After roughly two years of relentless iteration, CD Projekt Red has revealed how it crafted one of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty’s most intimidating encounters. The studio confirmed that the Chimera tank boss fight required balancing gameplay, narrative, and art disciplines while refining what creative director Igor Sarzyński described as potentially “one of the most expensive art assets ever” made.
The details emerged during the latest episode of AnsweRED, the official CD Projekt Red podcast, where game director Gabe Amatangelo and creative director Igor Sarzyński joined art director Paweł Mielniczuk to discuss production challenges. The trio dissected how they approached one of the most complicated sequences in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, a DLC expansion that arrived alongside the base game’s major overhaul.
A nexus point for different disciplines
According to Amatangelo, the Chimera represented something unusual during development. “Sometimes we’re making content that’s a nexus point of different disciplines – the Chimera is a great example of that,” he explained. The encounter wove together gameplay systems, narrative beats, art direction, and worldbuilding in ways that proved difficult to harmonize.
The director recalled collaborating closely with Mielniczuk on the tank’s design details, particularly its weaponry. “I remember [art director] Paweł Mielniczuk and I were sending each other emails of various different military equipment of those guns,” Amatangelo said. “What are those called? They go ‘Brrrrrrrr’ [imitating a big machine gun]. We wanted it to terrify you when it came up.”
“I think when we were iterating, it was two years to make this boss fight work. We were iterating over and over.”
Gabe Amatangelo, Game Director, CD Projekt Red
Striking the right balance
The development process demanded constant recalibration between competing priorities. Amatangelo noted that there were “so many moving parts,” with the encounter sometimes leaning too heavily into gameplay, narrative, or art demonstration at different stages of production.
“It was about striking a balance and I think the three of us got into it and went, ‘Okay beat by beat, let’s do this,'” he said. The team reportedly rebuilt the tank design approximately four times throughout development, changing its equipment and weapons with each iteration to achieve the desired effect.
Sarzyński summed up the effort succinctely when describing the final result: “One of the most expensive art assets I think ever.” The investment clearly paid off in terms of player reception, as the encounter has become one of the expansion’s most memorable moments.
A worthy payoff
The Chimera tank fight now stands out as an exceptionally exciting sequence within a DLC packed full of them. Former Eurogamer managing editor Tom Senior praised Phantom Liberty as a “remarkable expansion and bittersweet end” for the game, highlighting how the project brought CD Projekt Red’s ambitious follow-up to a satisfying close.
The studio’s willingness to spend two years perfecting a single boss fight underscores the level of dedication that defined Cyberpunk 2077‘s long development and subsequent support. As players continue to revisit the expansion, the Chimera remains a testament to how far the team was willing to go to deliver something truly memorable.
Looking Ahead
The revelations about the Chimera’s development arrive as fans continue to celebrate Phantom Liberty’s impact on the broader Cyberpunk 2077 experience. With the expansion now firmly established as one of the game’s high points, CD Projekt Red’s transparency about its creative process offers insight into the kind of meticulous attention that shaped this acclaimed title.
The studio has not yet announced new details regarding future projects or content, but the depth of care evident in Phantom Liberty suggests the team remains committed to delivering quality experiences. As remarkable expansion and bittersweet end for the franchise, Phantom Liberty continues to resonate with players who appreciate the kind of craftsmanship that takes two years and countless iterations to achieve.
Join the conversation