Extend the olive branch
Something has changed between 2018 and 2019 for Cyberpunk 2077. Last year, CD Projekt Red quest designer Patrick Mills told Game Informer that there was no option to complete Cyberpunk 2077 in a non-lethal way. “You do play as a mercenary, so there are not non-violent solutions to all problems. It’s not possible go through the game non-violently. You’re a mercenary. Your job is violence.”
That’s not the case anymore. During our E3 2019 Cyberpunk 2077 hands-off demo, a CD Projekt Red presenter explains how the game approaches optional violence. “It is important to note that players will be able to play and finish the entire game without killing a single enemy if you so wish,” he says.
When it comes to stealth knockouts, protagonist V is given the choice between executing a lethal or non-lethal takedown. Or, in our case, a third option to perform an environmental takedown. Our demo saw an enemy bashed into a wall and then tossed down a garbage chute.
Violence is still very much a part of Cyberpunk 2077, but people don’t definitely have to die. One year later, we have confirmation that CD Projekt Red is leaning into the Deus Ex-like choose your own style of role-playing game. Murder as much as you want — and if you want zero killing, that’s possible too.
We’ll have more information from our time with Cyberpunk 2077 at E3 later this week.
