As time slowly passed, the long National Day holiday finally came to an end. Across the country, people reluctantly returned to their daily routines, commuting back to work, sitting again at their office desks, and preparing for another cycle of ordinary life.
The same situation appeared inside Northstar Games.
However, compared to most companies, the atmosphere inside Northstar felt especially sluggish.
From the boss Vivian Frost to the newest interns, everyone seemed exhausted. The excitement of the holiday was gone, replaced by the dreaded post-holiday syndrome. Employees walked into the office with sleepy expressions, holding coffee cups as if they were lifelines.
After all, everyone's minds were still focused on one thing.
Cyberpunk 2077.
For the entire holiday, the whole company had been watching the game's performance online. Sales numbers, player feedback, streaming reactions—every detail had been carefully observed.
Seeing how tired everyone looked, Vivian Frost simply waved her hand and announced another half-day break.
"Everyone come in during the morning, tidy up your desks, finish urgent work," she said with a smile. "After lunch, you're free. Go home if you want, or stay here and play games."
The announcement instantly improved the mood of the entire office.
Some employees happily packed their bags and went home early.
Others stayed in the office, opening their computers and launching games while waiting for payday.
It was a perfect example of Northstar Games' famous employee-friendly culture.
After one day of rest and adjustments, the staff slowly regained their working rhythm.
But while employees were relaxing, something far more interesting was happening outside the company.
Players were beginning to finish Cyberpunk 2077 for the first time.
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The First Players Reach the Ending
On October 9th, early in the morning, the first group of players finally completed Cyberpunk 2077.
These players were dedicated completionists and speedrunners. Their total playtime averaged about 104 hours.
The game had launched on October 2nd.
Now, exactly one week later, they reached the ending.
That meant they had been playing the game for over ten hours every single day.
When these players posted their completion screenshots on forums, many people were shocked.
If a speedrun required more than 100 hours, how long would it take to complete every side quest?
The answer was terrifying.
Cyberpunk 2077 was massive.
However, the first players who reached the ending quickly began posting something else.
Complaints.
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The First Emotional Blow — Jackie's Death
Before players reached the ending, most of them had already experienced the first heartbreaking moment in the game.
Jackie's death.
In the early stages of the story, Jackie was more than just a companion.
He was the protagonist's best friend.
He fought beside the player during difficult missions, shared drinks after successful jobs, and often joked around during tense moments.
If players encountered difficult missions early in the game, the best strategy was simple.
Call Jackie.
No matter the time—midnight, early morning, or when he was busy flirting with someone—Jackie would immediately show up.
Fully armed.
Ready to fight.
Players even joked online:
"How to become a professional Jackie driver."
Jackie was strong, loyal, and reliable.
But around 17 hours into the main story, tragedy struck.
During the heist mission involving Arasaka, Jackie was fatally wounded while protecting the player during their escape.
He died while covering your retreat.
Players watched the scene in silence as the man who had accompanied them through so many battles slowly lost consciousness.
The emotional impact was devastating.
But Northstar Games didn't stop there.
The game also included Jackie's funeral.
Later missions frequently mentioned him. NPCs talked about him. Some praised him, others criticized him.
Every reminder felt like another emotional stab.
The game seemed to whisper constantly:
"Your brother died because of the path you chose."
Many players immediately started asking the same question online.
"Can Jackie be saved?"
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Players Begin Searching for the Perfect Ending
Some players remembered something interesting.
In one of the earliest promotional trailers for Cyberpunk 2077, Jackie was seen drinking with V after the chip heist.
If that scene existed, it meant Jackie could survive.
So players began searching for the perfect ending.
Unfortunately, the first endings discovered were far from perfect.
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The "Son of Nightmares" Ending
The first ending discovered by speedrunners was called:
Son of Nightmares.
In this ending, V becomes the most dangerous cyberpsycho in Night City.
He burns down Arasaka Tower, destroys countless enemies, and reaches legendary status.
But the cost is enormous.
Jackie is dead.
Your lover leaves you.
Most people believe you've gone insane.
And worst of all—
You only have two years left to live.
Players were furious.
Online comments exploded with anger.
> "I destroyed Arasaka Tower and became the strongest person in Night City… and I only get two years to live?"
> "What kind of ending is this?!"
> "Extending life from six months to two years isn't a happy ending!"
Players wanted something better.
But what they discovered next was even worse.
---
The "Corporate Dog" Ending
Later that night, another group of players completed the game and unlocked a different ending.
In this storyline, V betrays everyone.
He betrays Johnny, Panam, Rogue, and every friend who helped him.
To survive, he chooses to cooperate with Arasaka Corporation.
V returns to the top of the corporate world.
He becomes powerful.
He survives.
But he becomes something else.
A corporate puppet.
The achievement name said everything.
Corporate Dog.
Players hated this ending so much that many deleted their save files out of frustration.
---
The "Star" Ending
Finally, another ending appeared.
This one was slightly more hopeful.
In this ending, V refuses to betray his friends.
Johnny dies, but V escapes Night City with Panam.
They travel together into the Badlands.
In the final scene, V accepts his fate and chooses to spend his remaining days peacefully.
The achievement name:
The Star.
Players liked this ending more than the others.
But still, something felt missing.
Johnny was gone.
---
The Ending Where Jackie Lives
On October 10th, a surprising discovery shocked the community.
Someone finally found the ending where Jackie survives.
But the condition was extremely specific.
Early in the game, players encounter a rude government soldier.
Most players killed him immediately because he insulted them.
But if you spare him, a hidden questline opens later.
Through this questline, V receives support from government forces during the Arasaka heist.
During the escape from Arasaka Tower, government troops intervene.
Jackie survives the battle.
V becomes a legend.
But there was a catch.
To remove the deadly chip from his head, V undergoes surgery that permanently prevents him from using cyberware.
In Night City, someone without cyberware is considered weak.
Some players loved the ending.
Others believed V had lost his rebellious spirit.
---
The Final Ending — A Spark of Rebellion
Two days later, on October 12th, a forum moderator unlocked the final ending.
It required 156 hours of gameplay.
The title of the ending:
"With My Remaining Body, I Ignite the Flames."
In this ending, V allies with Yorinobu Arasaka and launches the ultimate rebellion.
Together they destroy Arasaka's technology and severely weaken corporate power.
But the corporations retaliate.
V dies.
Johnny dies.
Yorinobu dies.
Half of Night City is destroyed.
But in the final cinematic scene, something unexpected happens.
A young orphan is searching through the ruins of the destroyed city.
Among the rubble, he finds something glowing beneath the dust.
A silver chip.
Players instantly recognized it.
Johnny's chip.
Was Johnny alive?
Was V alive?
No one knew.
But the implication was clear.
The rebellion was not over.
---
The Meaning of Cyberpunk
Players slowly realized something.
Cyberpunk 2077 was not about happy endings.
It was about the struggle against an impossible system.
In this world, corporations ruled everything.
Ordinary people were nothing more than dust.
But even dust could ignite a flame.
V could not destroy the system alone.
But his rebellion planted a seed.
A spark.
One day, that spark might grow into a wildfire that would burn down the entire rotten world.
That was the true spirit of punk.
---
The Game That Changed Everything
On October 14th, Chinese players unofficially voted Cyberpunk 2077 as Best Game of the Year.
On October 15th, it became the most popular game in North America.
By October 16th, overseas sales had surpassed 6 million copies.
From that moment on, Northstar Games became a legend in the gaming industry.
And Cyberpunk 2077—
became the masterpiece that every other studio dreamed of creating.
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