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MissionsupportingSide missionEasy

Machine Gun

A Cyberpunk 2077 side job involving Skippy, an unusual smart pistol whose behavior changes according to V's chosen firing mode and later request.

RoleSide mission centered on acquiring and resolving the fate of Skippy, an intelligent smart pistol.
Statusavailable
Importancesupporting
RewardSkippy, with a later choice involving Regina Jones.
TimeShort side job with a usage-based progression step.

Key takeaways

These are the decisions and mechanics most likely to matter during Machine Gun.

  • Find Skippy in Vista Del Rey The side job starts when V encounters Skippy in an alley in Vista Del Rey, Heywood. He is acquired as part of the mission rather than through a normal vendor purchase.
  • Choose a firing mode deliberately The opening conversation offers Puppy-Loving Pacifist and Stone-Cold Killer. Skippy later changes mode after V has used him according to the mission's combat condition.
  • Use Skippy before resolving the job The mission does not conclude with the initial pickup. V needs to continue using Skippy so his behavior can progress to the later conversation.
  • The final handover is a real choice After Skippy asks to be returned to Regina Jones, V can complete the handover or keep the pistol. Keeping Skippy means declining the requested return.

Machine Gun overview

Machine Gun is a Cyberpunk 2077 side job built around Skippy, a talking smart pistol with a distinct personality and a progression system tied to how V uses it.

The mission begins when V finds Skippy in an alley in Vista Del Rey, Heywood. Unlike an ordinary weapon pickup, Skippy immediately speaks to V and presents himself as a weapon with an opinion, a sense of humor, and a preferred way of handling combat. Picking him up starts the side job and gives V access to one of the more unusual weapon-related encounters in Night City.

Skippy asks V to select between two firing modes: Puppy-Loving Pacifist and Stone-Cold Killer. The choice is not merely cosmetic. Skippy tracks how V uses him, and after the relevant combat condition is met, he changes to the other mode. This makes the mission partly an equipment experiment and partly a delayed conversation with a weapon that reacts to the player's behavior.

The final stage concerns Skippy's connection to Regina Jones. Once his usage-based transition has taken place, Skippy asks V to return him to Regina. V can follow that request or keep the pistol instead. The choice changes who ends up with Skippy, so players who want to retain the weapon should think carefully before completing the handover.

Machine Gun is not structured around a conventional boss fight or a large combat arena. Its important mechanics are the initial discovery, the firing-mode decision, the required use of Skippy in combat, and the later resolution involving Regina Jones. Because the mission's progress is linked to weapon use, it can unfold gradually rather than ending immediately after the first conversation.

Where this sits

Side jobOptional mission
Weapon discoveryAcquire Skippy
Usage progressionUse Skippy in combat
ResolutionDecide whether to return him
  1. ●Discover SkippystartLocate the talking smart pistol in Vista Del Rey.
  2. 2Select a firing modechoiceChoose Puppy-Loving Pacifist or Stone-Cold Killer.
  3. 3Complete Skippy's usage conditionprogressionContinue using the pistol until his behavior changes.
  4. 4Resolve the request from SkippyresolutionChoose whether to return him to Regina Jones.

Machine Gun progresses from a weapon discovery to a delayed choice about Skippy's final owner.

Requirements

Machine Gun is an optional side job that begins through exploration rather than a standard quest-giver introduction.

  • RequiredReach Vista Del ReyV must be able to travel through Vista Del Rey in Heywood, where Skippy can be found.
  • RequiredFind SkippyThe mission starts when V approaches and picks up the talking smart pistol in the alley.
  • RequiredUse Skippy in combatThe mission's later progression depends on continuing to use Skippy after the initial mode selection.
  • RecommendedConsider the final ownership choiceBefore speaking to Regina Jones at the end, decide whether retaining Skippy is more important than completing the requested return.

Objectives

  1. Find Skippy in Vista Del Rey.Search the alley where the talking smart pistol is waiting to be discovered.
  2. Choose Skippy's firing mode.Select either Puppy-Loving Pacifist or Stone-Cold Killer during the initial conversation.
  3. Use Skippy according to the selected mode.Continue using the pistol in combat until Skippy's behavior changes and the next part of the mission becomes available.
  4. Respond to Skippy's request.After the mode transition, decide whether to return Skippy to Regina Jones or keep him.

Walkthrough

  1. 01

    Reach the area where Skippy can be found.

    Travel to Vista Del Rey in Heywood

    Go to Vista Del Rey and search the accessible alley where Skippy is lying on the ground. The mission is discovered through exploration, so there is no need to wait for a conventional briefing from Regina Jones or another fixer.

    Location: Vista Del Rey, Heywood

    TipIf the mission marker is not obvious, search the alleys and side paths around Vista Del Rey rather than looking for a marked building entrance.

  2. 02

    Acquire Skippy.

    Pick up Skippy and listen to his introduction

    Interact with the weapon to begin the side job. Skippy speaks immediately and explains enough of his personality and function for V to make the opening firing-mode decision.

    Location: Alley in Vista Del Rey

    Watch outDo not treat Skippy as an ordinary ground weapon if you want to understand the mission; the conversation that follows determines how his early combat behavior is handled.

  3. 03

    Select Skippy's firing mode.

    Choose Puppy-Loving Pacifist or Stone-Cold Killer

    Skippy presents V with two modes: Puppy-Loving Pacifist and Stone-Cold Killer. Choose the mode that matches how you want to use the pistol during the next part of the mission, because Skippy later reacts to that choice.

    Location: Vista Del Rey

  4. 04

    Use Skippy until his behavior changes.

    Continue using Skippy in combat

    Equip Skippy and use him during ordinary combat encounters after leaving the discovery location. The mission advances through Skippy's tracked usage rather than through a single immediate objective, so switching away from him constantly can delay the next conversation.

    TipKeep Skippy equipped when practical and let the mission progress naturally through combat instead of expecting a new objective immediately after the pickup.

  5. 05

    Complete the usage-based progression.

    Watch for Skippy's mode transition

    After V has used Skippy according to the mission's condition, Skippy changes to the other firing mode. The transition is part of the mission's design and is not a sign that the weapon or quest has malfunctioned.

    Watch outThe mode change means the opening selection is not permanently preserved; plan your final decision with Skippy's later behavior in mind.

  6. 06

    Resolve Skippy's request.

    Hear Skippy's request concerning Regina Jones

    Once the usage progression has completed, speak with Skippy again. He asks V to return him to Regina Jones, turning the side job from a weapon test into a decision about whether V will honor that request.

  7. 07

    Complete Machine Gun.

    Decide whether to return or keep Skippy

    V can follow Skippy's request and return him to Regina Jones, or decline the handover and keep the smart pistol. The two options lead to different ownership outcomes, so make a manual save if you want to compare them later.

    Watch outReturning Skippy means giving up possession of the pistol; keeping him means not completing the requested return to Regina Jones.

Mission mechanics

Skippy's defining mechanic is that he is both a weapon and a mission participant. His opening dialogue presents two named modes, Puppy-Loving Pacifist and Stone-Cold Killer, and the selected mode affects how V is expected to use him in combat. The pistol's smart-weapon behavior makes it useful while also making the mission feel different from a normal item pickup.

The side job uses delayed progression. Rather than asking V to finish every objective in the alley, Skippy expects to be used after the first conversation. Once the relevant usage condition is met, he changes modes and initiates the part of the story involving Regina Jones. This is why the job may appear to pause between the discovery and its resolution.

The final mechanic is ownership. Returning Skippy to Regina Jones completes the handover requested during the mission, while refusing to return him allows V to retain the pistol. The important decision is therefore not a combat tactic but whether the player values the weapon more than the requested resolution.

What works and what does not

Strengths

  • The mission gives an ordinary weapon pickup a distinct personality and a continuing role in the quest.
  • The two named firing modes create an immediate choice that affects how the player approaches subsequent combat.
  • The delayed progression makes Skippy feel reactive instead of disposable after the first conversation.
  • The final ownership decision gives the side job a practical consequence for players who want to keep the pistol.

Weaknesses

  • The mission's progress is not immediate because V must use Skippy after the initial discovery.
  • Players who want to preserve their preferred opening mode may be surprised when Skippy changes modes later.
  • Returning Skippy to Regina Jones conflicts with the desire to keep the unusual weapon, making the final resolution easy to regret without a save.

Best uses

  • Use Skippy during routine combat while progressing through other activities.
  • Treat the initial mode selection as a role-playing choice as well as a weapon preference.
  • Make the final decision only after considering whether Skippy should remain in V's inventory.

Mission phases

  1. 1

    Discovery

    Starts: V reaches the alley in Vista Del Rey and interacts with Skippy.

    Not applicable

    The opening phase is a conversation and weapon acquisition rather than a boss encounter.

    • Listen to Skippy's explanation before selecting a mode.
    • The side job begins through exploration at the discovery location.
  2. 2

    Mode selection

    Starts: Skippy asks V to choose between his two named firing modes.

    Not applicable

    V chooses Puppy-Loving Pacifist or Stone-Cold Killer, establishing the way Skippy behaves during the next portion of the mission.

    • Choose based on how you want to use the weapon, not only on the wording of the mode name.
  3. 3

    Usage progression

    Starts: V continues using Skippy in combat after the initial conversation.

    Not applicable

    The mission remains active while Skippy tracks his use. His behavior eventually changes to the other mode.

    • Keep Skippy available during normal combat so the mission can progress without dedicated grinding.
    • A delayed update is expected because this phase is not resolved in the discovery alley.
  4. 4

    Ownership resolution

    Starts: Skippy completes his mode transition and asks V to return him to Regina Jones.

    Not applicable

    The final phase is a choice between completing the requested handover and retaining Skippy.

    • Save before resolving the handover if you want the option to revisit the decision.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

  • Choose Puppy-Loving Pacifist

    Skippy begins in the selected mode, but his behavior later changes after the mission's usage condition is met.

  • Choose Stone-Cold Killer

    Skippy begins in the selected mode, but his behavior later changes after the mission's usage condition is met.

  • Return Skippy to Regina Jones

    V completes the requested handover and no longer keeps Skippy as the retained weapon.

    Spoiler
  • Keep Skippy

    V refuses the requested return and retains the talking smart pistol, leaving the handover unresolved rather than giving Skippy to Regina Jones.

    Spoiler

Machine Gun checklist

  • Reach Vista Del Rey in Heywood.The side job is discovered in the district rather than started from a standard mission board.
  • Find and interact with Skippy.The talking smart pistol is the mission's starting point.
  • Select Puppy-Loving Pacifist or Stone-Cold Killer.This is the opening mode decision.
  • Use Skippy in combat after acquiring him.The mission needs continued weapon use before the next stage appears.
  • Wait for Skippy's behavior to change.The later mode transition is part of the quest progression.
  • Hear Skippy's request about Regina Jones.This begins the final ownership decision.
  • Choose whether to return or keep Skippy.Make a save first if you want to preserve both possible outcomes.

Failure conditions

  • Skippy is not picked upMachine Gun does not begin until V interacts with the pistol in Vista Del Rey.
  • Skippy is rarely used after acquisitionThe usage-based progression can be delayed if V leaves Skippy unequipped or does not use him in combat.
  • The final handover is completed unintentionallyReturning Skippy to Regina Jones changes his ownership outcome, so players who want to keep the weapon should decide carefully before confirming the return.

On failure

The mission can be progressed gradually through normal play, but a manual save before the final ownership decision is the safest way to preserve the choice.

Rewards and drops

  • Skippy
    The talking smart pistol is acquired when V discovers and picks it up in Vista Del Rey.
  • Weapon ownership outcome
    The final choice determines whether V keeps Skippy or returns him to Regina Jones.

Characters in this mission

AftermathSpoilers

Decide before the handover

Machine Gun's final outcome is determined when V responds to Skippy's request to return him to Regina Jones. If keeping the pistol matters to your build or collection, make the ownership decision deliberately rather than treating the handover as a routine objective.

Trivia

  • Skippy is unusual among Cyberpunk 2077 weapons because he speaks directly to V and participates in a multi-stage side job.
  • Puppy-Loving Pacifist and Stone-Cold Killer are the names used for Skippy's two selectable firing modes.
  • The mission's title refers to the weapon at its center rather than to a conventional combat assignment.

Relationships