Fix: Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC Not Playable or Not Working

Phantom Liberty is the new big DLC for Cyberpunk 2077, and it is out now for people to try and enjoy. Unfortunately, some users have put it out on forums that the Phantom Liberty DLC is not working on their systems. Purchasing a new big DLC and not playing or loading it at all can be frustrating. There are specific requirements for the players to play this new DLC; we will also cover those requirements in this article.

But the issue is that despite filling these requirements, some users still struggle to get this DLC to work with their Cyberpunk 2077 title. So, in this article, we will cover the basic requirements for the DLC to work, and on top of that, we will provide additional solutions that one can try if the DLC is not working despite filling all the requirements. So, without any further ado, let’s get into it.

How to fix Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC Not Playable or Not Working?

Before we get to the solutions as to what one can do to fix the non-playable and not working issue of Phantom Liberty, let’s first look at the requirements to play the DLC and how to start it in the first place.

How to start Phantom Liberty DLC in Cyberpunk 2077?

There are three things you need to start the new Phantom Liberty DLC:

• Purchase the base game Cyberpunk 2077.
• Purchase the Phantom Liberty DLC of Cyberpunk 2077.
• Update the game to patch 2.0.

The DLC requires the 2.0 version of the game running on the device for it to work. Patch 2.0 is only available for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X / S. If you own a PS4 or Xbox One, you cannot update to patch 2.0, so you cannot play the Phantom Liberty DLC.

Now, if you have a patch 2.0 compatible device, and you have the DLC and the game installed, the next step is to get to the point in the game where the DLC is activated.

If you have completed the game, you must load a save file before the “point of no return” but after the “Transmission” main story quest. Then, you will get a call from Songbird, who will give you the “God Eat Dog” quest, part of the Phantom Liberty DLC. You won’t get this call if you have not completed the quest involving the Voodoo Boys in the Pacifica district.

There is also the option of starting Phantom Liberty with a brand new V or pre-build V. For this, you can access the DLC with a new save. Just select “New Save” from the main menu and then select “Skip ahead to Phantom Liberty.” Or you can choose “New Save” from the main menu and then select “Regular Start.” From there, you will have to play and complete the Transmission quest, after which you will get a call from Songbird.

If you choose to skip ahead, you can customize your V’s appearance and life path. You will have to reset V’s perks and attributes to have complete control over the build, but you will also have the option of going with a pre-made build along with unlocked perks that you can select without thinking about your attributes. The skip-ahead option gives you an inventory of weapons, cyber wear, items, and some armor.

Now that we know what is required to play the new DLC, let’s get into the solutions you can try to fix the DLC not working or playing at all issues.

Disable Antivirus:

Third-party security applications such as antiviruses sometimes prevent even network connections or applications, suspecting them as potential threats. Not every antivirus application has this problem, though. There are only a few out there that might block out connections or applications. So, if you are using an antivirus, try turning it off entirely. To do so, open the antivirus program and turn off the real-time protection feature.

If turning off the antivirus did not help with the Phantom Liberty DLC not playable or not working issue, move on to the next solution.

Disable Windows Firewall:

Just like the antivirus program, sometimes even Windows Firewall blocks out applications. So try changing your Windows Firewall settings and see if that works.

• Click on the search bar and search for “Control Panel.”
• Open it up once it shows up in the results.
• Click on the view by option in the control panel window and choose “Large icons” in the drop-down menu.
• Click on Windows Defender Firewall.
• Click on the “Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall” option on the left side of the window.
• Look for the “Cyberpunk” or “Steam” entry in the allowed apps and features list. There will be a checkbox next to it. Ensure a check is next to each of the entries. If unchecked, click the “Change settings” button and manually check the entry.

If even this did not help with the Phantom Liberty DLC not playable or not working issue, move on to the next solution.

Update Graphics drivers:

Outdated graphics drivers often lead to various problems, and the game’s DLC not working could be one of them. So, keep the graphics drivers on your PC up to date.

There are three ways to update or install graphics drivers on a Windows computer. Firstly, you can visit your computer manufacturer’s website, and on their support or download page, you will find the setup file for the graphics drivers. You need to download the setup file from that site and install the drivers onto your computer, just like any other program.

Secondly, you can let Windows look for the drivers and automatically install them on your computer.

• Press the Windows key + X and then choose Device Manager from the list of options.
• Double-click on Display adapters and then right-click on your default video card.
• Select Update Driver.
• Then follow the on-screen instructions to let your computer scan the internet for the latest drivers.
• If it finds any new drivers, Windows will automatically install them on your computer.

The last method for updating drivers is to use a third-party driver utility tool. Several tools can scan your computer for any missing or outdated drivers. If the graphics driver on your computer is out of date, it will show up in one of these tools. Then, you need to click one button, and the latest drivers will be installed on your computer. These driver utility tools charge a bit for their service, but it is well worth it since you must not worry about any drivers on your computer again.

If updating the drivers also did not help with the Phantom Liberty DLC not playable or not working issue, move on to the next solution.

Disable Steam in-game overlay:

There is an overlay feature in Steam that could be the cause of all your problems. We recommend entirely turning off this Steam in-game overlay feature and checking whether that helps.

• Open the Steam Client.
• Click on the menu option.
• Choose Settings.
• Select the tab “In Game” on the left pane of the Steam window.
• Turn off the toggle for “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.”
• Close the Steam Window and relaunch it.

If even this did not help with the Phantom Liberty DLC not playable or not working issue, move on to the next solution.

Launch the game in Windowed mode.

Launching the Phantom Liberty in fullscreen mode on some PCs that do not have enough hardware capacity often leads to launch issues. You should check whether the DLC opens when you launch the game in windowed mode.

• Open the Steam Client.
• Open up the games library.
• Right-click on Cyberpunk 2077 and select properties.
• Go to the general section and click on Launch options.
• Enter the command line argument: -windowed -noborder.
• Relaunch the client and the game.

If even this did not help with the Phantom Liberty DLC not playable or not working issue, move on to the next solution.

Verify and repair game files:

Issues with corrupted or missing game files on the PC might sometimes cause functionality issues without any proper error message. In case of the Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC is not working problem, it’s better to verify and repair the installed game files on the PC by following the steps below:

• Launch the Steam client > Click on Library.
• Right-click on Cyberpunk 2077 from the list.
• Click on Properties > Go to Local Files.
• Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
• This process may take some time to complete. So, have some patience.
• Once done, make sure to reboot the PC to apply changes.

If even this did not help with the Phantom Liberty DLC not playable or not working issue, move on to the next solution.

Update Windows:

If you’ve been running an outdated Windows version or build number for a while, then follow the steps below to check for the same. Always try to install the latest system update to get the latest security patch, improved performance, bug fixes, additional features, and more. Even a game’s compatibility depends on the version of OS running on your system.

• Press the Windows + I keys to open Settings.
• Click on Windows Update and click on Check for updates.
• If there is an update available, click on Download and Install.
• Wait for the update process to be completed.
• Once done, reboot your PC to apply changes.

You should also check for the optional updates by following the steps below. Sometimes, a few driver or security patch updates might appear here to help you fix several bugs, glitches, or issues.

• Press the Windows + I keys to open Settings.
• Click on Windows Update > Click on Advanced Options.
• Scroll down to locate Additional options.
• Click on Optional updates > If an update is available, you can select the Update.
• Now, click Download & Install, then wait some time to complete it.
• Finally, reboot the system manually.

If even this did not help with the Phantom Liberty DLC not playable or not working issue, move on to the next solution.

Switch to dedicated GPU:

It’s highly suggested to always use the dedicated (external) graphics card on your desktop for heavy games and applications to get higher graphics performance all the time, and no possible glitches or bugs are ruining your experience. To do that:

For Nvidia GPU:

• Right-click on the blank desktop screen > Open Nvidia Control Panel.
• Go to 3D Settings > Click on Manage 3D Settings.
• Open Program Settings > Select Cyberpunk 2077 from the list.
• Select the preferred graphics processor for this program from the list.
• Once done, you can see it as a High-Performance Nvidia Processor.
• Make sure to save changes and reboot the PC.

For AMD GPU:

• Right-click on the blank desktop screen > Open Radeon Settings.
• Head over to Additional Settings > Go to Preferences.
• Click on Power > Click on Switchable Graphics Application Settings.
• Select Cyberpunk 2077 from the list. [If the game is not visible, select Add Application to include the game.
• Once done, choose High Performance from Graphics Settings.
• Finally, reboot the PC to apply changes.

If even this did not help with the Phantom Liberty DLC not playable or not working issue, move on to the next solution.

Run the game as an administrator:

Run the game app file on your PC as administrator access to allow the User Account Control (UAC) access to the system. Sometimes, your system requires UAC access permission to run a pretty important program. By following the steps below, you’ll have to allow the admin access for once, and it won’t ask you for the same again. To do so:

• Go to the installed Cyberpunk 2077 game directory.
• Right-click on the application file on your PC.
• Click on Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.
• Click on the Run this program as an administrator checkbox to enable it.
• Once done, click on Apply and then OK to save changes.
• Finally, double-click on the game app file to launch it.

If, in case, you’re running the game via Steam, perform the same steps for the Steam application, too.

Now, you should also ensure that your PC specification is appropriately compatible with the game’s system requirements because any incompatibility can lead to the game not working correctly issues. It is not just the hardware requirements that you should focus on for the game; you should also take care of the software requirements. If, in case, your PC build isn’t fully compatible, then make sure to upgrade the specific software/hardware to make it fully compatible.

If even this did not help with the Phantom Liberty DLC not playable or not working issue, move on to the next solution.

Reduce the screen resolution and in-game graphics:

Cyberpunk 2077 is a demanding game, and setting the graphics to the highest possible value can lead to compatibility or crash issues if your machine is not powerful enough to drive the game to its full potential. So get into the game and change the graphics settings to a low value. Reducing the screen resolution and level of detail would be a good approach.

If reducing the graphics also did not help with the Phantom Liberty DLC not playable or not working issue, move on to the next solution.

Perform a clean boot:

Performing a clean boot fixes most Windows applications not working or crashing issues. So give this a try, too.

• Press Windows Key + R to open up the Run dialog box.
• Enter “msconfig” here and then click on OK.
• Click on the Services tab and then check the box next to “Hide all Microsoft services.”
• Now click on the Disable All button.
• Now go to the System Configuration window’s Startup tab and click “Open Task Manager.”
• Click on each item in the list that pops up individually, and click the “Disable” button every time.
• Close the Task Manager, and click OK in the system configuration window’s startup tab.
• Now restart your computer.

So these are all the solutions you can try to fix the Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC not playable or not working issue.  If you have any questions or queries about this guide, comment below, and we will reply. Also, check out our other articles on iPhone tips and tricks, Android tips and tricks, PC tips and tricks, and much more for more helpful information.