Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the most anticipated games of this generation, and we learned quite a bit about CD Projekt Red’s new title at E3 2019. Originally announced in summer 2012, Cyberpunk 2077 didn’t receive the attention necessary until after The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt released in 2015. Ever since then, CD Projekt Red has been working hard, and without the need for crunch times, in order to deliver a groundbreaking video game that could set a new standard for the industry as a whole.

Last year, CD Projekt Red brought Cyberpunk 2077 gameplay to E3 and showcased approximately 50 minutes of pre-alpha footage to press and industry professionals. After generating so much excitement amongst fans, they ultimately released the behind-closed-doors presentation online in August. And while they plan on doing the same thing this year, releasing the E3 presentation online in August after it’s first shown at Gamescom, we’ve got a breakdown of the biggest reveals from this year’s demo that will surely shed some light on what the studio is doing.

E3 2019’s Cyberpunk 2077 gameplay presentation takes place around halfway through the game, and V is tasked with working alongside a man named Placide so that he/she can find someone who may know what the biochip inside his/her head really is. Here are some of the biggest reveals, including gameplay and story details, from the latest 50-minute demo.

V Has A Biochip That May Contain The Secret To Immortality

V’s been upgraded quite a bit by this point in the game, but for some reason, a biochip has been implanted in his head. It’s one of the things that saves him from death when Placid attempts to kill him later on. According to CD Projekt Red, the biochip may contain the secret to immortality, at least in this particular future.

Keanu Reeves’ Cyberpunk 2077 Character Explained

First teased in the Cyberpunk 2077 E3 2019 trailer, Keanu Reeves plays a character named Johnny Silverhand. CD Projekt Red describes him as a digital ghost who’s living inside V’s head, though he doesn’t appear to be a figment of his imagination. Rather, Johnny Silverhand might be a byproduct of the ominous biochip. V and Johnny communicate quite a bit in Cyberpunk 2077, and Johnny even comments on everything that happens to V throughout the story.

Players Don’t Have To Kill Anyone In Cyberpunk 2077

A stark contrast from last year’s gameplay demo, CD Projekt Red worked hard to show players that they have the option to take the violence how far they want, whether that means killing everyone V comes into contact with or not harming a single soul. Players can go through the entire game without killing anyone. The choice is yours.

Player Choices Extend To How Missions Are Completed

In a similar vein to how players can choose whether to kill enemies or not, Cyberpunk 2077 allows players to tackle an objective however they see fit. V is forced by the Voodoo Boys to infiltrate the Grand Imperial Mall and find out why a rival gang, the Animals, have taken it over. Upon reaching the once-abandoned mall, V can choose to go through the back entrance as the Voodoo Boys suggest or through the front door, a side entrance, or perhaps even the roof (though CDPR didn’t show us this option). There isn’t just one way to complete any mission in Cyberpunk 2077.

There Are No Classes In Cyberpunk 2077, But There Are Life Paths

In keeping with the sense of player freedom, Cyberpunk 2077 doesn’t have classes - no stealth, action-heavy, or hacking classes - but rather has builds that players have constructed throughout the game. If someone wants to build a character that’s more of a Netrunner instead of a tank, they can do that by obtaining the right equipment and unlocking a certain set of abilities on the skill tree. (The skill tree has 12 branches.) Having said that, Cyberpunk 2077 does have Life Paths that are determined at the start of the game. V may have been raised on the street in one Life Path, which will ultimately affect some dialogue choices later in the game, such as when dealing with street gangs.

Character Builds Do Matter, But Not In The Grand Scheme Of Things

If players build a character that’s more of a powerhouse, then their V can break into places without hacking - by literally breaking into them - and even rip turrets from their stations and use those to shoot enemies. If that player had a V that was more of a Netrunner, then they would hack into everything - from doors to vehicles, and weight lifting equipment to people themselves - which may involve going through a hacking mini-game, not unlike the one featured in Marvel’s Spider-Man. At one point, the CDPR dev playing the demo hacked into a person and forced them to pull the pin of their own grenade.

The Environment Is At Least Partly Interactive & Destructible

Showing off the stealth aspect of Cyberpunk 2077, CDPR’s demo player grabbed one of the enemies, dragged him towards a garbage chute, knocked him out, and then tossed him inside. This sequence was meant to showcase the “environment takedown” mechanic as well as the non-lethal aspect of the game. Being a pacifist may not work in its entirety, but players can choose not to kill people. Furthermore, in another sequence against the boss of the Animals gang, the glass displays that pop out of the ground were entirely destructible. It remains to be seen, however, what other parts of the open world are destructible as well.

Cyberpunk 2077’s RPG Elements

Aside from crafting your own character, Cyberpunk 2077 contains several RPG elements, one of which is the “street cred” feature. Making a name for yourself by completing missions and assignments in Cyberpunk 2077 will earn players street cred, but that notoriety may work against them if they want to lay low. Players who want to avoid run-ins with gangs may not want to have a reputation on the street. And when it comes to players’ abilities, there are also five aptitudes that players will have to fill out in addition to unlocking skills on the skill tree. Each proficiency - body, intelligence, reflexes, technical ability, and cool - will significantly alter a person’s playthrough.

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At the end of the Cyberpunk 2077 E3 demo, CD Projekt Red briefly teased the cyberspace, which is an arena they weren’t ready to talk about in detail just yet. Perhaps that’s something that will be discussed later this year or around the time they release this gameplay demo online in August. Of course, there are plenty of other details about Cyberpunk 2077 that have already been revealed, such as the sheer number of weapons and vehicles, as well as the size and scope of Night City, the game’s open world. All of those details can be found in our preview from last year’s E3.

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