A Cyberpunk 2077 developer has explained why Male V largely disappeared from the game’s later marketing, saying it was a deliberate creative decision.
CD Projekt RED creative director Igor Sarzynski addressed the issue while responding to fan questions online. A player asked why Male V stopped appearing in promotions and crossover content after the game’s initial release.
Sarzynski said Male V was the main focus of the original Cyberpunk 2077 marketing. When the Phantom Liberty expansion launched, the studio chose to shift its attention.
“Male V had whole base game marketing for himself – for Phantom Liberty, we decided to switch it up. One game for each V,” he said.
The change was visible beyond standard advertising. In crossovers, Female V became the primary character, including her appearance in Fortnite alongside Johnny Silverhand. Male V was not part of that collaboration.
Sarzynski’s comments came during a broader discussion about the game’s opening act. He rejected claims that early sections were shortened or cut, saying the structure was planned from the start and designed to keep the story moving.
He also pushed back against calls for a longer opening, arguing that players already control pacing in the open world. Extending the early storyline, he said, could have weakened the narrative focus.
Sarzynski stressed that both the story design and marketing approach were intentional choices, not late changes made during development.
