Cyberpunk 2077 doesn't feature an established protagonist like developer CD Projekt Red's The Witcher series--instead, you build main character V from the ground up by choosing their appearance and shaping their personality. This agency extends to V's backstory, of which there are three to choose from.

"We wanted to give the players freedom of creating their own character, but at the same time establish some kind of connection with V on a narrative level," Cyberpunk 2077 lead story writer Tomasz Marchewka said. "The three origin stories share a common motivation, but give the character different roots which will have consequences throughout the whole game."

Much like BioWare's Dragon Age: Origins, the backstory you choose will have significant ramifications on your story (though it will likely hit hardest in the side missions instead of the campaign), starting with the opening prologue. Your prologue will take place in different locations and see you encounter different people depending on which backstory you choose, ultimately shaping how your V perceives the world and other people for the rest of the game.