In Cyberpunk 2077, players are faced with many morally ambiguous decisions, but few are as controversial and emotionally charged as the choice to crucify Joshua Stephenson. This scenario unfolds during the side quest ‘They Won’t Go When I Go’ and its follow-up ‘Sinnerman’ and ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.’ Joshua, a convicted murderer turned religious zealot, asks for your participation in his final act a live-broadcast crucifixion meant to be both a spiritual message and an entertainment spectacle. Whether or not to assist in this intense mission leaves many players questioning what’s right, what’s wrong, and whether anyone in Night City is ever truly redeemed.
Understanding Joshua Stephenson’s Story
Who Is Joshua?
Joshua Stephenson is a man haunted by the past. He murdered a family years ago and later found religion while serving his sentence. Now a devout believer, Joshua sees his death as an opportunity to inspire others through faith and repentance. Braindance producers are eager to turn his crucifixion into a commercial product, and Joshua willingly agrees, viewing it as a sacrifice for the greater good.
When you first meet Joshua, it’s in the middle of a tense scene during the side job ‘Sinnerman,’ where you’re hired to eliminate him. Instead of a shootout, you’re pulled into a philosophical and spiritual conversation that eventually leads to a larger, more ethically complex questline.
The Crucifixion: What Are the Choices?
Option 1: Help Crucify Joshua
If you choose to support Joshua’s plan, you can agree to assist with his crucifixion. You’ll be present during the preparation, and ultimately, you’ll physically nail him to the cross if you accept the role. The broadcast is recorded and made into a Braindance experience, immortalizing his suffering for public consumption.
This path is disturbing and visceral, pushing players to engage with one of the most controversial moments in Cyberpunk 2077. While Joshua insists this is what he wants, the moment forces the player to reflect on whether such pain no matter how voluntary should be exploited or facilitated at all.
Option 2: Refuse to Help
Players can walk away at several points. You can express doubts, ask him to reconsider, or simply back out of the Braindance entirely. Refusing to help doesn’t stop Joshua’s crucifixion it still happens but you won’t participate in it directly. This allows you to maintain some moral distance from the event while still witnessing the outcome of his choice.
Option 3: Dissuade Joshua
There’s also an option to try and talk Joshua out of the crucifixion, although this is rarely successful. His belief in the redemptive power of his suffering is deeply ingrained, and his mind is made up in most dialogue branches. However, engaging with him sincerely can lead to more nuanced discussions about forgiveness, trauma, and the search for meaning in a dystopian world.
Consequences of Your Decision
Gameplay Impact
From a purely gameplay standpoint, the decision does not drastically change the ending of the game or provide major in-game advantages. You won’t receive special gear or major faction bonuses. However, it does shape your experience of the world and can influence how your V is characterized throughout roleplay.
Emotional and Philosophical Weight
The emotional impact of crucifying Joshua is significant. Players often report feelings of discomfort, regret, or deep contemplation after completing the mission. The quest serves as one of the few side stories in Cyberpunk 2077 that tackles themes like redemption, public spectacle, and morality head-on, without offering easy answers.
Reasons to Help Crucify Joshua
Some players choose to go through with the crucifixion because:
- They respect Joshua’s autonomy and religious conviction.
- They are curious to see how far the game is willing to push narrative boundaries.
- They see it as a commentary on media exploitation and religious extremism.
- They roleplay a version of V who supports unconventional beliefs.
For these players, helping Joshua is not about agreeing with him it’s about respecting his wishes in a world where free will is often compromised by corporations, implants, and cybernetic controls.
Reasons to Refuse
On the other hand, many players choose not to participate because:
- They are morally opposed to the idea of crucifixion, even if it’s consensual.
- They view the Braindance production as exploitative and unethical.
- They don’t believe Joshua is mentally stable and feel the event encourages his delusion.
- They prefer to avoid unnecessary violence, even in symbolic or theatrical forms.
Choosing to walk away may align more with players who view V as a reluctant anti-hero trying to retain some shred of humanity in a brutal world.
Public Reaction and Community Discussion
Why This Mission Stands Out
The Joshua Stephenson storyline is one of the most talked-about in the Cyberpunk community. Players on forums and social media often share vastly different reactions some applaud the game for its willingness to delve into dark and mature themes, while others criticize it for sensationalism.
One reason this mission resonates is because it doesn’t force a ‘correct’ choice. There is no clear reward or punishment, no good or evil meter, just a moment that asks: What do you believe in?
Reflection of Cyberpunk Themes
The mission fits well within the larger themes of the game: dehumanization, identity, belief, and the influence of media. It acts as a microcosm of Night City, where every belief can be bought and every pain can be sold. Whether you see Joshua as a martyr or a manipulated man, his story reflects the distorted values of the cyberpunk future.
Should You Crucify Joshua?
Ultimately, whether or not to help crucify Joshua is a question only you can answer. It depends on how you view faith, freedom, media, and personal agency. The game does not judge you either way but it does ask you to confront your own beliefs about suffering, performance, and redemption.
It’s one of the few quests where your moral compass, not your gun or stats, guides the outcome. That alone makes it one of the most powerful moments in Cyberpunk 2077. For players seeking more than just action and explosions, the Joshua Stephenson storyline delivers one of the most haunting choices in the game. Whether you help or walk away, the decision stays with you long after the screen fades to black.