You Can't Hurt Key Story Characters Or Children In Cyberpunk 2077

I really hope this isn't your dealbreaker.

News by Eric Van Allen, News Editor

Updated on 12 July 2019

While you may be a rogue cyber-criminal with incredible tech enhancements, there are some limits to who you can beat up in Cyberpunk 2077's Night City. Specifically, children and story-critical NPCs. You can be evil, just not a monster.

This resurfaced today after Reddit user masoncool4566 posted a message exchange with a developer at CD Projekt Red, stating as much. We confirmed this in our interview with Cyberpunk 2077 quest director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz at E3 2019 as well.

"The way it works is that for the main storyline there is a number of characters, the story, key characters that you actually cannot harm unless you make a specific narrative choice to do so. In the side quests, we give the players a little bit more liberty with this because side quests you can fail. So there is a number of characters that can be killed. There is a limited amount of characters that cannot be harmed. Same goes for children."

Much like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim before it, no hurting children. Though hopefully users aren't planning to mod that in, like they did with Skyrim. Come on y'all, if you can suspend your disbelief that all this hacking technology exists or that Keanu Reeves is like, right there, you can be cool with leaving the children well enough alone.

If you're still interested in Cyberpunk 2077, and I sincerely hope this isn't what could change that, you should check out our guide to all things Cyberpunk 2077. It'll hit store shelves on April 16, 2020, with a seemingly unpunchable (and unavailable for a hook-up) Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand.

Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. See our terms & conditions.

Eric Van Allen

News Editor

Eric is a writer and Texan. He's a former contributor to sites including Compete, Polygon, Waypoint, and the Washington Post. He loves competitive games, live music, and travel.

In other news

Looks Like Cyberpunk 2077 Copies Have Already Started Leaking

Now's a good time to batten down the spoiler hatches.

There's a New The World Ends With You Game Arriving Next Year

This is not a drill; I repeat, this is not a drill.

Baldur's Gate 3 Mod Makes Paladin Class Available a Little Early

Modders have hotwired the Paladin, and other classes, right into the game.

Souls Speedrunner Finally Opens Demon's Souls Mysterious Locked Door

A sick new set of armor was hiding inside.

Need help?

Witcher 3: How to Start the Blood and Wine DLC and Meet Its Level Requirements

We explain how to get to Toussaint and what level you should be when you do.

Witcher 3: All the Correct Play Lines in "The Play's the Thing" Quest

We explain how to perform the Doppler's play with Priscilla, as well as whether to choose tragedy or comedy.

Pokemon Sword and Shield Mystery Gift Codes List (January 2020)

You can get free gifts in Pokemon Sword and Shield by entering certain Mystery Gift Codes. Here’s a full list of all the active codes available right now.

The Outer Worlds Shrink Ray - How to Get the Unique Shrink Ray Science Weapon

This is where you can get the Shrink Ray science weapon in The Outer Worlds, one of the unique weapons in the game.