Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.0: All Major Changes and New Features Explained

Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.0

Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.0 is a massive overhaul to the core systems of the game, delivering the most impactful update yet. If you’re coming back for Phantom Liberty or starting a fresh run, understanding the new mechanics, perks, and gameplay systems is essential to surviving Night City 2.0.

In this breakdown, we’ll explore the biggest changes introduced in Update 2.0 — from the redesigned perk trees to vehicular combat, and cyberware-driven builds that change how you play entirely.

🔧 1. Completely Reworked Perks and Skills

🎯 Perk Trees Overhauled

The old perk system has been completely reimagined. Rather than spreading points across bloated trees, each perk now feels impactful and build-defining.

Perk trees are streamlined into focused roles like:
- Shinobi for agile melee builds
- Netrunner for hacking-focused stealth
- Solo for brute strength
- Engineer for gadgets and tech weapons
- Headhunter for headshots and smart combat
Perks include unique active abilities, like:
- Overclock Mode (Netrunner): upload hacks beyond RAM limits
- Adrenaline Rush (Body): temporary damage boosts with kills

🔄 All Perks Refunded

If you’re loading a previous save:

All Perk points are refunded, letting you respec your build from scratch.
You also get one free Attribute reset, making experimentation easier than ever.

📈 Skill Progression Revamped

Skills are no longer tied to attribute levels.
Instead, they now progress through usage and are categorized under:
- Headhunter, Shinobi, Solo, Netrunner, Engineer
Every 5 levels, you unlock passive buffs, up to level 60.

🚨 2. Dynamic Police System

Night City’s law enforcement is no longer just background noise — the NCPD is now a real threat.

🚓 Smarter Police AI

Police now patrol the streets actively.
Get caught committing crimes, and you’ll face escalating Heat levels (like GTA’s Wanted system).
Pursuits are dynamic, including:
- On-foot chases
- Car chases
- Reinforcements
- Tactical positioning

💀 MaxTac Is Back

Reach maximum Heat, and MaxTac units will arrive — elite enemies with top-tier weapons, abilities, and armor.

🧠 You Can Hack Cops Now

Police are now quickhackable.
Use this to:
- Disable radios
- Blind them
- Cause distractions

The police rework makes Night City feel more alive — and more dangerous.

🚗 3. Vehicular Combat

You asked for it — CDPR delivered. Car combat is now a full-fledged gameplay feature.

🔫 Drive and Shoot

You can shoot pistols and SMGs from vehicles in first or third-person.
Use healing items while driving.
Combat flows naturally during missions, heists, or chases.

🛞 Vehicle Upgrades

Some vehicles now have mounted weapons, which can be aimed and fired.
Target tires to disable enemy vehicles.
Dynamic faction-based car chases now occur around the city.

💻 Car Hacking

If you're a Netrunner:

New "Carhacker" perks let you:
- Disable engines
- Cause enemy cars to explode
- Force cars to drive off course

Car chases are no longer scripted — they’re fully emergent gameplay now.

🦾 4. Cyberware and Armor Overhaul

🛡️ Armor Is Now Cyberware-Based

Gone are the days of wearing ugly clothes just for better stats.

Clothing is now cosmetic only.
All armor comes from cyberware implants.
Most clothing no longer has mod slots.

This change pushes players to engage more deeply with build variety via cyberware.

⚡ Cyberware Capacity & Scaling

You now have a Cyberware Capacity stat that limits how many implants you can equip.
This stat increases through:
- Level-ups
- Perks
- Attribute synergy

Some implants are now attuned to attributes:

Boost effectiveness based on Body, Reflexes, Intelligence, etc.
Adds depth to your build path.

🛠️ Ripperdoc Improvements

The Ripperdoc UI has been completely redesigned.
Installation is more immersive, with animations and improved browsing.

🗡️ 5. Stamina & Combat Changes

⚔️ Stamina Matters Now

Stamina is no longer used for sprinting — only combat.

Firing weapons
Melee attacks
Dashing and dodging

All drain stamina, requiring tactical combat pacing.

🧠 Better Enemy AI

Enemies flank, use cover smarter, and react to your tactics.
Explosives, netrunning, and stealth all require smarter planning.
Even common gangoons now fight with purpose.

🧠 6. Netrunning Reworked

💉 Overclock Mode

Running out of RAM? Netrunners can now enter Overclock Mode:

Quickhacks upload using Health instead of RAM.
High risk, high reward.

📋 Quickhack Queueing

New perks let you queue up multiple hacks on a single target:

Stack effects like Short Circuit, Weapon Glitch, and Suicide.
Powerful combos with deep customization.

🧪 7. Other Notable Changes

🩹 Healing and Grenades

Health and grenade items now have limited charges.
Charges regenerate over time, similar to cooldown-based systems.
Encourages strategic use, not spamming.

🛠 Crafting & Loot Streamlined

Only one component type needed for upgrades.
Loot scales to your level, not area.
Gear rarity now follows Tier 1 to Tier 5++ structure.

📻 New Radio Stations

Three new stations added:

Featuring music from Idris Elba (Solomon Reed)
Community-submitted tracks

📋 UI & Journal Upgrades

Quest Journal is clearer.
Item tooltips are more informative.
Perk trees are easier to understand and navigate.

🛞 Vehicle Handling Reworked

Vehicles feel much more responsive.
Retuned:
- Acceleration
- Braking
- Suspension and drifting
- Jump landings
You’ll notice it in every chase or cruise.

🎮 Enemy Level Scaling

Enemies scale to your level, keeping things challenging across the map.
Areas no longer feel obsolete after a few levels.

🔫 Iconic Weapons Are the Only Upgradable Ones

Regular weapons can't be upgraded anymore.
Only Iconic weapons (unique gear with lore) are upgradable.
Each upgrade unlocks new tiers and effects.

🧠 Final Thoughts

Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.0 doesn’t just tweak numbers — it reinvents how the game plays. From core systems like perks and stamina, to new features like car combat and reactive police, this update makes Night City more immersive, dangerous, and customizable than ever.

If you haven’t played since launch — or even since 1.6 — you’re essentially stepping into a new game. Combine this with the Phantom Liberty expansion, and you've got one of the best open-world RPG experiences today.

So respec your build, hop into your favorite ride, and explore Night City 2.0.

Stay sharp, choom. 🦾