The free update of Cyberpunk 2077 will not include an increased level cap, new weapons, or the relic abilities tree

The first and only story expansion of Cyberpunk 2077, Phantom Liberty, is quickly approaching. For some time now, we have known that it will be released alongside a Version 2.0 patch that will add some new features for free. However, we now know exactly what improvements will be exclusive to Phantom Liberty, and it includes some long-awaited changes.

While all Cyberpunk 2077 players will have access to the fully revamped perks and abilities system, the new relic abilities - this fifth option that has been blurry since launch - will only be available to those with the DLC. Players who only have the base game will also be unable to undertake new quests and missions. The patch focuses solely on improving and, in some cases, even reworking what is already present.

This comes from a graphic released by the Cyberpunk 2077 team (as discovered by VGC), and it shows exactly what we can expect from both the patch and the expansion. Of course, those who own Phantom Liberty will have access to both, but those who do not intend to purchase the DLC will only have what is detailed on the left side.

The good news is that some of the major overhauls, including bug fixes for issues that have been complained about since launch, are included in the patch. In the free update, you will receive:

• Redesigned skill trees and perks
• Revamped cyberware and new capacity system
• Vehicle combat and car chases
• Combat Al improvements
• New police system
• UI and UX improvements
• Loot, items, and crafting changes
• New radio stations (including Community Radio Station Growl FM)

However, exclusive to Phantom Liberty, we have:

• Dogtown - a dangerous new district
• Brand-new storyline and characters
• New quests, gigs, boss fights, and more
• Vehicle missions and airdrops - endless dynamic events
• All-new Relic skill tree and abilities
• 100+ new items - weapons, cyberware, cars, and fashion
• Vehicle missile launchers
• Level cap increased to 60.

The graphic also states that there will be "much more" included in Phantom Liberty than listed here. So, this is not the comprehensive list of everything we can expect from the DLC. We can also anticipate some minor, less notable bug fixes in the patch.

Apart from the new relic abilities and the level cap increase, which are exclusive to the expansion, it is also worth noting that the "endless dynamic events" will not be included in the free patch. Many role-playing games feature such repetitive quests, so it wouldn't have been too unusual to include them in the base game as well. However, it could be that they are related to the new district of Dogtown and would not function within Night City itself. We will have to wait and see how they are implemented.

Phantom Liberty will be released on September 26th. Both the expansion and the patch are exclusive to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, skipping over PS4 and Xbox One.