Cyberpunk 2077 is not just a dystopian world full of nasty corporations and street kids; there are also numerous companions who can become friends – or even more. You can flirt as much as you want, but that exact thing drives one player to frustration, as his efforts prove futile.
This is what romances in Cyberpunk 2077 are about:
- In Cyberpunk 2077 there are four companions: Kerry, River, Panam, and Judy, whom you can meet throughout the story. However, they all have specific preferences when it comes to their partners.
- The main character V can be either male or female, but for each gender, there is exactly one partner of each gender to choose from, making every combination unique.
- In the end, you have one heterosexual and one homosexual relationship option to choose from. That does not mean you can’t try with the others…
What is the player complaining about? On Reddit, a player complains that he has the option to flirt with Panam when playing as a female V. However, Panam, the tough go-getter from the Wastelands, like the musician Kerry Eurodyne, is only interested in men.
Nevertheless, there are dialogue options that are clearly intended for romances. You can flirt and even try to touch her during Panam’s quest. As a woman, you will receive a clear rejection here. The player complains:
Why is this even in the game? Do I have to be reminded of all the rejections I’ve had in real life and now can’t even hit on someone in the game? Rejection is fine when there was a possibility of romance that was messed up, but to include something like this just to twist the knife in the wound is diabolical. […]
I knew that Panam was not an option for a female V, but I got to this point and honestly thought they had changed something in the last patch so female Vs could romance Panam.
Now he has to play again as a man just to be able to be with an NPC: “Do better, CDPR, lol.” In the comments, many users share the same experience with NPC rejections but also remind that this is all quite realistic.
“CDPR just does what makes the world feel more real”
Users explain that it is completely normal and realistic to get turned down – especially in the case of a woman interested in another woman: “Women constantly get rejected by other women. I was initially disappointed that [Panam] isn’t bisexual, but I appreciate the immersion of this revelation.”
Finding out whether someone is truly romantically interested or just friendly is part of it and is the case in real life as well. Panam and River as heterosexual options may flirt to some extent with same-sex Vs, but not more than that:
I’ve seen many lesbians responding to such threads emphasizing how realistic it is to include a mechanic like Is she a lesbian or just friendly?
– scrotbofula on Reddit
By the way, the specific scene with Panam isn’t even the beginning of the romance. Even men would first get a rejection here.
Many agree that while it can be frustrating not to get your ‘favorite partner’, it is precisely because of this that the NPCs have their depth. People have preferences, and this is beautifully reflected in Cyberpunk 2077 and its companions.
However, one comment helps out: Even without a mod, you can make any companion available for any gender of V through a small editor change. Panam even has recorded voice lines for a female.
CD Projekt Red receives a lot of praise here in the thread for the world that feels real and credible. Cyberpunk itself is far from being fully told. If you want more, you can look forward to: The man who created the world of Cyberpunk 2077 talks about the sequel and accidentally reveals a detail
