Elon Musk, Grimes make cameos in Cyberpunk 2077

Tech billionaire Elon Musk might be too busy running his business empire to play it, but he appears to show up in one of the biggest games of the year.

Tesla founder Elon Musk or a character looking extremely like him has been spotted in one of the decade’s most hotly anticipated video games before its release later this week.

Cyberpunk 2077 is due to be released on December 10, but some (including us) have been allowed to have a play a few days early (it’s sick, get it if you can or are even remotely interested).

That comes after eight years of waiting for it to finally come out, and there’s no shortage of things to do in the game.

One is looking for Easter eggs and other hidden details in the fictional Night City.

While our own playthrough followed the life of a street kid used to the rough and tumble of the city, those who opted for a different “lifepath” have reported running into the world’s second richest man early on in the game.

CNET reported encountering the tech maverick in the bathroom of a “corporate” play through, where the playable character “V” quickly shoos him away.

His “cyberware” does detract somewhat from his Musk-ness, but it’s a striking resemblance.

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His cyberware masks him somewhat. Screenshot: Cyberpunk 2077/CNET

But this sure looks a lot like Elon Musk. Screenshot: Cyberpunk 2077/CNET

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It makes sense for Mr Musk to show up in the game.

Earlier this year he and his musician girlfriend Grimes welcomed a new baby with a very unusual name, a few months after it was revealed she would feature in the game.

Grimes voices a pop star character called Lizzy Wizzy: We won’t spoil the game by going into further detail here but it’s a very Grimes appearance.

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Grimes voices Lizzy Wizzy. Picture: Cyberpunk 2077

Mr Musk has a track record for following in his girlfriend’s footsteps – see this not-actually-that-bad song he posted on Soundcloud earlier this year.

Mr Musk has also engaged in some online banter with the developers of the long-awaited game, particularly following the announcement of the Tesla Cybertruck last year.

See ya in 2077 😉

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 22, 2019

Some have theorised the Tesla will show up as an in-game vehicle, though at this stage it seems no one has encountered one yet (it might be lurking in the badlands on the city’s outskirts where you begin the game if you opt for the “nomad” lifepath).

Mr Musk doesn’t mind the odd cameo, playing himself in Iron Man 2 where he pitches Tony Stark an electric jet, himself again in a Season 26 episode of The Simpsons and a parody of himself called Elon Tusk that he voiced in Rick and Morty.