When it comes to gaming, rumors can spark firestorms. Case in point, the alleged cameo of the billionaire and business magnate Elon Musk in Cyberpunk 2077. It appears now that the speculations can finally be laid to rest. Despite rampant online discussions, a developer from CD Projekt Red has confirmed that Elon Musk is not and never was a part of Cyberpunk 2077’s vast character ensemble.
The supposed cameo was associated with an NPC (Non-Playable Character) that appears briefly in the early moments of the Corpo life path. As players navigate this segment, they find themselves in a bathroom where an NPC casually strides in, offers a brief glance, and proceeds further. Many believed this to be an Elon Musk cameo. The faint resemblance was enough to fuel the internet’s imagination, especially given Musk’s controversial nature and his stature in the tech world.
These conjectures took a more solid form when excerpts from a biography on Musk, penned by Walter Isaacson, made waves on the internet. According to this source, when Grimes, Musk’s then-partner, was recording her lines for her in-game character, Lizzy Wizzy, Musk supposedly walked into the studio wielding a 200-year-old flintlock pistol, insisting on his own cameo. This dramatic anecdote, combined with the nebulous NPC appearance, became the recipe for a tantalizing game theory.
That wasn't Elon musk, it looks nothing like him
Who came up with this nonsense? https://t.co/usPO94IFhD
— Patrick K. Mills (@PKernaghan) September 22, 2023
But Patrick K. Mills, Cyberpunk 2077’s senior quest designer, has finally dispelled the myths. In response to the fan-led uproar on Twitter about the NPC’s alleged removal in the 2.0 update of the game, Mills responded with a categorical denial: “That wasn’t Elon Musk, it looks nothing like him. Who came up with this nonsense?” His words, straightforward and devoid of ambiguity, seem to clear up any lingering doubts. While he didn’t confirm or deny the episode of Musk’s dramatic entrance at the CD Projekt’s studio, he firmly reiterated that the NPC in question was definitely not a digitized Musk. As Mills stated, “Even if that’s true, that doesn’t mean this random Japanese guy is supposed to be him.”
For many, this revelation might be a slight disappointment. Elon Musk, with his vibrant presence across various sectors from space exploration with SpaceX to revolutionary electric cars with Tesla, and his recent acquisition of Twitter, often garners attention. His inclusion in a game as profound and futuristic as Cyberpunk 2077 would have been the cherry on top for many fans. However, the game’s vast narrative and the recent 2.0 update offer plenty to dive into without needing celebrity appearances to bolster its appeal.
Controversy aside, Cyberpunk 2077 has regained its footing as one of the most popular games on Steam – nearly three years after it launched.
After breaking past the 100K concurrent player count last year, Cyberpunk 2077 is enjoying its highest player count ever since coming out and it’s still growing. There are now more players in Cyberpunk 2077 than Starfield (depending on the time of the day), which speaks volumes of how much effort CD Projekt RED has put towards redeeming itself and its reputation.
From overhauling weapon systems to revamping police presence and myriad other changes, the 2.0 update has brought a fresh lease of life to the game. As the gaming community continues to explore the depths of Night City with this new update, one thing is now certain: they won’t be bumping into Elon Musk in any alley or neon-lit corner.
