Players who venture into the expansion area of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty are placed only a few blocks away from the main entrance to Dogtown, a walled district that remains heavily fortified and largely closed to outsiders. At first glance, the checkpoint appears to be the intended way inside. However, the road is blocked by armed guards, police vehicles, and dozens of desperate people trying to gain entry. Those crowds are not just decorative scenery; they signal that the usual route through the front gate will not work.
The front gate is a dead end, and any attempt to push through will fail. The guards stationed outside are not issuing visas, and even law enforcement officers cannot cross the line to pursue wanted criminals. In the game, the district is completely sealed. This makes the opening sequence feel tense and slightly overwhelming, especially for players who start a fresh Phantom Liberty save rather than continuing from Chapter 2.
To find the actual entry point, a player must abandon the vehicle near the road and move on foot along the right-hand sidewalk. It is important to stay alert because the area around the outer perimeter is not safe. Several hostile NPCs patrol nearby, and their behavior can turn aggressive without much warning. A direct firefight with them is a poor idea for most builds because the player is severely outnumbered at this stage.
Instead of engaging, the player should continue moving along the sidewalk until a small shanty town appears on the right side of the gate entrance. This area is modest, with a few burning barrels and homeless characters panhandling near the district border. It is here that the narrative takes a sharp turn. V experiences a sudden digital intrusion, a meltdown caused by an unexpected signal, and receives a direct introduction to Songbird.
Songbird is a highly skilled netrunner who offers V a chance to remove the Relic permanently. Her proposal marks the real beginning of the Phantom Liberty story. If the player accepts her offer, Songbird provides the guidance needed to slip into Dogtown without passing through the heavily guarded front checkpoint.
The steps can be summarized clearly:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Travel to the Dogtown entrance shown by the map marker |
| 2 | Leave the car or bike near the road |
| 3 | Walk up the right-hand sidewalk away from the main crowd |
| 4 | Avoid combat with the armed enemies patrolling the perimeter |
| 5 | Find the small shanty town on the right side |
| 6 | Trigger the meeting with Songbird |
| 7 | Accept her offer to begin the Phantom Liberty mission |
One useful note for players in 2026 is that this opening sequence remains unchanged in the current build of the game. Even with the later updates and balancing changes introduced after the initial release of Phantom Liberty, the route into Dogtown still relies on the side path and the encounter with Songbird. The front gate continues to serve as a visual and narrative blockade rather than a functional entrance.
The design of this section reflects the broader tone of Phantom Liberty. Dogtown is presented as a sealed, lawless zone where the usual rules of Night City do not apply. The crowded gate, aggressive guards, and desperate civilians all reinforce the idea that entering Dogtown is not a simple matter. By forcing players to step away from the obvious path and explore the margins, the game encourages a more cautious and observant approach.
After accepting Songbird's offer, the player will gain access to a new area filled with its own factions, side jobs, and story missions. The transition from the blocked gate to the interior of Dogtown is deliberately abrupt, but the initial path is the same for every playthrough.
In summary, players should not waste time trying to break through the main gate. The key is to move on foot, stay near the right-hand side, locate the shanty town, and follow the story prompt that introduces Songbird. Once those steps are complete, the gates of Dogtown effectively open from within.