One of the most anticipated releases in history. Cyberpunk 2077 has set levels of ambition and budget rarely seen in the video game industry. The result is devastating: it has become the best premiere in history on PC and has broken the record for simultaneous players on Steam. Brutal.
So many years of work since its announcement on May 30, 2012, have paid off. It has been more than eight years of effort, and during this time at CD Projekt RED, they have not wasted any time. That is why we have decided to collect the best winks, excellent references, and secrets hidden in the title. For now, we know these, but it is clear that in the future, many more will come to light.
ATTENTION! Several of these Easter eggs, winks, and references contain spoilers since, without them, it is impossible to explain them or point out where on the map or in the story they can be obtained. You are warned.
The Witcher 3 in a magazine
Of course, the references to his previous work could not be missing. The Witcher 3 has become one of the top results of the generation, and from the Polish studio, they have included a nod to Ciri, the former princess of Cintra. It is found hidden in a drawer, on the cover of a magazine that talks about the company’s title.
The post’s name is Retro Gaming, and the image of Ciri appears to have been taken from a Witcher 3 poster that was used for advertising the game before its release in 2015. CD Projekt RED warned that it would not include nods to its previous games, but here we are surprised.
CJ from GTA San Andreas
In one of the many documents and information that we can collect during the adventure, we find a conversation between two characters. One of them responds to the name of Little Smoke, while the other only has the acronym JC to identify him.
Of course, this is a reference to the legendary CJ and Big Smoke, characters from GTA San Andreas, Rockstar’s work. The grace of the dialogue lies in that it recreates one of the best-known missions in the game in which we must chase a train while Big Smoke accompanies us. If we fail in our objective, we will get the legendary phrase of “All you had to do follow that damn train, CJ!”.
GLaDOS from Portal
During one of the side jobs following a taxi to catch its signal, we will engage in conversation with Delamain. Your voice will sound familiar, as familiar as it is the unmistakable sound of AI from the Valve series. Of course, the reference for the cake does not fail.
Death Stranding BB
Hideo Kojima’s flashy title also has its little hole. During the mission called The Hunt, we will have to break into a clinic at one point. To find the BB, you will have to enter from the building’s side, climb the fire escape, and access through the second-floor window.
Once inside, the BB will be in a room on the right. If we scan it, it will tell us the following
- Material: plastic and metal.
- Function: This device simulates the conditions of the uterus.
- Intended Use: Maintains BB life and detects BT.
Those unfamiliar with the plot of Death Stranding, suffice it to say that BBs are babies used artificially to establish a bond with the afterlife.
Blade runner
During one of the main missions, called Map Tann Pèlen, we will visit the abandoned hotel in Pacifica, named Batty’s Hotel. This is a reference to Roy Batty, the replicant from Harrison Ford’s cult movie. You can even see an origami figure on the facade of the building.
The replicant himself is also found on the roof of a building, barely clothed, sitting on the ground, while it rains and caresses a dove on his lap.
Mike Pondsmith, creator of the Cyberpunk universe
One of the Japantown region streets is called Pondsmith, the last name of the original creator of the Cyberpunk universe. Even one of the radio stations has a DJ that he brings to life with his voice. In 1988 he launched the first board game based on this vision of the future; the rest is history.
The three seashells from Demolition Man
The apartment of our protagonist hides a very particular secret. If we go into the bathroom, we can find three seashells next to the toilet, well placed, and ready to do their job.
This strange Easter egg takes us back to Demolition Man, the movie starring Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes. Both characters ended up in a future in which these mollusks replaced toilet paper. A future we don’t want to live in.
Poses in Photo Mode
One of the best additions to the entire game is stopping the game and taking the best snapshots. The Photo Mode, among many other options, allows V to perform various poses, and many of them refer to mythical moments from anime, cinema, or pop culture, in general. Here are all of them:
- In the name of the moon, I will punish you! – Sailor Moon
- V’s Strange Posture – Jojo Bizarre’s Adventure
- You’re Breathtaking – Keanu Reeves Quote
- Hard Pass / Now You’re Talking – Hotline Bling
- Stairs Joker – Film Joker (2019)
- V for Victory – Praise the Sun from Dark Souls
- My name is V. Just V – James Bond.
- V Shot First – Han Solo
- Oh, my God! They killed V! – South Park.
- Waiting for Godot – Waiting for Godot
- Like one of your French girls – Titanic
- Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels (Rap Group)
- Circular Punch To The Face – Chuck Norris Face Spinning Kick
- Be cool; this is a robbery! – Pulp Fiction
- The Tiger and the Dragon – Film
Ghost in the Shell
One of the most inspired works in cyberpunk aesthetics. Ghost in the Shell appears referenced unexpectedly. Every time we get in touch with Judy by phone, we will see a cute little ghost coming out of a shell.
Roach, Geralt of Rivia’s horse in The Witcher 3
Geralt’s eternal companion also has his little space in Cyberpunk 2077. Up to two references have been found within the game: the first of them in the aforementioned Photo Mode, which includes several Roach stickers to use.
On the other hand, there are several arcades that have machines in which you can see an 8-bit Roach having to avoid obstacles.
Keanu Reeves himself
But … isn’t he Johnny Silverhand? That’s right, but it seems that the original actor has his mention in Cyberpunk 2077. One of the songs performed by Run the Jewels is called “Keanu Reeves – Cyber arm under my sleeve.”
According to the game’s developers, it all stems from the fact that Keanu Reeves existed in the world of Cyberpunk 2077. He is known as a “little known actor of the Collapse era who bore an uncanny resemblance to Johnny Silverhand, and in the years after Johnny’s disappearance, he was frequently mistaken for JS.”
The Age of Collapse refers to a period of time shortly after the 1990s when Western civilization began its decline, resulting in the United States’ fracture. Due to this, it seems quite difficult for both personalities to coincide on the same stage.
Hideo Kojima, creator of the Metal Gear saga
Death Stranding isn’t the only sign of the Japanese video game creator. Hideo Kojima has become one of the most recognized authors in the industry and has been included in the work.
In Act 1, we can meet Oshima; an optional character found in a hotel bar during the mission The Heist. However, we can have a little conversation with him. The dialogue we have with Kojima is interrupted, and he does not offer us any mission under his charge.
The Black Unicorn, a special sword from The Witcher 3
Return to The Witcher 3. This time we have to talk about The Black Unicorn, a sword that Geralt could wield made with special steel. If we look at its details, we will see a text that says “DRM free,” which is a nod to the digital store of CD Projekt RED, GOG.
Also, if you bought the special edition Cyberpunk 2077, there will be a version of the sword in your apartment along with many clothes based on The Witcher franchise.
Room 237 of The Shining
One room we can enter during the game is 1237. This number refers to room 237 from the Stanley Kubrick movie starring Jack Nicholson.
Upon entering the room, a dead and naked older woman appears, while V finds another woman also without clothes and naked. Both bodies are found inside a bathtub.
Matrix
Again, a very subtle nod to one of the movies that made Keanu Reeves soaring. Night City is full of neon signs, lights, and tons of advertising. Among them is one that encourages us to buy clothes and try numerous models.
What is striking is the presentation of the ad. A man is placed in a quickly filled space filled with countless garments, in the same way, that happened in the 1999 film. In it, Neo along with Trinity requested weapons, which appeared instantly in the form of innumerable shelves.
In another scene in which we control Johnny Silverhand, there will be a moment in which we can choose between taking a red or a blue pill, in the same way, that Morpheus proposed to Neo in the movie.
Half-Life 3 confirmed
Again, the Cyberpunk 2077 files hide a wink. On this occasion, information tells us about a game called “No Life 3”, which seems to be coming out shortly after a long wait.
Of course, the reference takes us to Valve’s most anticipated work, Half-Life 3. The closing of the Gordon Freeman trilogy may never see the light of day … or perhaps it will work in the future and under another name. This is the transcript of the document:
“After 50 long years, the wait is finally over! The third and final installment in the No Life series will be available for purchase TOMORROW! As already reported, players shouldn’t expect big changes from the protagonist.
“We continue to play as the strong and silent Baron Freimensch. We follow Baron as he ventures into the Arctic Circle to … well, why spoil it if you have it in your hands in less than 24 hours? The gist of No Life 3’s plot is that “with Alice by Baron’s side, and a lever of trust in hand, those nasty aliens will find themselves in a difficult awakening .”
The Office Dialog
Steve Carrell’s hilarious series has its reference. One of the missions Dennis entrusts to us will be about saving a strange man. After completing the order, this man will begin to relate his adventures in a dialogue with no waste.
It all comes from a similar scene with an Asian man from an episode of the sixth season of The Office. This moment is very popular with fans of comedy.
Cat underwater
So it is as-is and without any explanation. If you go to Watson, Kabuki, you will find a pond full of debris on the side of the road. If you dive, you will see how a cat is so calmly enjoying the pool under the water.
We do not know if some error or CD Projekt RED have wanted to place it in that place. The truth is that you cannot interact with it beyond being astonished when you find it.
Alexelcapo among the advertising of Night City
One of those who were already known to appear for a long time. The well-known Spanish streamer Alexelcapo has been included among many posters that can be seen around the city. Alexelcapo appears on a billboard as a representative of a radiation insurance company.
Top 30
Indeed, the mythical radio station Los 40 Principales has its nod among the possible tunings that exist in Cyberpunk 2077. With a simple number, we find Los 30 Principales, a radio dedicated 24 hours a day to Latin music.
“Go back to sleep, samurai.”
It will be impossible to see again, but that does not stop putting the focus on the level of detail printed by CD Projekt RED. Cyberpunk 2077 finally came out on December 10, 2020, so a few days before the game’s pre-download was accessible.
If we started the application before the appointed date, we would find Johnny Silverhand telling us to go back to bed, that it was not yet time to play, since it was not yet December 10. Sparkly.
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
