Uncovering the Intriguing Lore behind Phantom Liberty's Dogtown in Cyberpunk 2077

The highly intricate world of Cyberpunk 2077 is about to get even more immersive with the upcoming release of its first and only expansion. With the announcement of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty's release date during the Xbox Games Showcase on June 11th, now is the perfect time to delve deeper into the lore surrounding the DLC's setting, known as Dogtown.

First mentioned by Keanu Reeves' character, Johnny Silverhand, in the second teaser for the DLC that premiered at The Game Awards in December 2022, Dogtown has been somewhat overshadowed by the exciting news of Idris Elba's addition to the game's cast. However, despite the new moniker, Dogtown has actually been a part of the Cyberpunk tabletop series' mythos for years and is even referenced in Cyberpunk 2077 under its previous name, the Combat Zone.

Dogtown is a Lawless Place in the Pacifica District of Cyberpunk 2077's Night City

Dogtown, the southernmost zone of Pacifica, is officially designated as the third subdistrict and borders West Wind Estate to the northwest and Coastview to the north. Despite Pacifica Stadium being originally labeled as part of Coastview, it was inaccessible in the base game, except for its entrance serving as a fast travel location. However, with the upcoming expansion, Phantom Liberty is expected to redraw the Coastview borders by making Pacifica Stadium part of Dogtown. As its name suggests, Dogtown is a lawless area that is ignored by law enforcement and Trauma Team units. However, the lack of institutional presence has its advantages, as it allows Dogtown to host Night City's most prolific black market, selling everything from illegal cyberware to stolen tanks - thanks to the absence of corporate taxes.

Dogtown Ties Into the History of Cyberpunk 2077's New United States of America

Colonel Kurt Hansen, the leader of the Barghest faction, oversees all the happenings in Dogtown. He has a military background and previously served as a military operative for Cyberpunk 2077's New United States of America. Hansen's face was briefly seen on a billboard in the latest Phantom Liberty trailer premiered on June 11. He renamed Combat Zone to Dogtown after taking control of the district in the aftermath of the Unification War that ended in mid-2070. Inspired by South American drug lords, Hansen uses his power to simultaneously play the roles of Dogtown's protector, dictator, and top businessman. The reasons for his abandonment of the NUSA are unclear, but it's possible that he was disillusioned with how the brass handled the peace talks. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty's Solomon Reed previously hinted at the fact that something shady happened in the dying days of the conflict.

The DLC trailer reveals Hansen's animosity towards the NUSA, making Dogtown a hazardous location for President Rosalind Myers. Her unfortunate crash landing in the district sets off the events of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.

Dogtown, a part of Cyberpunk 2077's Pacifica district, was initially intended to be a luxurious coastal resort for the wealthy. Its development began in the decade following the Fourth Corporate War (2021-2025), also known as the "Time of the Red" in Cyberpunk lore due to the crimson dust that contaminated Night City's skies for years after the destruction of the Arasaka Tower.

During the events of Cyberpunk 2077, the Unification War had not yet reached Night City, but the possibility of the NUSA invading kept investors away from Pacifica. In 2069, the NUSA had a military presence in the Combat Zone, likely in preparation for a potential invasion. Colonel Hansen was among those troops and later established the Barghest militia after deciding to remain in the area following the peace treaty of June 2070.

As seen in the leaked events of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, Hansen still controls the Combat Zone, now known as Dogtown. The Barghest group has expanded to include marauders and scavengers, creating a ruling faction without much discipline. Nevertheless, Hansen's authority is respected throughout the district, even in areas where lawlessness prevails.

According to the RPG's lore, the authorities in Pacifica do not view Dogtown as a problem area, despite its disorderliness even by Night City's standards. In fact, there are rumors among NPCs near the Pacifica Stadium that the NCPD might be using the district to dispose of the many cyberpsychos in Cyberpunk 2077. With the upcoming Phantom Liberty DLC set to release in September, it is likely that the lore surrounding Dogtown will be further expanded upon. CDPR has once again created an intriguing setting for players to delve into.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty launches September 26 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.