from what we can understand from the Relic in CBP2077, probably Arasaka really just didn't figure out everything yet.
So-Mi never hand a chance too.. She also wanted to survive.. She also wanted to be free from Myers and her exploits.. She also wanted to stop being a tool for the FIA.. So-Mi was a clear reflection of V. I rather have Alt kill me and insert me back than betray and turn on someone that did everything in their power to escape and survive.. Just as V does cause let's be honest if V was in So-Mi's position, there was no way we were gonna give that cure up. She didn't need to tell us the truth, she could have easily lied more to V and vanish to the moon with the cure but she confessed and I think she did so because V maybe unknowingly on their part became her one and only trustable and true ally and friend. Misty always said there will be a time where you will have to choose a path.. I chose.. I chose the path that flipped a finger to Night City and said "You ain't gonna turn me into something you want me to be".
I got the secret ending, and when Johnny called V, Valerie, I had tears in my eyes. He wanted to see how V’s life, and how the world would continue on for years to come. I think that sums up how a lot of people feel about death. What will earth look like 50 years from now? 70? 100? Honestly I think the time jump is showing us what the sequel may look like because in every ending besides the Devil ending, Arasaka stock tanks and Yorinobu leaves Night City.
Anyway, I saw this ending along the same lines as the Devil ending. You give up a lot to save yourself, but if you lose everyone that you cared about, have you really saved yourself? Panam refuses to talk to you, and River would rather end his relationship with V due to his being ashamed of himself than possibly taint V with his perceived corruption. V was willing to stay with him. What makes it worse is that River voiced not wanting to let V go or allow anything to ruin their relationship. And surprise surprise Takemura survived the assault on that abandoned apartment building where he was keeping Hanako even if you don’t go back for him. But he and River basically said the same thing - that V was that light in the darkness.
I honestly think the Don’t Fear the Reaper ending is the “true” ending. No one dies trying to help V fix their mistake. And V’s fight to save themselves continues.
Also you get to go full ham on Arasaka with the best track in the OST playing in the background.
honestly Takemura might as well be dead. the mission went south and He is the one accused for killing honako.
Though to be fair he now has a once in a lifetime opportunity to finally chase his dream of being a nomad. and that's hoping that he at least thinks for himself
And yurinobo learned a very hard lesson. even if you are at the very top you still cannot change and make the world a better place. you've Weakened a Major corp but that only meant that you gave other and arguably More dangerous corps a chance
@@MetalMustBleed first he got in trouble over Saburo, now Hanako. He liked the comfort and ease of being a corporate lapdog but he should see this as a hard lesson learned.
The lackey will always get the short end of the stick, no matter how loyal they are. They may rub shoulders with the elite, but they are not the elite.
@@einekleinerockmusic8152 heck yea! The Rebel Path is one of the best tracks.
The "don't fear the reaper" ending isnt the true ending. You may think it is because it's probably your favorite, or one of your favorite endings, but it's not the "true" ending. The only reason it is classified as canon is because of the max Johnny stat that is required to get the ending. Don't fear the reaper ending is a dead end ending. Not to mention it's unrealistic even for the cyberpunk universe. Cyberpunk(night city) isn't about happy endings or the best ending. Just because don't fear the reaper doesn't get anyone killed, it still doesn't solve V's problem with the chip. And before you say "well Mr.blue eyes sent him to the moon palace" that still does not solve his problem nor did it guarantee that it would. The liberty ending with Johnny stat maxed out is the true ending. And a lot of you will come to see that when they never do a continuation of the DONT fear the reaper ending. Liberty ending allows V to sacrifice friends and loved ones for his own survival. YES it is sad, but it is supposed to be sad, cyberpunk is a bitter sweet universe not a fairy tale. Like the creator said "Cyberpunk isn't about saving the world, it's about saving yourself". Those were the creators words not mine. Saving the world is the dont fear the reaper ending, liberty is saving yourself. That is why dont fear the reaper ending is so outrageous of a ending to even believe. "Storm arasokha solo?" We saw in edgerunner how that ended 🤷🏽. No matter how much chrome one has no one can do that.
Don’t fear the reaper ending is the happy ending Imo it shows that V isn’t just doing these ops for clout but because it’s who they are what drives them dying isn’t scary by itself dying in a alley after being stabbed by two gonks and being helpless to fight back is especially in a world where people like smasher or V themselves exist.. my V is a total cyberpunk life isn’t about the quantity of life experiences but the quality..
I found the Tower ending more hopeful than the Star or Sun endings as well. Star/Sun endings only hint at possibilities based on clues found during gameplay. But many characters in the game get by just fine without combat-grade cyberware, like Misty, Takemura, Wakako. V even started out without any cyberware, and did gigs for months with Jackie before being chromed up by Vik.
For "quiet life", this is pretty much the happy ending version. It's too bad we can't get this ending and give Songbird her Lucy ending.
Lucy is having a quiet life on the moon, it’s a happy ending for her too. Hers is an example of a happy quiet life, definitely far from what Dex said.
I still think the sun/don’t fear the reaper ending is canon. Why? Mr Blue Eyes.
He appears in said ending as someone who hires V for an incredibly important job. Of course this doesn’t seem all that relevant at first, until we consider that Mr Blue Eyes also appears in the king of wands ending for PL. He’s the one who funds Songbird’s trip to the moon, overlooking us in the control room. CDPR didn’t have to include him in the expansion…when Mr Blue Eyes appears, he appears for a reason. V and Songbird sound like significant players in his plans to me.
It’s for this reason I think Orion will be a continuation of 2077’s story revolving around the rogue AI invasion…CDPR are building up something crazy. The sun/don’t fear the reaper ending looks to be the only ending that fits (perhaps even the star if Mr Blue Eyes contacts V from the badlands). The question remains as to whether the story will be told from V’s perspective again, I hope it would be personally as I’ve grown attached to the character…but CDPR have a lot of options I guess.
I feel that after the launch of 2077, you should definitely NOT get married to any kind of expectations of the sequel. Don't try to predict what will happen next, because the chances of it being accurate are very low.
The traditionally "Happy Ending" is kind of the antithesis of the Cyberpunk IP as it's a *dystopia* in the first place. Not every one gets a second chance at righting old wrongs or revenge. Death isn't a bad thing it just *is* and not every one can accept that so I understand the bitterness a lot of others feel towards the endings.
In the end, will you fight like a man or die like a dog?
If you think this ending is intriguing, you should look into the original leaked ending. Since the story was rewritten since the leak, the original Phantom Liberty ending was pretty interesting.
Im the old version, V got the "Songbird" chip, a splinter chip that was capable of rebuilding their damaged neurons, but when the shard was examined by Victor, he said Arasaka was the only place that had the advanced tech to utilize the Songbird splinter chip. V chooses the Devil ending, but has the option to activate the chip or not. Long story short... it works. V wakes up, and does some creepy tests, one involving a chick and a spider. Something's... off though.
Hellman comes in and says the procedure was a success. "They said the changes caused by the biochip gone too far... but then something happened, your neurons started to rebuild."
Hanako offers V a job in Tokyo, and V can accept. Takemura tells V to call Vic so Arasaka can kill them. However, V's reaction is... wrong. V changed. Changed in a dark way. Almost as if empathy has been wiped away, and Takemura is taken aback. At the end credits during the phonecalls, all of V's friends are scared, saying there is something deeply, deeply wrong with V since returning from the operation.
The original Phantom Liberty from the old script. I used to hate it, but I think it would've been interesting. Truely a deal with the Devil.
I heard about those leaks vaguely when they first released but chose to ignore them under the assumption that the scripts would change. I opened them back up after completing PL and am planning on making a video about them soon
@LayedBackGamers I've been trying to find the full script. So far, that's the best summary I can make. I never knew V's personality was originally affected until looking over old posts. I have bits and pieces from the old script from a long time ago too, but I recommend you try to track a copy down. There's a few reddit users that might have details to share. People who either read or have the dialogue.
I'm not bothered by this leak in particular anymore since it's not reflective of the actual product, but part of me wishes we got this ending.
At least 50% of the people were crying before PL that the endings suck and they want V to stay alive. Now we got this option and people still crying that V becomes a nobody. But thats exactly what Cyberpunk 2077 was trying to explain from the very beginning to the player. Dex's question. Blaze of glory or nobody? By saving your life you have chosen the path to become old, shit in your pants and become just another nobody in the end. Forgoten by anyone else. To become a legend of Night City, you have to die in a blaze of glory ;) This was clear from the very visit in the Afterlife. it is up to you how you want to end the game.
When I did this ending Johnny was understanding of V and even told V he wanted to do this for V because he had changed.
So now I simply do a chromeless run and at the end of the game you just laugh when they tell you you can't use chrome. Perks are utterly cracked TA for inhalers Body for Regen or go cool and never take damage.
Canonically I hope all endings lead to V raiding crystal palace and finding a cure there that fixes his neural connections and gives him normal life span with not reducing his ability. If he leaves with nomad he finds himself contacting by mr blue eyes taking him to that mission, if Jhonny takes over he ows it to V to bring him back from net and hence he decides to take mr. Blue eyes offer. If he has help from FIA he can still run cyberdeck and raid crystal palace with his skills and knowledge gained from previous combat. And then he decides to work from shadows changing stories, corporations like bartmoss did or still does like Morgan Blackhand is or was.
In Arasaka ending he becomes inside agent for Mr. Blue eyes and then gathers data to raid crystal palace to find a cure there, because if we listen to conversations between Mr blue eyes and V it's clear there is something that's very dear to V that he can find.
when you check your messages after The Tower, it says your pets (cat and iguana) were taken in by an anonymous person and that scared me more than V losing his/her friends. ...but fret not; in the end credits? someone hits V up on the holo and you can see your cat and iguana playing together in the background (it's Rogue)🦎🐈⬛💗
I think it's worth mentioning that the new ending leaves V only a little less chromed up then they were for the Dorsett gig. Might not be like having all of Night City at their feet, but I could think of worse things than a career exterminating scavs.
V is rich beyond belief. The schematics and blueprints alone for Relic 2.0…
@@NorseGraphicnot to mention the money V made prior to the operation. In my playthrough V had over 5 million eddies prior to the operation.
The best ending to PL is helping songbird because what is willing to help her will help v in the future, after he becomes a living legend and did the heist for Mr Blue Eyes. V is a construct in a Body that doesn’t suit him in long terms. The mysterious artificial intelligences who are behind some conspiracy’s including Mr Blue Eyes, helping songbird and other things in the game or Cyberpunk Universe could indeed help v to survive. There are some solutions mentioned in the video that might be possible. I think the devil ending and the v becomes dechromed ending are the worst, what was defining v is gone, v is gone, that’s worse than death.
I get cyberpunk is not meant to have happy endings but this ending's consequences seem a bit... derived.
For example, V doesn't tell anyone about the surgery. Within 2 years all of V's possesions are lost. I mean surely with the amount of money and influence, V would still be able to lead a moderately decent life.
What kind of a legend was V that he would have zero contacts after 2 years? I am quite sure many of v's friends would at the very least help him a bit had he told them about the surgery.
I mean it just seems a bit contrived that V, a living legend, would lose all his influence, assets, etc. in just 2 years and wouldn't tell anyone about the surgery
He does tell some of his contacts like Panam and Victor that he’ll be gone away for a bit. Though not 2 years
@@AveChristusRex789 Yeah, but V is experienced. He probably knew there might be complications with the surgery. Coulda told pan and vic he's going for a delicate surgery. Not 100% sure he'll make it unscathed.
Sure pan and vic would still leave V and move on but they wouldn't abandon him. Especially pan cause vic doesnt. At the least pan might pick up the phone
Dex took a 2 year break and he came back.
@@BiggerBossN313 Yeah, seems so weird V gets completely forgotten.
The writing was clumsily written to force a heavy handed bleak ending.
I have a theory to go along with the Star ending, specifically where V romances Judy and she comes along for the ride. She's extremely proficient at making good BDs, she's proficient & familiar with tech from as far back as the 2020s or older up to pioneering new current day tech like the doll chips, and has synced herself & V in the same BD to the effect of being able to hear each other's thoughts. Panam & the Aldecaldos, etc. have powerful connections in Arizona. I think that's a good indication of hope for V being able to repair the neural pathways that the Relic engram fucked up. It's V trusting the right people, rather than relying on the word of corp execs, government, or rogue AI, which don't work out as promised. V knows these people have their best interests at heart, whether or not there's the right caliber of equipment in Arizona for that to play out is another thing.
There's a reason that they focused on Judy's tech wizardry as much as they did through her plot line. The potential is definitely there for V to live beyond the 6 month estimate that the ending gives, but I doubt that V's story is going to be picked back up in any meaningful way moving forward with the IP. At best I can see a shard or a passing reference in one of the new games, but that's it.
It could be pass around as a legend in night city, even without the stuff at Arasaka tower where V kill smasher, his resume is still pretty insane. Maybe we can see some impact V did in the next game like how we did in the Witcher 3 , but ultimately, V story ended here, at best we would have a cameo, or a monument for him
@@tranducquang5912 I don't see V making a cameo in upcoming games, nor any specific ending being "canon" to the universe. Though Takemura's end credit dialogue in the new PL ending as well as in at least one other (non Devil) ending seems to imply that Devil may be the one considered canon.
Now V having their legend spread I can definitely see happening. They would probably be on par with Morgan Blackhand after the shit they pulled. A cameo just seems out of the question since V is supposed to be whatever we interpret them to be, aka created character syndrome.
One of the things that really bothered me about this ending was not so much what was said in the video (which is all true btw, great content!) but the fact that the majority of the drama could have been completely and utterly avoided if V had just taken roughly about an hour or even less of his/hers time to just tell everyone around them what was happening and make the right calls. Considering at this point of the game V is essentially at a legend status (especially if you did phantom liberty on a max level character 50) they have a lot o resources and contacts to basically make sure nothing too serious happens during their time being away. Call Misty, Vik, romance of choice, Rogue, Fixers etc. anyone who is important and just clarify what is about to happen. Then make sure eddies are secure for at least one apartment and the list goes on. I find it incredibly random how V does none of those things, calls up Reed and disappears for 2 years.
To have all these resources at your feet and just poof and disappear is just odd to me. I know the game desperately wanted to send another message but to me it just felt V was an idiot to not take Reed's deal on his/hers term BEFORE going in the AV and preparing accordingly.
As for the actual ending, something that did stick out to me was the Reed genuinely follows through and cares for V. He even offers them a job and makes sure their surgery is a success PLUS keeps in contact once they're out of the coma. V has plenty of options in this ending and I think its short-sighted to say its bad because you can no longer be a pseudo cyber-psycho going around terrorising the underworld with your chromed out super builds. The thing I take away is this; V played Night City and SURIVED. More than can be said for 99% of others who try it. Not only that, V came out the other end with other opportunities.
Which you know, might just be the bigger thing, and in the credits if Rogue's alive kind of alludes to that. V played the games of the city, triumphed and gets to live. Disappear into the crowds, she did invite V to stop by for a drink or any time. But doing so might dampen their legend status. Which at the Afterlife, is a big deal.
I find the changes in each endings and their affects on the world deeply interesting. The devil ending calms the waters for Arasaka, giving them time to plan ahead, Temperance puts Arasaka on edge, giving Militech an advantage but not enough for war, and with this new ending with Militech having pushed Arasaka out of NC it removes a lot of the tension between Militech and Arasaka within NC. Personally with the symbolism of V ( fifth corpo war) and the fear of war, I always thought each ending gave an idea to the possible future cyberpunk sequel will take... since CD Project if i recall mentioned that V's story ends here, but Cyberpunk continues... the world of cyberpunk still has a story left to tell.
so basically the new ending is a good thing because when rouge Ai war happen it's possible V can be like morgan blackhand and do things the old fashion way
Personally I love the new ending in so much as it exists, simply because it drives home that the core game endings truly are the best endings. At the end of the day going out in a blaze of glory is the cyberpunk way! Besides, I still find the Panam Aldecado ending pretty hopeful as it’s ambiguous as to what can happen next. But anyone who plays the table top knows you should always have your next character rolled up and ready because very few edge runners grow old in night city!
V could be the best fixer in NC after this ending. I was also pretty distraught with it, but out of all of them this one does leave V with the most options.
Could you imagine in Orion after years or decades the Player rolls up to the biggest Fixer known to people and its your old Character V, basically blurring the lines. If this Ending is Canon to CDPR of course.
@@MichaSennin even better if they have a save game scanner to make V look like yours did.
Yeah, because Nobody is the 20 point skill that makes you a legendary night city fixer. They make it really clear with the dialogue about the Padre being a has been that V has no one to rely on anymore and is a powerless nobody.
It’s clear the canon ending is the 70% Johnny secret ending. Is the best ending nobody you care about dies and you still get to choose what happens to you. Alex even refers to having a choice or not having a choice in one of her dialogue lines when she meets me after the mission is over with.
@@jarrodhroberson I agree about the reaper ending being the best and therefore should be canon
V can become like Togusa from ghost in the shell. A revolver, skill, and no cybernetics. Obviously he would get destroyed but V has the smarts to move like Morgan.
It does feel like the endings have a lot in common with gods, redemption, things like that. You fly too close to the sun like Icarus, or you go so far that your soul is torn from your body, or you sell your soul to the devil. The new ending is like a rebirth with a new chance at life, which again makes more sense with the monks throughout the city and the Buddhist nature of their beliefs.
I just hope project Orion can give us a better outcome on V maybe we might be V after 2079 a couple months after he came out of the coma and found a way to chrome up not with new chrome but legacy chrome
What’s legacy chrome?
@@BiggerBossN313 its in the tabletop rpg and cyberpunk2077 its very old tech or cyberware like the bartmoss' cyberdeck, or what johnny used to hack the arosaka tower in his flashbacks and because its old its hard to be hacked like very old green screen phones or phones without an actual android or ios interface
@@TheAlpha1321 does the tabletop got exosuits?
@@BiggerBossN313 yes there are some pretty cool ones some look like insects or dragons
It's the most horrifying ending, because V becomes another face in the ground, which mirrors 99,9% of not 100% of the players playing. Never had a game show me a mirror after beating it. Gave me chills. Awesome game. Awesome ending. Still the one I would never play again.
This is the perfect description of that ending
The most horrifying ending is where V dies, so not this one. People who call this ending "horrifying", might as well be shallow and selfish, since they don't understand V's situation.
@@PEN1killer tell me how nobody understands it, while you do, in a role playing game with different choices and Charakter development.
@@requiemforaflower so put yourself in V's shoes. Would you rather die in 6 months or take the cure? I think someone stable would go with second option.
@@PEN1killer different people have different personalities and different values. There’s always people who would rather be a dying demigod whom none can ever bring down, but is destined to burn out in short order like a star about to go supernova, rather than a helpless random sheep among the herd, living for now but only until the predators around you decide otherwise.
I'm glad someone finally brought up the fact that V is now just a construct inside her own head, and a cloned body could be created from stored DNA patterns. We can map human DNA now; it should be almost routine in 2077. I do still have one question: Why can't we just take the Neural Matrix off So Mi? She took it with her after extracting it from the containment unit. Why can't V just take it off her when she's incapacitated in the tram, give Solomon So Mi, refuse to accept anything more from him, and with her contacts find someone who can cure them
I've always said this... V got beaten up by thugs because he just came out of a coma, so he isn't used to it.
But in time V can learn how to solo without cyberware, because being a solo is more than just cyberware.
Besides he could always just be a fixer, as he said, and given what he did he wouldn't have any trouble as a fixer.
Or there's always the job for Militech.
I say he had it made.
this is the perfect ending as when we all signed up to play was to find a cure, the requirements for the cure is life and experiences that happen to get the cure. Those were the requirements for the cure, was either that or v know he would die trying but he made it out , now he have to adapt to what he would be caple of, I think the new game should not have v but someone new and that someone new is all who participated in the game and we know the entire stories and we act on whats coming and start a brand new chapter but someone who know the entire cyberpunk story.
As others are saying, the new ending isn't bad because V lost 2 years of their life, friends and chrome. It's because the loss of V's closest assasinates all of their characters (Except for Vik, Misty, Kerry and Judy). V only sends a shitty little text, the Aldecaldos discard V after calling them family? River abandons all sense of morality the second V exits their life. Also, the FIA needlessly asks you to keep the surgery a secret. Yes they're using highly secretive tech to perform the operation but honestly i doubt their friends and love interests could give a flying fuck about what a "neural matrix" is as long as the NUSA dont shaft V long and hard during the surgery. They did literally the most insensitive thing and didn't even update anyone on the prognosis when they realized it would take longer than expected.
Why would they care to be sensitive. Tech is worth millions of lives( in their eyes, don’t forget that Myers was using Songbird to poke at the blackwall, risking lives of everybody on the planet just for power) . They honestly wouldn’t give a fuck about V relationship, and the aldecados dont necessary abandon him either, only Panam did. Mitch did contact V in the end, saying she tried to move on from V and she has a really hard time doing so, she just gone over it so no contact is best
Go get soulkilled then and be replaced by an engram.
Also it show who the rats were and who were the real friends: Vic, Goro, Kerry, Misty.
@@Tonius126 hard disagree. Panam in the base game endings acts true to character in each and every one EXCEPT this one. Though I agree that River and Judy were hardly ever V's friends, and that extends to Goro too.
There were so many moments that made me feel genuine emotions for these characters. I think the one that hurt the most was, "Good night Valerie, today was a good day".
We're just doing what we can to survive the clusterfuck of a situation we find ourselves in, but in the process we become someone else, someone we just delete because we think we'd rather live than spend what time we have left with the people we love. We wake up as half of a person and think we beat the odds, only to find out 2 years have gone by and none of the people that meant the most to us are there anymore.
No game has ever made me feel so empty inside or so frustrated that no outcome is the fairy tale ending we expect.
btw, I also turned around on this ending. I just wish I could have at least kept Panam. But in the end, I realized he's alive. He gets to LIVE, not survive, but LIVE. I hope my V takes Reeds offer and get himself a cushy job at langley.
There are practical limits to the number of distinct plot lines that CDPR can implement in subsequent games. With the endings from the base game I can see all of them (with the exception of the suicide ending, which is a literal dead end) converging on the Crystal Palace heist as a start for the second game. I don't see how normie V from the new ending could end up there.
The thing that really struck me was the two year coma. We see 2079, and not much has changed. The Fifth Corporate War hasn't started yet. The AI invasion hasn't happened yet. In the base game endings, V is still on a very short (6 month) fuse, and we will need to resolve his situation quickly, if only with a temporary solution. Normie V can't face the Fifth Corporate War in his current state, he can barely walk. He'll have to pull himself together, and that will take yet more time, maybe a full game.
Interestingly, it's normie V's body that is his roadblock, the same issue as Legend V, but with a different time scale. It can all be resolved by striking a deal with AI Alt (not Angel) and Biotechnica (for a clone).
I don't see how to make those timelines coexist. And 2079 is now canon.
All of which makes me think this is another dead end. By which I mean that you would go through character creation again in the second game and make a new V rather than importing our save from this game.
Although as I write this ... the FIA thought enough of V's service to provide him with surgery ... Reed offered him a job (that V interpreted as a desk job, but Reed didn't say that) ... they've had two years of technological progress ... they could have an interest in Crystal Palace as well ... offering him an engram transfer to a cloned body? Synchronize all the major endings with V in a new body after the Crystal Palace heist, but with different patrons and missions? Then introduce the Fifth Corporate War?
The video essay really resonates with me because it reinforces a concept that I’ve recently come to terms with, which reinforces why cyberpunk is more realistic than fantasy: because cyberpunk as a genre practically abandons all forms of idealism as being practical or achievable because idealism really just isn’t. No one person is going to change the world, it’s a waste of time to even try. A realist out look is understanding and coming to terms with the barriers of an idealistic outcome, and understanding you’re going to have to settle for the best feasible resolution to a realistically shitty situation. Cyberpunk isn’t completely cynical or pessimistic about reality or all outcomes of life, but is realistic in a philosophical and ideological sense that life is messy, and all we can hope to do is make the world a little better in our corner, and for those we care about. The world is not about us nor does it care about us, we just live in it, and our hope should be to just make the best of it, not to wallow in despair, nor to attempt to project our will onto the world in an attempt to shape it beyond what is feasibly possible.
I would love to see V in Orion, at least as a Fixer, maybe for one gig and I wish they say what is the Canonical endings.
Unless they do something like Mass Effect, as in the games connect and the major story choices continue throughout the games. If only the ending choices.
A lot of people might disagree but I hope it turns out like mass effect. Ive definitely grown attached to the character of V
@@AveChristusRex789 I was more so saying even without V, just the choices made. But that would be cool too, the mass effect games did the story so well until the end.
i think the only reason why i cant agree with v in the new ending is that it's just very hypocritical, you betray songbird, and then repeat the same mistakes as her afterwards.
For me the most important part of the endings is what impact it leaves. I'll always view the Panam assault and escape with their loved ones as one of the best outcomes as it not only let's V leave on their own terms but also stick it to the corp that ruined their life and so many others. If V chooses to live on in this way, while it may be hopeful for them personally, they still allowed Adam Smasher to continue his career, Arasaka kept its Relic program and did who knows what during its war with Militech that likely went on longer than if V damaged their investments with an assault. Maybe I am just in a more Johnny mindset but I feel like going out kicking and screaming is better than just fading away in the crowds.
I have to agree with you but at the same time I have to disagree. I think putting the boots straight up the back side of the corporations to the point where they are ripping their hair out. And then fading away into the crowd after establishing a legend. Is something even better. Because well no one will remember v themselves. Everyone will still be speaking about what they accomplished. And v just living their life on the streets will be listening and smiling. Knowing that every little step they took on the way to being a legend. Really did affect somebody in some small way. And they cemented their legend by being one of the very few who were able to walk away with their life.
It reminds me of something that I heard once in an old military cartoon. "Old soldiers never die. They just, fade away." And I feel like that's what they were trying to get at when it came to johnny finally giving up willingly himself to allow v to have their body back. Accepting that he was an old soldier. His war was over and it's time for him to fade away. He's already stood side by side by v seen what the world became even after his work. And kind of comes to the realization. There really was no point To what I did except for the fact that didn't inspire others. But my own act accomplished nothing. And I think that scares him. Because I think that If is the first time silverhand ever had to look in the mirror and see himself genuinely for what he is. A soldier fighting the war that ended far far long ago. That nobody remembers and barely any one cares about. A war people want to move on from but he just can't. His construct is nothing more than p t s d made manifest in a sense into a physical human logic.
Tower and Temperance are the two most hopeful endings, at least the way I see it; an actual second chance
They are also the two endings that made me cry like a baby
That is a good point at 19:45 . In an 'apocalypse scenario', where every bit of tech could be used as a weapon by the invaders; The one with no tech is as close to untouchable as can be. Like the old saying goes: "In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king."
I've lost literally everything before, had to rebuild my career, money, relationships, family... everything.
Where as it's possible. I won't go through rebuilding like that again. It kills who you are leaving you as an empty shell.
I’m really glad you made the point that V can still do pretty well without cyberware if he wanted to.
I’m not saying he’ll be the new Morgan Blackhand but he can definitely still use basic weaponry and still be a net runner with a cyber deck.
Very valid points I left out in my video where I focused more on the possibility of V becoming a fixer.
Yes, V can still be a merc. In fact not having cyberware could make him even deadlier as he’d have to adapt become more skillful.
Maybe not a merc. I could see V with personal bodyguard, riding around Heywood as a fixer, like Padre used to. Since Padre lost his turf, V could take his place.
I have a theory that the aldacado ending with panam will lead to life. Aldacados according to panam have contacts out in Arizona what if one of those is a certain engram clone angel, who has brought an engram back. Just a theory though.
misty's tarot card readings for that ending are extremely positive, so i think it really is likely that V made it out alive
Possibly, but is that what V desires? He wants to live, yes. But other than that, didn't V always want to be a legend in NC and be in the big leagues? Will V be able to get it in Badlands?
@@tastycookie94 i think V says at one point that they were working to become a legend previously for jackie's sake, and it wasn't something that they really wanted
I'm guessing for sequels, V might be treated like Blackhand. Some people mention him/her as legend and refer some events in 2077 but no one knows where he/she has gone or died so all endings makes sense.
V mentioned that he might become a Fixer. From the TTRPG, the Fixer is the most human archetype. They leverage their Humanity to be able to read people and empathize with them. From all his time spent with NC's Fixers, V is in a unique spot. He might become the ONE Fixer who never messes over their people. The one that mercs actually trust.
in my head that’s the ending i got
I too chosen this reply to Mysti but I in truth i think that V won't last a month as a Fixer without cyberware in a dangerous city like NC. Mercs would see him like a weak.
@@alessiogiuffrida6172 V isn’t completely without Cyberware. Just not combat focused ones. V would have the physical capabilities to be the next Blackhand. All he had was a robot arm and the rest of him was organic. Even dermal armor would probably be viable considering it’s nothing but armor. V isn’t going to be a God Level cyborg but plenty Cyberpunk legends show that you don’t really need any of that.
So V is sorta like Case from Neuromancer in this ending. Go on to live a normal life, at least as normal as can be in a dystopian universe.
What I find puzzling, is V returning to Night City. I mean, what is left for him there. In a city with the highest crime rate in the world? I doubt it's the quiet life. This does imply that V refuses to give up on his dreams, or failing to accept the consequences of his actions.
In the early game, V fucking takes his eye out to replace it with an implant, and goes on to commit crimes for superfluous reasons. Even though I appreciate this ending, I never got the impression it's the quiet life V wanted. This character was always more about style over substance which is why I'll always end their story in a huge bang, a blaze of glory.
A comment I left on a few videos but will also leave here. I think throughout this game we're told quite often metaphor for being young and the death of your dreams and the beginning of the rest of your life, of dealing with change, another core aspect of the human condition and cyberpunk.
I like to think that the phantom liberty ending is the canon ending since because unlike the main game ending, it doesn't ask to do one more gig it just sends you straight to the menu.
I think the tower or the sun ending are 50/50 for canon
It bothers me that V or Mama Wells never made contact in the tower ending. I've only played on my first character where i didn’t send jackie to her so idk if it's different but from other videos I've seen and gonna assume they sent jackie to her, i didn't see any options, text, or voicemail from her.
I'm thinking cdpr couldn't get the voice actress to come back
@MacinteuchPlus yeah I was thinking about that too, but I wonder if there's a specific Lore reason why
What players forget is how rich V really is. He/she has the blueprints/schematics of Relic 2.0 (from Anders Hellman) and it’s worth billions. And the money stored in his/her co-processor wasn’t touched by the thugs. They got barely anything, maybe some pocket lint.
And V has options outside NC now, something they can explore; work for the FIA as the former Arasaka counter-intel employee. Visiting Misty, and a hint of romance in that ancient forest in Poland? And despite V’s absence, relationships might get mended. I see nothing wrong with male V visiting Judy in Pittsburgh.
So, it’s a new beginning, starting from level 1 and playing a different game. Building a business, becoming a fixer, taking the offer from Jefferson Peralez to head his security, partner with River Ward and change his current trajectory. Lots of options for the new V.
Edit. I wonder if Takemura would work for V as his personal bodyguard. With V’s eddies, he could get back to his former self, plus the added experiences.
"This is war, survival is your responsability" H.U.N.K. from Resident Evil.
When you think after you find out what happen in Real life your only Friend besides Misty is Voice by an Ai its sad Vicks VA could never life long enough to see the New Ending.
Vicks va was dead?
@@BiggerBossN313 He pass way in 2021. CDPR had to either replace the Actor or AI the Actor so they went to his Family and ask if they could Ai him to keep him in the Game to finish the New Ending.
The problem I have with this ending is that V handled their relationship so unbelievably fcked up. V made such good relationship with especially Panam, Judy, River and Kerry, then they just throw that away by not informing them. Especially when romanced Judy, V didnt even told her where they are going. Like how can you not tell your SO where you are going for such an important surgery. I think the ending fits into the Cyberpunk universe. In the Cyberpunk universe there is no good ending, you have to make very hard decision and you cant get everything you want. But I really dislike how V handled their relationships in the new ending.
Absolutely agree it should have gave us the option to contact people like it did on the rooftop, I feel like between the initial decision with reed, meeting the president and going off to the surgery, there was ample enough time to contact people and inform them so they Arnt just fucking waiting for 2 years.
i get that reed tells you that it's confidential and stuff but like, since when has that stopped V??
Just seemed like bad writing to me
@@consensus688It wasn’t “bad writing” smh 🤦♂️
@@joshuaa2278it was pretty lazy writing for V to just not say anything at all. Especially since you can call Panam, for example, and tell her you’re working with NUSA and you could possibly be cured. It’s actually a complete fallacy that V says nothing. It’s worse than bad writing, almost a plot hole
i just realized if they choose to make the new ending the cannon ending that means adam smasher is still alive honestly rly smart writing if they wanna reuse him
You can get the special comments from silverhand at 85%
i still believe that mayers botched the surgery to take care of v, every time v is "cured" the people that do dont care about him/her same with arasaka
in this scenario v is "tanken care of" not a threat anymore they knew too much
The Tower is an interesting Tarot card. It has two common interpretations. The first is having an epiphany and being set free by it. The second interpretation is being trapped in a situation with no way out. The new ending can be either of these things.
The new ending gives a ton of insights in the consequences of felling Arasaka. Before the fourth corporate war, Militech and Arasaka were equally matched corporations that were leagues ahead of the rest of the world, but neither could claim the title as the dominant. Instead they spent decades staring eachother down until the fourth corporate war. The fourth corporate war tore the two leviathans down to the ground for a good 30 years before they rose back up and found themselves in the same position of staring eachother down beckoning eachother to make the first move. Felling Arasaka's collapse following all endings except for the devil ending, leaves Militech as the uncontested leviathan leaving Militech the most powerful corporation on the planet. The concequences of such are seen in Night City in the new ending with Militech holding a dictatorship like hold on Night City with there being extensive Militech presence. Perhaps it would be better for the world if V sided with Hanako, but like Pondsmith said, this is about saving yourself, not the world.
Really nice POV over this ending.
If CDPR uses the sequel to continue V's story, i think we have two options.
The less likely one: Path of Glory + Sending Songbird to the moon.
The one that makes more sense to me is:
Killing Songbird at the Cynosure facility + Aldecados ending.
Songbird is being used or at least suffering some interference from the Rogue AI coming from the blackwall since the beginning of the Expansion, as we see that red/pink glitch all over the place she goes and with the chimera. The thing is it gets heavier throughout the game to the point (making a parallel with the scene of her room getting sucked by the blackwall as the time goes by) she is almost controlled by it.
If we handed her to Myers anyhow, she is going to be used and as we see, Mr. Blue Eyes is all over about sending her to the moon, probably to do the same, with a fake promise of curing her. As that is the only hope for her, she throws everything on this shot.
So avoiding her to get sucked by the Blackwall, Myers and Mr. Blue Eyes, we avoid at least for some time Rogue AI and the blackwall to make a mess in the "real world".
As we now know that there could be means to cure V (in the base game, there was not), making a sequel that they got out of NC to find that and then getting back afterwards with a possible 5th war coming could be a good thing, and bringing blackhand back with the war.
The problem with this ending is that everything screams that it's a bad ending right in you face.
The 'best' ending still is to solo arasaka tower and going into the net.
Thank you, this essay was sort of a relief, proof i wasn't crazy thinking that the new ending (after long soul searching) was the positive ending V needed.
After hundreds of hours of cyberpunk content, this video stands out for me for the depth of thought you put in. Your ending with what is the future for V, i never even thought about the AI invasion and how much of a benefit his lack of cyberware is for him in that case.
I could see a sequel where they use this ending and then seeing V again and possibly finding a way to be who they really wanted to be. Being the best And able to have chrome again. Ending is depressing bur definitely gives hope for V.
I think so much of the reason that to become a 'Legend' of Night City you have to die in extraordinary fashion is the ability, need, either way really, to put the needs of others (usually those close to you or that you care deeply for) above yourself entirely. It feels martyr-esque.
So many of the normal people, chromed or not, could be in the same situation as the 'legends' but the difference is the normal people would choose to save themselves every time. whereas the 'legend' type would pick death, for whatever reason, but it almost always is because their overall goal is more important to complete to them than continuing to live with the failure of the mission. a lot of times in the stories the consequence for failure is their death or the death of those close to them anyways so its usually a pipe dream that they would be alive at the end as well.
So for me the Don't fear the Reaper ending is the best as you see all that you want to be accomplished through, manage to completely sell out those you care about, and even give yourself a shot (even if its a super longshot) at life with the OP with Mr Blue Eyes.
In the tower ending the sacrifice of Johnny only for you to end up without chrome at all is a hard pill to swallow, esp since as well at that point panam won't talk to you, vik sells out and is super depressed, misty is moving to poland, overall just very bleak. the only one with a midly happy outcom is judy but she is also devastated to hear that your alive and hadn't known so its a double edged sword.
I can see the hope, but for the tower ending is V accepting the quiet life in the truest sense, not something I felt for my playthrough of V. It just doesn't sit right with me to not only kill Johnny, but also let Smasher live.
At the end of the day, one thing stays true: there are no happy endings in Night City.
The ending should make people cry. It seems that some people are angry that this happened to them.
I went back to my save when johnny was talking to me on the helicopter, I couldn’t bear the thought of deleting johnny forever. Panam is the canon ending for me.
What i view as the most likely headcannon story for my corpo v after the new ending is he transitions into going to langley for a bit before coming back as a fixer in NC with ties/contacts in high places in the NUSA.
He can then capitalize on his status of a living legend in getting both clients and mercs (new and veteran). Because who wouldn't want to work with the legendary V and maybe even learn something.
As I've mentioned in other posts, the new ending is intentionally made to be darker than it actually is so that it fits better into the canon of the cyberpunk genre. Let's summarize what the new ending looks like:
1. V. is or was a legend of NC - goal #1 fulfilled.
2. V. survived the relic - goal #2 achieved.
3. V. certainly still has all of her abilities (game-related advantages and attributes). After a few months of rehabilitation, he/she should be fully recovered.
4. V. is damn rich (for me it was 4 million plus all the cars). I don't think he/she had to pay for the relic surgery.
5. No one should claim that the only way they can be happy is as a killing machine, so screw the implants. Worked in the beginning and before 2.0, even without... I did a pre-2.0 run with only the implants you get automatically (Cyberdeck, Eyes and Smartlink) - it worked. The fact that protective equipment is almost useless as of 2.0 is actually complete nonsense.
6. The consequences of V.'s disappearance are questionable. V. is not responsible for the fact that Vik sold himself to a corporation. Mitch saying that V. shouldn't call anymore is ridiculous. What happened to “we’ll help you anytime”?! You can only lose trust in the Aldecaldos for the nomad ending...
7. Come on CDPR: Have you been looking for the saddest clothes in the game to equip V. with? My V. would never wear such dreary clothes like in the last scene. This makes the whole thing look even more hopeless.
It seems that CDPR wants to tell us: Yes, V. finally survived but for what a high price! What are the costs: A new start after he/she achieved everything she wanted? Not a bad thing I guess...
I would argue that there is no universal best or worst (ok, maybe suicide) ending.
As a Netrunner with INT 20, it would probably make sense for V. to leave his/her body to Johnny and move to cyberspace, because she could "survive" there with her great skills and knowledge.
As a fighter with a robust physique (high CON and Cool), the new ending would probably work because he/she would have excellent regeneration abilities.
With a relationship with Panam or Judy, the nomad ending would probably be appropriate so that V. can be with them until the unfortunately soon end.
If you don´t want to sacrifice one of your chooms you should choose the hidden way where you go to Mikoshi alone.
The suicide ending is pointless, as Misty says - you will kill two souls, bad choice.
If you play a corpo, I think the devil ending teaming with Arasaka would fit best.
And for the last ending - after Phantom Liberty - I have a theory. The sun ending where V. infiltrates the Crystal Palace Casino in space could be interesting if some circumstances are fulfilled. If you send Songbird to the moon, she seems to be cured because you later get a message and a gift from her (or Mr. Blue Eyes as some people believe). So if you DON´T send her, this cure (the wild AI from behind the blackwall) should be available for V - but I guess it´s just working if V. is a very good netrunner. After the DLC I see a strong connection between the casino station and the research moon station. Maybe part of the station is the research facility where So-Mi wanted to go to. Otherwise I know get what exactly the point with the station is. But I didn´t play this ending so I might miss the clou about it. So if your V. sides with Reed and is a top netrunner this might be an ending where he/she survives.
I think Cyberpunk 2077 is the best game ever made, but although I´m still struggling with the endings and all the bad decisions you have to make to get them. One lucky end would have been nice for those who like a happy end - like me....
If V talk to the joytoy (clouds mission) and she call V by the real name V was pissed and say: only my real close friends can call me by my real name. Months later Silverhand calls V by your real name….this hits hard. Vik his laptop Terminal you can read a message made by Zetatech they ask vik if he wants to work for zeta, he say clearly no…well years later the table turn. Going To be a Night City legend it means to die and the most cyberpunks died actually pretty young aged, i mean V is 23 years old this is crazy if you realized how many ups and downs and all the dangerous jobs V do.
Morgan Black Hand was not "modestly chromed" wish people would stop saying that. You can check the cyberpunk wiki and it tells you what cyberware he has from the tabletop. He had Sandevistan which isn't something anyone can use its top tier chrome. The game did a very poor job explaining that.
Further the ending took everything from V. It's angsty and depressing just fort he sake of it. The character assassinations that happened to achieve that ending is just bad writing. Aldecaldos would NOT discard V like that. Sorry.
Agreed. The new finale is bad not because it's a bad end again. No. It's because it's badly written. It's like some kind of fanfiction. I agree about Morgan too, I've been seeing more and more people use the wrong information about Morgan had very few implants. When it's just a comparison to Adam Smasher.
exactly. Compared to smasher he's modest. But to everyone else he is very chromed out. @@tastycookie94
I thought it was good cept for the Panam thing yeah
Well the Morgan thing I agree , he was pretty chromed out (something I recently learned myself) but the Nomands ? I think you are wrong. Just because you disagree with it doesn't mean it's bad writing. I am pissed about the Nomads telling you to fuck off too, but it's what it is. People forget, people change. I mean remember your first Love ? Remember telling and being told that your Love will never end. Well for the most of us that didn't happen. I think it's realistic and I believe that Panam still doesn't know about V. I believe that Mitch somehow heard the Voice-mail first and decided that it's not good for Panam to find out, hence why he was the one to message you. It wouldn't fit Panams character to not reach out to V (negatively or postively). Character assassination I agree on though.. but that's actually really good writing imo.. think of RDR2 or Johnny from GTA lost and damned. Seeing your Heros die pathetically is something that pulls our heartstrings. Especially for Men because we grow up and we see our Rolemodels slowly wither away. Our Father's/Action Heros/ Brothers whatever becoming frail, weak, sick or they die. It's sad but that's life.
The only ending I think is a "bad" ending is the Arasaka one. The other ones all have silver linings. The nomad ending you are surrounded by people you love and who can help you try to find another way, the new ending you can start a whole new life, the other ones you become a legend or Johnny has a second chance. The only silver lining with becoming an engram is you might be saved. And if you are youll be like vic in the new ending. You signed yourself over to Arasaka. Life is more than just breathing. I can see an optimists view of it but I think its overshadowed by the reality of the situation V just put themselves in.. owned, bodiless, and at the mercy of one of the worlds Mega Corps.
in the end, V selling out his Songbird(as faulty as she is) to life worse than death, wiping johnny, letting Alex die, to steal away someones hope of survival just to live on as a empty husk of a "has been". people who say this ending is the most hopeful kinda misses the point in my opinion and pull out copium just to make it seem V has a chance to become a solo again. the game cant tell you how it is, but will show you how it is. v lost everyone he cared for, has lost all his capabilities and even some bums of the street hands his ass back to him, which means he can no longer stand up for himself. and just walks away as a face in the crowd. even Misty tells it like it is to V. yea he can live, but in the end for what? living for the sake of surviving or living for something that is important to you? quiet life or blaze of glory?
cdpr shouldn’t make that ending
This is probably my favourite game of all time tbh. I loved every minute of it. I was at about 120hrs play time before I finished it because I loved the city and setting so much, I kept wondering off to do other things between all the main quests….and imo that’s a good thing, and the sign of a very well written, planned and realised game world.
Witht the new Phantom Liberty ending V could be a fixer and an ally in the next Cyberpunk. And with the Blackwall A.I.s about to run a muck he'd be immuned to any chrome corruption.
I took the new ending well even in the moment, I think because I've played enough of the TTRPG that I have really digested Pondsmith's 'you're just trying to survive this fuckin' setting' philosophy so I really saw it as by far the happiest ending. The only one where a flesh and blood non-simulacra V gets a new lease on life. The only sad parts beyond loss of the old to begin the new was the augs, and that just makes him an average Joe. One with rich powerful friends and multiple fallback strats like Langley. It's as golden a victory as ever exists for this setting, no TTRPG character could hope to be this happy as they're book ended unless your DM doesn't get the genre.
Being completely honest, a simple job at Langley doesn't sound bad to me. Maybe it's just how I am
Yeah, I like the idea of V reinventing their life and going on to do interesting things in the future, and the bittersweet ending of getting a chromeless body back. Less chrome, more humanity. I love the positive dialogue on the plane and the fact that Johnny uses V’s full name, something V “only lets close friends” do. It’s symbolic of their friendship. Along with many of the valid points you make, I can see why a lot of people like this ending, and a part of me does.
But for the most part, this ending just felt like another version of The Devil ending. Firstly, I view the NUSA as just as evil as Arasaka. The NUSA/Militech turned the US into a dictatorship ruled by “President” Elizabeth Kress for NINE terms from 2021-2065. That’s messed up. Everyone who works for the FIA seems miserable as hell/trapped. Why would V want a desk job there?
This feels like making a deal with another kind of devil, and in both The Devil/The Tower endings Johnny gets deleted, which to me, personally, sucks. Johnny may be code but is capable of suffering therefore imho should be viewed as a being worthy of personhood. So, I don’t like the idea of just deleting him when it’s not at all what he wanted. Love him/hate him/whatever he never asked to be copied, put on the Relic, used as a Corpo pawn (again) and carelessly slotted into a stranger’s head during a failed Heist. Many people disagree lol, and I’m not gonna argue with anyone over this but I feel like he deserves some say in this seeing as his psyche is melding with V’s.
Secondly, losing everything overnight, especially when you’re young, is brutal. You don’t know how bad it is until it happens to you. It happened to me after getting sick 5 years into a promising career and it is …traumatic. Living this way in 2023 USA is bad enough. I can’t imagine living like that in 2077 NUSA.
Doesn’t feel like living, only existing. When V walks into the crowd, yeah, that’s what my life feels like and countless others who deal with chronic illness - you feel invisible. Wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
Of course, V’s situation is different & yes I absolutely realize I’m projecting my own sob story experience here, so yeah, V’s outcome could be positive. Anyway chooms, if this is V’s canon ending I sincerely hope they find a way to reinvent their life. I know many people do, it just hasn’t gone that way for me (and millions of others) no matter how hard I fight.
To be honest, I don’t think there is a great ending, just some seem less horrible. I mean, Alt is sus asf and I don’t like giving her Mikoshi without more information about what she really plans to do.
Almost everyone that I see hating this ending eventually boils their argument to "But- but that isn't cool!!!” You don't stay with the ideal partner, you don't keep all the gear you accumulated and essentially you are forced to commit to sacrifices. It's a very subtle ending for such a, at times, over the top game. You gotta respect CDprojektred for having the balls to deliver this regardless of the frustration it may cause to some players. Even if the final message is one of some hope for V, at least how I see it
It's sorta sad, When I first played phantom liberty, I shot reed and let songbird fly. I sorta knew songbird didn't have any other real option besides V, And I knew V had other options he hasn't expensed yet, Like Takamura and some other endings that lead to a rather happy one, I simply couldn't betray her, knowing she was probably doomed.
As a card reader, I was always a little surprised at how closely they followed the meaning of the cards (especially considering Misty's confused attempt at pop spirituality). The tower for those of you who don't know shows a tower built on unstable ground (the tower of Babel in more traditional decks). The waters are beating against the tower, lighting strikes, and it is falling. It is crumbling in a way that means complete destruction because it was built on shaky ground. Its formation was rushed or maybe in the huberis to reach heaven, built assuming it would never topple so it's crumbling was both needed physically and spiritually. This is a punishment and a lesson. The card's imagery shows clear skies behind the chaos which with it's other aspects means that when this is done, there will be the chance to rebuild in a more healthy situation.
Tarot is actually a story depicting a fool's (V's in the games imagery) journey and the tower is the part of the journey where the fool faces the proverbial "dark night of the soul". When upright in a reading it is a positive, despite the darker aspects and shows growth after a terrible trial.
So, even without watching this (and ignoring that I already considered this as a good ending) the symbolism alone of the tower card ensured me that things were going to be alright.
I also don't think people don't have room for him, he just needs to find where he fits in their lives now that it's been years. It's pessimistic that people look at it and say "Everyone moved on this is a terrible ending". Like people move on all the time. You've moved on from friends, and they've moved on from you, it's just a part of life. Its so natural that even if you haven't noticed, you've done it hundreds of times yourself. The only thing that really sucked was River who decided after everything to go "y'know what Randy? I can one up your bullshit" lmao.
You can say V is free to leave Night City without the need to prove anything to anyone, to become a legend, as that is even actually there alive. Now V can pursue interests and freedom. Maybe pick a job at Langley and work as a techie on top Militech mechs, or just retire and move to Greece / wherever T-Bug wanted to move.
It is seriously the best ending the game gives us, and honestly the best ending for V.
It’s all about survival. The cost may be high, but hell, getting Johnny’s acceptance at the end felt… Right.
Shame on losing Panam, but at least Kerry and Vik are still around.
V can always choose to stay in Night City, or be smart and choose a quiet life in Langley. I’d go for the latter.
I assume the side effects where V can't use Cyberware was caused by Johnny's last effort to survive. When Johnny finaly gave up he decided to cause as much damage as he could to V's brain. Johnny has a will to survive and can be very vindictive as well.
The new ending left a bitter sweet for me. Tears in my eyes and of sadness and yet hopefulness
*If you are reading this comment and you have yet to finish your education you probably will not understand this example, but relate this ending to graduating by calling this the high school ending.*
If you think about it, it perfectly mirrors the reality of leaving behind a place and people you thought where the most important things happened and the most important people existed but in reality high school is Insignificant to the overall big picture of life and in fact is one small event.
This was something that was hammered into my head after the pandemic and hit like a fucking truck when I realized that, all the people I grow up with from elementary to then faded away from my life, some moved out of state to Further their education, some took on trades, some started there own families and some all ready have kids of their own, and lastly some ( myself included) just like the this ending suggest, you the protagonist of your own story fades into the background of society to just be another face, the side character, if you will, to other protagonists stories
Whether you like it or not life moves on without you in it and change can be good thing.
A sad truth but a realistic non the less.
i swear.. after weeping like a baby, that ending just took my heart out and smashed it to pieces.... moreover, it stayed with me for days. I still think about it often. it's a haunting ending, but also so brilliant. it begs the question, what makes a real legend of night city? a young and pretty corpse, or some random gonk who managed to live long enough to tell their story? in my eyes, jackie welles, alt, johnny silverhand, david martinez and the edgerunners? they're all undeniably legends of night city... but V.... they may forget about her, but at the end of the day, she was gifted with something most legends of night city never had - a long life.
One thing I wanted to point out that I haven’t seen many people talk about is that Reed tells V that his body can no longer handle COMBAT chrome specifically. Surely this means he would still be able to have some chrome? He could still have a titanium skeleton which alone would make him pretty hard to kill. He still has his personal link so could still do some basic Netrunning. He can stick to using non-tech weapons. He is also incredibly rich. Possibly having multi million Eddies by the end of the game before his coma.
So although he will probably never be able to be a fully chromed out monster again. He could still be a merc if he wanted. He could have way more chrome than he did at the start of the game when he was runnin with Jackie. Morgan Blackhand is considered the greatest ever solo, able to go toe to toe with Adam Smasher and he famously didn’t have much chrome.
This ending really gives V a fresh start and he has a lot of options going forward. Sure he could leave the city and fade away, live the quiet life while still being a Legend of Night City (especially if he disappears). But he could also just go back to his old life if he really wanted to. He may never reach the same heights as before but it’s possible. Morgan Blackhand is proof of this.
It is sad to see that Panam would just refuse to speak to V (if you romanced her) but at the end of the day relationships end all the time. V could find someone else. Or maybe if he actually left the city and went to see the Aldecaldos he could live with them permanently. Although it’s not given as an option in the game. It’s still a possibility that V could pursue.
If V turns up and explains to Panam about the coma and that he wants to live as a Nomad for the rest of his life with her she could be overjoyed and he gets his ‘happy ever after’
Or she says no. He gets rejected and he has to move on. That’s life. But at least he has the option to try.
I think that is the whole point of this ending. It gives V a fresh start. He is no longer fighting for his life constantly so he now gets to CHOOSE what he wants to do. He has so many options he could really do anything and go anywhere. Just with less chrome. That doesn’t sound so bad to me.
Context, don't listen to what this dude says: Its literally impossible to get 100% friendship with Johnny, the highest you can ever and will get is 85%
IMO the only real ending is where you give your body to Silverhand. He can at least live up to this end and give everyone else some closure, while V might come back at some point. You could even think about cloning V's body. Surely Vik has some DNA for that and V's body is still there.
I hope the next game takes place in maybe 2099? Enough time has passed that V is a legend in Night City (Assuming they took the Sun ending). I also hope they took the fallout route where nobody knows or has forgotten whether V was man or woman.
SPOILER I made friends with johny back in that oil field by chosing "you fucked it up too" and then "this is your last chance". In the AV that takes you to FIA. Johmny wasn't mad about my decision. Understanding even.
Why would V want to go back? Just a question of motivation. They had survived the Arasaka Tower Heist and worked for the NUSA in order to free themselves from Silverhand and the Relic. Their life was legendary, but maybe, its time to walk away, and just breathe after all that. In the end Cyberpunk isn't about saving the world, it's about saving yourself.