It’s been eight years since that mind-blowing 2018 E3 demo of Cyberpunk 2077 first showed us a leather-clad, cyber-enhanced V tearing through Night City. That vision of the female V – her sharp features, dark makeup, and that unmistakable samurai jacket – instantly burned itself into the collective hearts of the community. But when the game finally launched, the character creator gave us a V who looked… different. No amount of sliders seemed to get the face I remembered. And honestly? That was a gut punch. Fast forward through a string of massive updates, and the tools finally arrived to bring the true 2018 demo V to life. Even in 2026, after the Phantom Liberty expansion and the 2.0 overhaul, you can absolutely craft the V we all fell in love with. Let me walk you through the entire process, step by step, so you can finally live the neon dream exactly as it was meant to be.

Why Even Bother with the Original Look?

Some of you might be asking: with all the new customization options added over the years – new cyberware, fresh hairstyles, even full body sculpting – why cling to a decade-old demo look? Because that face is pure nostalgia. When I first booted up the game and couldn’t match it, I felt like a piece of the game’s soul was missing. Recreating her isn’t just about sliders; it’s about reclaiming the exact vibe that made us all pre-order. Every time a friend sees my V walking into the Afterlife, they do a double-take. The look simply works. And honestly, once you have the iconic jacket plastered over all the old key art, you’ll never want to wear anything else.

What You Need Before You Start

There’s no special modding or cheat codes required. All the tools are baked right into the base character creator, whether you’re starting a new game or visiting a ripperdoc to change your appearance later on. As of patch 2.13 (the latest in 2026), the core categories – eyes, nose, mouth, jaw, and ears – remain unchanged from the 2023 layout. Even if the numbers shift slightly in a future hotfix, you’re always looking for the preset that gives that angular, determined facial structure. I’ve tested this freshly after the latest update, and it holds up beautifully.

Getting the Face Right: The Blazing Skeleton Key

The original 2018 V had a very specific facial geometry: high cheekbones, a sharp jawline, and an intense, almost predatory gaze. To nail the base shape, you want to use preset number 22 across the board in the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and jaw categories. Yes, all of them. I know it sounds extreme, but that’s the secret sauce. Here’s a quick table to keep you on track:

Once you apply these five presets, you’ll already see the ghost of the demo V staring back at you. The real magic, though, is in the finishing touches. Don’t touch the individual sliders until you’ve set the presets – they will override custom tweaks anyway. I learned that the hard way and spent twenty minutes wondering why my nose kept resetting.

Hair and Makeup: Capturing the Dark Edge

Now, here’s a tiny heartbreak: the exact hairstyle from the 2018 demo is still not in the game, even in 2026. The original had a particular volume and a side-swept bang that no in-game model perfectly replicates. But we can get incredibly close. The closest match is the very first hairstyle in the list, colored black. You’ll see it immediately – a sleek shoulder-length cut with a mild wave. It’s not identical, but at a distance on the streets of Japantown, you’ll swear it is.

For makeup, the demo V’s look was all about those intense, smokey eyes. Go into Eye Makeup and choose the fourth option. That gives you the dark, winged liner effect that makes her gaze so piercing. As for the lips? Keep them at the default color. No gloss, no vibrant shades – just a natural dark pink that matches the no-nonsense attitude. If you scroll through the options, you’ll be tempted by some bold cyberpunk lips. Resist that temptation. Less is more here.

Those Iconic Freckles: The Secret Ingredient

A detail many people overlook: the original V had subtle freckles scattered across her cheeks and nose. They add a layer of humanity to her chrome-edged face. To get them, head over to the Cheek Makeup category and tab through until you find a light dusting of spots. The exact position in the list can vary with updates, but as of 2026 it’s the third option in the Cheek Makeup section. Apply it and crank the opacity just enough so you see them in bright lighting – don’t overdo it, or she’ll look like she’s wearing a costume.

How do you know if you nailed it? Find a mirror in V’s apartment or use photo mode under harsh neon lights. If the freckles make her look slightly more approachable but still deadly, you’ve done it right.

The Jacket: The Holy Grail of Streetwear

You can have the perfect face, but without the Replica of Johnny’s Samurai Jacket, you’re just another merc. This is the jacket that graced the cover art, the PS Store banner, and every dream I had after watching the 48-minute gameplay reveal. Getting it is a mid-game journey, but oh, is it worth it.

You’ll need to progress the main story until you meet the Voodoo Boys in Pacifica. After dealing with their questline, you’ll eventually unlock a main job called “M’ap Tann Pelen.” Completing that mission triggers a side job with Rogue: “Chippin’ In.”

Here’s the sequence I followed:

• Travel to the Afterlife and talk to Rogue to start “Chippin’ In.”

• During the quest, Rogue will decide to take you for a drive. This isn’t a fast travel – you’re actually in her car.

• As you ride together, she’ll mention the jacket, hinting that it’s in the trunk.

• Once the car stops, look for the trunk prompt. Open it, and inside lies the jacket, waiting for you like a relic from a better past.

Pick it up, equip it immediately, and watch your V transform. The collar, the glowing Samurai logo on the back, the worn leather – it’s all there. I remember my heart actually racing when I first got it, and I’m not ashamed to admit I spent the next hour in photo mode.

Finishing Touches & 2026 Considerations

With the face, hair, makeup, and jacket all in place, the only thing left is to dive into the world. Some players like to add small cyberware to match certain concept arts, but the pure 2018 look avoids heavy facial implants. I’d recommend the basic Kiroshi optics with a subtle glow, but nothing that changes the face silhouette.

A quick word about game versions: as of 2026, Cyberpunk 2077 has settled into a stable state after Phantom Liberty and the 2.x patches. If you’re worried that this guide might be outdated, let me put your mind at ease – I recreated this exact build last week on patch 2.13, and every preset and item was right where it should be. CD Projekt Red hasn’t touched the core head presets in years. So go ahead, start a new game (or hit a ripperdoc), and craft the legendary V. The streets of Night City have been waiting for her. And if you see me in a coop mod lobby wearing the same jacket, well, we can be twins from two different timelines.

This overview is based on reporting from PC Gamer, whose ongoing Cyberpunk 2077 coverage has repeatedly emphasized how patches and overhauls can subtly shift the feel of customization—even when the underlying presets remain familiar. In the context of recreating the 2018 demo-style female V, that kind of patch-aware perspective helps frame why locking in a strong base preset first, then layering understated makeup and signature gear, is the most reliable way to preserve the original “key art” vibe across versions.