Evidence suggests Phantom Liberty might not signal the conclusion of Cyberpunk 2077‘s DLC offerings, with reports indicating development might fall to a studio experienced in reviving classic titles like Oblivion and the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 3 remake.

While CD Projekt Red’s cyberpunk RPG has recovered its reputation following a turbulent launch, several original ambitions remain unrealized. Notably absent is the promised multiplayer component, which never materialized through official channels.

Following the recent 2.1 update, community expectations focused solely on potential hardware platform expansions. This context made a Redditor’s discovery particularly striking: LinkedIn activity revealed Virtuos developer Doug Van Horne has been crafting narrative content for unreleased Cyberpunk 2077 expansions since April 2025.

Unexpected development activity surfaces

The revelation sparked widespread speculation within gaming communities. While CDPR previously collaborated with Virtuos on February 2024’s surprise 2.2 update, Van Horne’s profile explicitly references “multiple DLC editions” containing substantial side content – a notable departure from standard patch terminology.

Van Horne’s professional portfolio adds fuel to these claims, featuring two unpublished Cyberpunk 2077 narrative samples dated prior to the 2.2 upgrade. One manuscript appeared mere weeks before the patch’s December 2024 deployment, aligning with typical pre-release development cycles.

Alternative explanations examined

Some theorists propose the LinkedIn entry might reference completed work on existing content. However, this conflicts with Virtuos’ documented involvement timeline – their confirmed contributions only encompassed technical improvements rather than story expansions.

Another interpretation suggests possible terminology confusion, where Van Horne may have classified the feature-rich 2.2 update as “DLC.” This explanation gains traction considering the update’s introduction of environmental storytelling elements and minor narrative threads.

Persistent expansion rumors

Industry observers recall persistent whispers about canceled lunar-based DLC, coupled with Virtuos’ Warsaw studio establishment in 2023 under former CDPR staff. The studio’s geographic proximity and shared personnel history could facilitate confidential collaborations, particularly as CDPR focuses on future projects.

While official channels maintain development concluded after 2.1, community speculation intensifies around potential shadow drops. Enthusiasts theorize about surprise releases coinciding with June’s Nintendo Switch 2 launch event, though these remain unsubstantiated claims.