Why V’s Age in Cyberpunk 2077 Matters More Than You Think

Cyberpunk 2077 has its share of twists and turns, both in terms of its launch state and the nearly unprecedented backlash that followed, and the epic and emotional story contained within the game itself. After developer CD Projekt Red stabilized the game’s initial issues with a variety of patches and hotfixes, Cyberpunk 2077 has become one of the most well-liked and popular action RPGs of the last few years. In the wake of the major 2.0 update coinciding with the excellent Phantom Liberty DLC, Cyberpunk 2077 continued to receive more content even after the studio previously claimed nothing further was forthcoming. These were comparatively smaller in scope, but still contained welcome touches such as the latest 2.3 patch adding new vehicles, autodrive, and an expanded photo mode.

With the bulk of significant additions now likely in the review, there are numerous questions surrounding the sequel, known by its working title its working title Project Orion. CDPR hasn’t provided much in the way yet regarding its plans for the next entry, but a studio member did recently offer an interesting clarification about Cyberpunk 2077‘s protagonist V’s age. And while this may seem minor in the grand scheme, at the same time, it does impact the lore and canon more than might be obvious.

Why V’s Age in Cyberpunk 2077 Makes More of a Difference Than it Might Seem

V’s Age Changes in Cyberpunk 2077

Initially, according to the developer, the female V was 27, with the male version a few months older, putting them at 28 at the start of the story. However, this was later altered in the game-changing 2.0 update, where they were both stated to be 23 and sharing a birthday. This became a topic of fan discussion, with some feeling that 23 was a tad on the younger side for the nature and arc of the character, especially in the case of a V starting from the Corpo life path. CD Projekt Red senior quest designer and “loremaster” Patrick K. Mills recently took to Bluesky to clear the air and definitively address the issue, stating, “I don’t care what anybody says, V is 27, not 22 or whatever.”

V’s Updated Age in Cyberpunk 2077 Makes More Sense

Taking a look at the ages of some of the supporting cast and NPCs that can also be romanced in Cyberpunk 2077:

• Panam Palmer: 33
• Judy Alvarez: 24
• River Ward: 40
• Johnny Silverhand: 34 (at time of death)
• Rogue Amendiares: 89-90
• Kerry Eurodyne: 89

Of course, within Cyberpunk 2077‘s world, characters’ ages aren’t necessarily directly reflected in their physical appearance, since high-end augments and specialized chrome can make a person appear much younger than they are. Kerry and Rogue, for example, appear to be in their mid to late 30s or 40s, despite actually being nearly twice that. Making V canonically older seems to better balance and fit their potential relationships with other important characters as well as their overall place in Night City and personal growth throughout the plot.

V’s New Age in Cyberpunk 2077 Could Also Come Into Play in the Sequel

While, again, there is not much currently known about the sequel other than the fact that it is coming eventually, one major question is whether it will be a close follow-up and either star or feature V again. Now that their age has been set, it could further inform their possible presence and interpretation if V does appear in Cyberpunk 2077‘s sequel, whether it be a fresh adventure in a new city, or tie in more tightly with the events of the first. Either way, at least fans now know for sure exactly how old V is, and can roleplay their versions accordingly.

Released

December 10, 2020

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol