CyberPunk 2077 The Pickup: The Mission Where Night City Teaches You Not to Trust Anyone

Intro

If you’re searching for “Cyberpunk 2077 The Pickup explained”, “What happens if you side with Militech or Royce”, or “Did Dexter DeShawn betray you?” , this mission is why.

The Pickup isn’t just an early quest but It’s the moment Cyberpunk shows you how power, lies, and violence really work in Night City.

Let’s break it down : choices, consequences, hidden mechanics, and why this job defines the game’s philosophy.

What Is The Pickup Mission About?

Dexter DeShawn hires you to retrieve the Flathead, a military-grade spider bot, from Royce, leader of the Maelstrom gang. Sounds like a simple merc job.

But Night City rule #1: If someone says keep it clean, prepare for chaos.

Before you even reach Royce, Militech intercepts you through their agent Meredith Stout, offering a payment shard to buy the bot. That shard? It’s not clean but It’s weaponized.

ThWas Dexter DeShawn Setting You Up?

Short answer: Yes but indirectly. Dex isn’t trying to kill you yet, but he absolutely sends you into a gang stronghold alone, downplays Maelstrom instability and washes his hands of Militech involvement

Dex’s real sin isn’t betrayal but it’s cowardice. He plays middleman and lets everyone else bleed.

This mission shows you early: Fixers don’t protect you. They protect the deal.

The Militech Shard Explained

What’s on the shard Meredith gives you?

• Fake credit transfer
• Embedded Militech malware
• Designed to expose Maelstrom and justify a raid

If you slot the shard without removing the virus, it triggers conflict during the deal. If you crack the shard beforehand, you control the situation. This is Cyberpunk teaching you a core mechanic:

Knowledge beats firepower.

Who Is Royce Really?

Royce isn’t just a psycho with a shotgun.

He’s paranoid (for good reason), half-aware he’s being played and a gang leader who knows corpos always lie.

When Royce realizes the shard is compromised, he doesn’t hesitate because hesitation gets you killed in Night City and that’s why negotiations collapse so fast.

Why the Deal Always Turns Violent (Even If You Try Peace)

Even if you play calm, polite, and smart , Militech wants a raid, Maelstrom expects betrayal and Dex wants plausible deniability.

This mission is designed so peace is fragile and violence is always one bad line of dialogue away.

Cyberpunk isn’t asking:

“Can you avoid the fight?”

It’s asking:

“Who do you side with when the fight is inevitable?”

Royce Boss Fight : What’s Really Going On

When Royce enters his combat exoskeleton, it’s symbolic. He’s no longer a negotiator, no longer a leader, just pure survival mode.

Gameplay-wise:

• Heavy armor
• High damage output
• Forces you to use cover, gadgets, and positioning

Narratively:

This is what happens when everyone realizes they’ve been lied to.

No heroes.
No clean exits.

Does Your Choice in The Pickup Matter Later?

Yes more than most early missions. Your decisions affect Meredith Stout’s fate, how Militech treats you later, which NPCs survive and subtle dialogue shifts across Act 1

Cyberpunk doesn’t scream consequences , It remembers them quietly.

The Real Meaning of The Pickup

Despite the name, this mission isn’t about the Flathead. It’s about initiation.

You learn that corpos manipulate systems, gangs respond with violence, fixers avoid responsibility and mercs survive by reading between the lines

This is Night City saying:

“Welcome. Now choose who you are.”

FAQ

Can you avoid fighting Royce?
Yes, but only with very specific choices. Violence is still likely.

Is Meredith Stout trustworthy?
No but she’s honest about being dishonest.

Was the shard always a trap?
Yes. From the moment you receive it.

Does Dex betray you here?
Not directly but he abandons you the moment things get messy.

Is this mission important?
Yes. It defines how Cyberpunk handles choice, power, and consequence.

Final Thought

The Pickup is Cyberpunk 2077’s first real filter. If you understand this mission, you understand the game.

Night City doesn’t reward good intentions. It rewards awareness.

And the moment you slot that shard You stop being a player.

You become a merc.