The narrative of Cyberpunk 2077‘s Phantom Liberty expansion centers around a critical decision: align with Solomon Reed, a Federal Intelligence Agency (FIA) officer, or support Song “Songbird”So Mi, the netrunner who serves as President Myers’ aide. This choice significantly influences the trajectory of the story and its ultimate outcomes.
After President Myers’ helicopter crashes in the treacherous district of Dogtown, Songbird seeks the assistance of the mercenary V. In exchange, she pledges her help to aid V in overcoming the debilitating Relic virus. Conversely, Reed advocates against Songbird’s freedom, deeming her operations beyond the Blackwall—a robust digital barrier against rogue AIs—as dangerously unpredictable. Notably, Reed has the President backing his viewpoint.
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for all possible endings of Phantom Liberty, as well as an update to the overarching story in Cyberpunk 2077.]
As tensions escalate, V finds themselves navigating both sides of this conflict. They discreetly place an Icebreaker device on Songbird while aiding her in evading the clutches of the Dogtown gang leader, Kurt Hansen. In a pivotal mission, depending on V’s choices, Reed instructs V to activate the Icebreaker at a crucial moment, setting the stage for a potential climax of the DLC.
Players must tread carefully as their decisions can dramatically alter their experience in Phantom Liberty. Each choice carries distinct advantages and disadvantages, impacting both the immediate DLC storyline and the larger implications for the base game post DLC completion.
Consequences of Supporting Songbird in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
An Optimistic Yet Costly Fate for Songbird
During the pivotal tenth quest titled “Firestarter,” V infiltrates Hansen’s base located at the EBM Petrochem Stadium in Dogtown, aiming to dismantle his operations. Having previously identified two hackers, Aurore and Aymeric, V and Alex gain access to the stadium, allowing Songbird and V to infiltrate its defense systems while Alex takes on Hansen.
At this juncture, V faces the decision to use the Icebreaker or let Songbird continue her objectives. Choosing the latter results in Songbird successfully hacking the systems, leading to Hansen’s demise at Alex’s hands. Subsequently, V and Songbird must make a hasty escape, utilizing her Netrunning abilities to craft defensive measures along their path.
Upon reaching safety, however, Songbird suffers severe injuries incurred during her encounter beyond the Blackwall. Players should avoid the elevator; instead, exiting through the main entrance is vital. A few days later, V receives a call from Songbird, revealing her deception—while she can help V, the cure is exclusively effective for her and requires a journey to a lunar facility. V must escort her to the train for her transition to the spaceport.
As they prepare to leave, they confront Reed, who threatens V and demands Songbird’s surrender. To uphold their allegiance to Songbird, players can opt to draw a weapon during this dialogue, initiating a quick confrontation. Upon taking Reed down, the DLC concludes with Songbird’s departure. In the aftermath, V reflects on the uncertainty of Songbird’s fate with Johnny Silverhand, effectively closing another chapter.
Although siding with Songbird may yield a seemingly happy outcome—allowing her to escape and leading to Reed’s demise—it bears consequences. For instance, players who align with Songbird miss out on acquiring powerful weapons from Hansen, which can only be obtained through the Reed-centric path.
Consequences of Supporting Reed in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
A Bittersweet Survival for All: Reed’s Ending
To support Reed, players can either deliver Songbird at the spaceport or activate the Icebreaker during the “Firestarter”mission. If V chooses to assist in Songbird’s escape but then hands her over to Reed at the last moment, Reed offers a deal: a cure for V must be traded for custody of Songbird. This moment concludes the DLC as both characters leave alive but Songbird is now in FIA custody, heading towards treatment.
Choosing to align with Reed can at times simplify reaching the spaceport compared to the complications that arise if V opts to use the Icebreaker. Activating the Icebreaker may lead to unforeseen chaos, causing Songbird to become destructive and forcing V to confront Hansen alone, earning his special weapons upon victory. After the fight, V and Reed witness Songbird being apprehended by the NCPD.
Following the conflict, Reed and V endeavor to assist Songbird in evading capture. However, the journey leads them to an overrun Militech facility where Songbird, injured and despondent, implores V to end her suffering rather than face FIA’s grasp.
Preserving Songbird’s life yields a more favorable outcome; executing her alienates both Reed and President Myers, preventing access to new endings. Conversely, allowing her to survive results in a concluding cutscene showing her unconscious, returned to the President’s helicopter. Following this, Myers awards V a medal for bravery while Reed assures a connection about a potential cure. This ending parallels previous consequences of turning in Songbird but shifts towards a less favorable future for her.
Why Players Should Favor Songbird in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Aligning with Songbird during the “Firestarter”mission at the conclusion of Phantom Liberty is advisable. Despite Songbird’s evident flaws, her actions stem from a place of curiosity rather than malice. In contrast, Reed’s allegiance falls to a government that is more concerned with power than with justice. Songbird embodies ambition and resilience, meriting a favorable conclusion where she can choose her own path and seek treatment on her own terms. While Reed merits some empathy, his intentions revolve around controlling Songbird’s freedom.
Opting for Songbird may result in bypassing certain game endings, but ultimately, players aren’t sacrificing much. The alternative conclusion available by siding with Reed results in a subpar ending within Cyberpunk 2077. As players learn, choosing Songbird can also facilitate access to a more satisfying conclusion. The secret “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” ending relies heavily on maintaining a positive rapport with Johnny Silverhand throughout the campaign, and he favors the decision to secure Songbird’s safety via her journey to the Moon, ensuring higher affinity from him.
Cyberpunk 2077’s New Ending Associated with Aligning with Reed
The “Face In The Crowd”Ending: One of Cyberpunk 2077’s Least Appealing Outcomes
When siding with Reed and relinquishing Songbird, players unlock a new ending within the base game called “Face in the Crowd.” This conclusion enables V to receive government-sanctioned surgery in Washington, D.C. However, it comes with a significant drawback; post-surgery, V can no longer accommodate any combat Cyberware. As the narrative unfolds, V is faced with a stark reality of mundane existence, fading into the anonymity of Night City.
The most disheartening aspect of this ending is V’s prolonged coma following the procedure. Attempts to reconnect with former allies yield disappointing results, with many having moved on or withdrawn from V’s life. This is particularly painful for players who invested time in building romantic relationships throughout the game, as these connections dissolve with time.
For instance, Panam ceases communication, while River, ashamed, has taken to selling police intel in exchange for Randy’s rehab. While Judy and Kerry show some willingness to reconnect, both have significantly changed, with Judy married and Kerry preoccupied with his rising fame.
Ultimately, while some may argue that siding with Reed ensures all characters survive, it also restricts player agency and satisfaction with narrative closings. The “Face in the Crowd” ending may offer survival but does so at the cost of the rich, engaging relationships built throughout the game. Thus, while siding with Songbird leads to a more fulfilling outcome for V, the optimal choice consistently aligns with the player character’s motivations and choices throughout their journey in Cyberpunk 2077.