Night City in Cyberpunk 2077 is a labyrinth of secrets, and the Phantom Liberty expansion, launched back in 2023, cranked the conspiracy dial to eleven with the addition of Dogtown. This walled-off district near Pacifica isn't just a new playground for espionage thrills; it's a breeding ground for bizarre, unsettling encounters that go way beyond the main quest's political intrigue. While V is busy navigating the dangerous loyalties between President Myers, sleeper agent Solomon Reed, and the brilliant, trapped netrunner Songbird (Song So Mi), the very streets of Dogtown seem to be watching... and reacting.
The Bizarre Encounter: When NPCs Just Won't Quit 🤖
Exploring Dogtown's grimy underpasses and shadowy alleys, you'll spot plenty of junkies—par for the course in Night City's worst district. But these aren't your average, ignore-everything NPCs. Some have a script that's seriously glitched... or is it? 🤔 As shared by players, these specific junkies will randomly lock onto V and start trailing them, muttering cryptic lines like:
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"Are you one of them? You have to be!"
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"It's him!" / "It's her!" (depending on V's gender)
The real kicker? After spotting V, they'll often recite a string of 1s and 0s. Decoded, this binary spells out "V". Creepy, right? It doesn't end there. These NPCs quickly become convinced V is there to kill them, turning aggressive and forcing players into combat. You can't shake them off or talk them down—it's a fight for survival triggered by their paranoid fixation.
Theories: Why Are They So Obsessed with V? 🕵️♀️
This isn't random game jank; the community is convinced it's a deliberate, eerie detail. So, what's the deal? Here are the leading theories connecting these junkies to Phantom Liberty's deepest lore:
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Sensing the Blackwall & The Relic 🌌
V's journey is heavily tied to the Blackwall—the digital barrier holding back rogue AIs. Through interactions with Songbird (who was forced beyond the Blackwall by Myers) and the Relic, V is essentially a walking anomaly. One compelling theory suggests these junkies, possibly through their altered state, can sense this connection. They might perceive V as an entity from beyond the Blackwall, hence asking if V is "one of them"—referring to rogue AIs or Blackwall-corrupted beings. Their binary speech further hints at a deep, tech-based perception.
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The Phant Drug Connection 💊
Dogtown introduced a new, powerful hallucinogen called Phant. Scattered shards describe it as a drug that "stimulates the production of both serotonin and dopamine... causing irreversible changes to the brain." Descriptions like "reality smooths over" suggest it might grant users a twisted, artificial clarity.
Phant is tied to secret "pilgrimage" parties around Dogtown, and the junkie encounters often happen near these locations and hidden drug labs. The theory? Phant might be heightening their perception, allowing them to see something off about V—whether it's the Relic's signature, lingering Blackwall energy, or something else entirely. Their fear and aggression could be a side effect of this drug-induced "clarity."
The Verdict: More Than Meets the Eye 👁️
Whether it's the Blackwall aura, the Relic's influence, or a Phant-induced psychosis, these junkie interactions are a masterclass in environmental storytelling. They blur the line between game bug and intentional horror, making Dogtown feel alive and deeply unsettling. It's a small detail that feeds into the expansion's core themes of paranoia, perception, and the cost of touching forbidden digital realms.
| Aspect | Connection to Junkie Behavior |
|---|---|
| Blackwall Exposure | V & Songbird's connection may be palpable to altered senses. |
| Phant Drug | Hallucinogenic properties could "reveal" V as a threat. |
| Binary Utterances | Direct link to technology/netrunning, unlike typical street chatter. |
| Aggressive Trigger | Consistent belief that V is an assassin, suggesting shared delusion. |
So next time you're in Dogtown, watch your back. Those muttering junkies in the alley might not just be background noise—they might be the only ones in Night City who can truly see what you're becoming. It's a chilling reminder that in the cyberpunk future, even the most broken souls can sometimes perceive the deepest truths. Stay sharp, choomba! 🔪
