Cyberpunk 2077 Secrets: Paschals and Night City Easter Eggs
Night City is filled with secrets and mysteries that game creators CD Projekt RED have kept under wraps for the most discerning players. From game easter eggs to celebrity cameos, the world of Cyberpunk 2077 is packed with interesting details that are easy to miss. Let's take a look at some of the most fascinating hidden spots and secret locations in the game.
Vault 101: The Roleplayers' Fallout Destiny
Location: East of the border crossing at Rattlesnake Creek, Southern Badlands
Deep in the Southern Badlands sits Bunker 101, a live-action RPG tribute to Bethesda's Fallout universe. While it's not as impressive as the real Vault-Tec bunkers, this hidden spot would go unnoticed by most players if they weren't looking for it.
This humble, out-of-the-way location manages to be both funny and sad at the same time. The two bodies you'll find here tell the story of roleplayers arguing about whether they need to leave Vault 101 to find the water chip - recreating the exact plot of the first Fallout game, where the Vault Dweller had to venture outside to save everyone back home.
CD Projekt RED Shop
Location: Opposite the clothes store at EBM Petrochem Stadium, Dogtown
The EBM Petrochem Stadium in Dogtown isn't the friendliest place, but it's where players can find plenty of black market goods. From rare weapons to nods to CD Projekt RED's founders, Petrochem is full of secrets waiting to be discovered.
Near a clothing store, inside a broken van, players can spot two Polish guys having a conversation. These are Marcin Iwinski and Michal Kicinski, the co-founders of CD Projekt Red. They're selling items with cheeky names like "The Snitcher" (a play on "The Witcher"). Sure, these items are junk in the game, but in real life, they represent some of the best work in gaming.
Iron Man's Cave
Location: Southern Badlands, Rocky Ridge region, about 100 meters south of the Cold Weapons Dealer
Here you'll discover a collapsed cave entrance and some unfortunate souls who met a bad end. Open the box marked Arasaka to uncover the story of Thomas Star, a Militech engineer whose convoy got hit by desert raiders. The story is clearly based on the first Iron Man movie - a kidnapped engineer builds battle armor and escapes from his captors. Thomas Star secretly upgraded his basic gear into full combat armor complete with flamethrowers, then burned down the cave and disappeared into the wasteland. The Arasaka-labeled box hints that this kidnapping was part of the ongoing corporate war between Arasaka and Militech.
Hideo Kojima's Cameo
Location: Konpeki Plaza
During the first act, when V and Jackie head to Konpeki Plaza, there's a familiar face in the lobby. You'll spot a guy named Hideyoshi Oshima chatting about video games in Japanese. It's a nice tribute to Kojima Productions, the studio known for creating innovative and emotional games that heavily influenced Cyberpunk 2077's developers.
BB Capsule from Death Stranding
Location: During the Hunt mission
Hideo Kojima gets more than just a cameo appearance. There's another tribute to the legendary developer hidden in the game. During the Hunt mission, you break into a clinic to watch a braindance recording of a serial killer's memories. If you explore the lab more thoroughly, you can find a BB capsule - the same type Norman Reedus used in Death Stranding to detect supernatural threats. When you scan this item, its description matches exactly what it does in Kojima's game.
DRM Free Forges
Players who connect their GOG accounts get access to some cool rewards. The standout item is the Black Unicorn katana. Not only is it a solid weapon, but it's also a callback to "The Witcher" series. This sword appeared in both The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings and The Witcher 3, where it was equally powerful. The phrase "DRM-free forges" is itself a reference to GOG's DRM-free policy for their games. It's a clever way for CD Projekt RED to give a nod to their own digital storefront.
"All I have is the truth"
Location: Afterlife Club in Johnny's flashbacks
Johnny Silverhand is the heart of the game, and having Keanu Reeves play him was perfect casting. As Johnny starts taking over your mind, there's a sequence where you play as him during his attack on the Afterlife club. During this chaos, a mysterious figure in a hood, sunglasses, and cape approaches you, offering blue and red pills. This is obviously a reference to Keanu's role as Neo in The Matrix trilogy. If you think about it as part of the game's story, it raises some pretty wild questions about the Cyberpunk world.
"All You Had to Do"
Location: Red Peaks Region, Railroad Tracks
In the Red Peaks area, follow the train tracks until you reach a tunnel. Next to it, you'll find two bodies and a wrecked motorcycle. Search around and you'll discover a data shard that reveals the names of the dead men: Little Smoke and JC. Their final conversation was about catching a train. This is a direct homage to one of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' most memorable missions, complete with the famous line "All you had to do was follow the damn train, CJ!"
Conclusion
These hidden gems show just how much care and love the developers put into crafting Night City. Each secret location and easter egg tells its own little story, making the world feel richer and more alive. Whether you're a longtime gamer who gets every reference or someone discovering these nods for the first time, these details make exploring Night City that much more rewarding.
The best part? There are probably even more secrets waiting to be found. CD Projekt RED has always been known for hiding surprises in their games, so keep your eyes open as you wander the streets of Night City - you never know what you might stumble across next.
FAQ
Q1: Where can I find the Fallout easter egg in Cyberpunk 2077?: Head to the Southern Badlands, east of the border crossing at Rattlesnake Creek. Look for Vault 101 (also called Bunker 101), which contains a tribute to Fallout's water chip quest. You'll find two corpses of roleplayers who were recreating the original Fallout storyline.
Q2: How do I locate the CD Projekt RED founders' cameo in Night City?r: Go to EBM Petrochem Stadium in Dogtown, opposite the clothes store. Inside a broken van, you'll spot Marcin Iwinski and Michal Kicinski, the co-founders of CD Projekt Red. They're selling items with names like "The Snitcher," a parody of "The Witcher."
Q3: What's the Iron Man reference location in Cyberpunk 2077's secret areas? Answer: Visit the Rocky Ridge region in the Southern Badlands, about 100 meters south of the Cold Weapons Dealer. Look for a collapsed cave entrance and open the Arasaka box to discover Thomas Star's story - a Militech engineer who built battle armor to escape desert raiders, just like Tony Stark.
Q4: Where can I find Hideo Kojima's cameo appearance in the game?: During the first act at Konpeki Plaza, look for an NPC named Hideyoshi Oshima in the lobby. He's discussing video games in Japanese - this is CD Projekt RED's tribute to Kojima Productions and their influence on Cyberpunk 2077's development.
Q5: How do I get the BB capsule from Death Stranding in Cyberpunk?: During the Hunt mission, explore the clinic lab thoroughly after viewing the braindance recording. You'll find a BB capsule identical to Norman Reedus' partner from Death Stranding, complete with the same scanning description and purpose for detecting supernatural threats.
Q6: What GOG rewards can I get in Cyberpunk 2077's DRM-free content?: Connect your GOG account to unlock the Black Unicorn katana and other rewards. This powerful weapon appeared in both The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings and The Witcher 3. The "DRM-free forges" reference celebrates GOG's DRM-free policy for their games.
Q7: Where is the Matrix easter egg with Keanu Reeves in Johnny Silverhand's story?: During Johnny's flashbacks at the Afterlife Club, look for a hooded figure offering blue and red pills. This Matrix reference connects Keanu Reeves' roles as both Neo and Johnny Silverhand, creating interesting implications for the Cyberpunk world's narrative.
Q8: How do I find the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas reference in Night City?: Head to the Red Peaks Region and follow the railroad tracks to a tunnel. Next to it, you'll discover two corpses (Little Smoke and JC) and a damaged motorcycle. The data shard reveals their conversation about catching a train, referencing the famous "follow the damn train, CJ!" mission.
Q9: Are there more hidden locations and secret spots in Cyberpunk 2077?: Yes! CD Projekt RED is known for hiding easter eggs throughout their games. These 8 secret locations are just the beginning - Night City contains many more mysteries, celebrity cameos, gaming references, and hidden areas waiting to be discovered by dedicated players.
Q10: What makes these Cyberpunk 2077 easter eggs special for gaming fans?: These secret locations showcase CD Projekt RED's attention to detail and respect for gaming culture. From Fallout bunkers to Matrix references, each hidden spot tells a story that connects Cyberpunk 2077 to beloved games, movies, and industry figures like Hideo Kojima and the studio's own Witcher series.