Cyberpunk 2077 protagonist V is “meant to feel a little uncomfortable,” quest lead says

CD Projekt Red deliberately limits players’ control over V in Cyberpunk 2077 to make the character’s changing relationship with Johnny Silverhand feel unsettling. Quest lead Pawel Sasko said the game uses role-playing mechanics to convey the loss of control associated with terminal illness.

One example is V smoking despite having earlier said they dislike it: Sasko explained that Johnny’s habits and personality gradually blend with V’s as their consciousnesses merge. Some players argue that an RPG should let them shape V entirely, but Sasko said the discomfort is intentional. The detail has prompted renewed discussion of the game’s narrative years after its release.