The Joker’s Updates Quest That Nobody Expected
When CD Projekt Red released Update 2.2 of Cyberpunk 2077 in December 2024, most people were excited about the photo mode improvements and the fact that Johnny Silverhand is now riding shotgun in your car. Hiding in that patch was, however, something that no one expected to find: a treasure hunt as full-blown as Balatro, that decidedly addictive poker roguelike that swept 2024. And honestly, Joker’s updates turned out to be one of the best crossovers I have ever witnessed in a long time.
The entire affair starts with a text message by a person identifying himself as Jim B. No journal entry. No quest marker. Only some mysterious message and a bit of blurred photos that make you go on a hunt of Joker graffiti all over Night City. As though CD Projekt Red was choosing to reward those players who take time to observe their environment rather than simply go by the direction.
Pretty genius if you ask me.
What’s the Deal with Balatro and Cyberpunk Anyway?
Now, before we proceed to the hiding places of these cards, I wish to make a second detention. You may be asking yourself what a cold-blooded indie game has to do with the AAA’s chrome-plated noir of Night City. It turns out that this crossover began several months ago when the creator of Balatro LocalThunk introduced face cards in his game that were themed after Cyberpunk, including one with Geralt of The Witcher on its face and another with Johnny Silverhand himself.
Maria Mazur, a quest designer at CDPR, is a big fan of Balatro. The team ran with the idea of paying her back. That is why we now have Jimbo (Balatro mascot) on the walls around Watson, Westbrook, and all the places in between.
The partnership for the “Joker’s updates” collaboration is organic, as both games have this strange vibe to them they both deal with the taking of risks, choices, and making them, at times, all go terribly wrong. On top of that, the two development teams are obviously admiring each other’s work, and it makes the entire process seem less like a corporate marketing gimmick and more like two musicians playing off one another.
Joker’s Updates Quest – How Jim B’s Scavenger Hunt Actually Works in Cyberpunk 2077?
Ok, now that you get hit by Jim B, you are on your own. No glowing pathway brings you here and there. You have to learn the photos he mails, determine the landmarks, and find these pixel-art Joker’s updates (cards) yourself.
And this is what makes this quest different:
- No note taking up your journal.
- Cards never appear out of order – jump forward and you are dead meat.
- At every place, there is a hint that is cryptic and alludes to Night City landmarks.
- You literally have to search rather than use GPS coordinates.
It is retro gaming style in a contemporary open world, and I am on board. The quest does not talk down to you and leads you step by step.
The Joker’s Updates – All 10 Joker Card Locations (In the Right Order)
Shut up, I am going to save you hours going round Night City like a lost tourist. But honestly? The best part is to find these out on your own. Nevertheless, when you get stuck or simply need to get this done in the most efficient way possible, the following is the full list.
Card 1: Bus Riding (North Oak, Westbrook)
You start with the Columbarium, the futuristic cemetery where you can pay your respects to Jackie. Go to the bus stop in front. The Joker is painted on one of the columns, and the card is sitting on a bench next to him.
The hint by Jim B speaks of a rainy bus stop that overlooks the city, and this fits perfectly well. It is a small place where most players are likely to pass without taking a second thought.
Card 2: Golden Joker (North Oak Roundabout)
Go north of the first card until you come to a roundabout where there is this garish golden statue in the center. The type of art installation that shouts out corporate money.
The card is hidden behind the statue on the concrete stand. Easy pick when you are where you are.
Card 3: Lucky Cat (Misty esoterica Little China)
Now we’re heading to Watson. You know about the shop of Misty in the beginning of the game, right? Enter and seek the shelf with those beckoning cat figures. The Joker card is frightening among them.
It was not the same experience I had with this one due to all the memories connected to that shop. V and Jackie strategizing their big score, discussing how they will make it to the major leagues… yeah.
Card 4: Edgerunner (Badlands, Wind Farm)
Time to leave the city proper. Race to the wind farm in the Badlands, that entire place that David Martinez and the Edgerunners crew had their time. The card is on the ground, not far away, near some of the storage containers, with those great turbines whirling around.
The clue talks of it being windy and near mountains, and that is the Badlands in a nutshell.
Card 5: Roof by Delamain (Vista del Rey, Heywood)
This one’s trickier. You must climb up the Delamain HQ building. Parkour with the AC units and garbage bins to reach the top and then go to the north-west corner of the building. Find the yellow wall that has the face of Jimbo painted on it.
There the card lies on the ground. And just be careful not to fall off in the process of climbing. The view is good, but the landing is not.
Card 6: Splash (Wellsprings Waterfront)
Travel to Cannery Plaza in Wellsprings, and go to the water. There is a dock ladder and a Joker graffiti on the ground close by. The next part is the fun part: jump in the water and go to the bottom.
The card is lying there amidst some garbage and debris. Dumpster diving in contaminated Night City water says nothing like a treasure hunt.
Card 7: Spare Trousers (Jinguji Store, Corpo Plaza)
Take a hurry to Corpo Plaza and visit the Jinguji clothing store. Get in there and get behind that huge brand sign and inspect the floor by the wall. The spot is marked with another Joker painting.
The place is all high-fashion corporate all about it, the place is ironic, though, that we are discovering street art in one of the most up-market shops in the city.
Card 8: Hologram (Corporate Glass Ceiling Plaza)
Remain in the Corpo Plaza but go to that huge glass ceiling in the middle of the district. One can hardly fail to notice it when up in that level on the right. The holograms are in the form of casino chips that surround the card, a nice touch given that the entire theme of the Balatro was poker.
It is disturbingly gratifying to run on that glass ceiling.
Card 9: Tyger Claws Territory (Japantown, Westbrook)
This one way back to Westbrook. You want a golden cat figurine, the big one over Cherry Blossom Market. You can not miss it when you are on the ground floor in Japantown.
Later the Joker card is placed at the bottom of the statue. It is dripping with the neon-infused aesthetic the entire area has which makes Cyberpunk so aesthetically memorable.
Card 10: Ramen Shop of Wakako (Japantown)
The last card that you have is in the Ramen shop of Wakako in Japantown. Here the treasure hunt of Jim B takes a complete circle, and you may depend it upon, you had better take all you can before you go.
Why? Since the rewards are spawned here.
What Do You Actually Get for Finishing This Quest?
You have hunted down all ten cards as part of the Joker’s Updates quest in Cyberpunk 2077. Was it worth the effort? Well, I will tell you what Jim B hooks you up with:
The Joker T-Shirt
This exclusive clothing piece comes next to the tenth card. The Jimbo mascot of Balatro is right on the cover, and the item is truly one of the more interesting crossover items in the game. You can not find it anywhere, but it is a reward for actually having made the hunt.
The Card Trophy (For Your Apartment)
Go back to the Megabuilding apartment of V and go to the shelf behind your couch. It has a trophy now with three cards in it, which are a Jack with Jackie Wells, a Queen with Rogue, and a King with Johnny Silverhand.
The crossover loop is also closed with these three characters appearing as face cards in Balatro itself. It is a good little touch that demonstrates that both dev teams thought about how to make this team-up count.
Balatro and Cyberpunk 2077 – The Crossover Nobody Knew We Needed
The trick to this entire quest of Joker is that it fits into the DNA of both games so well. Balatro is all about calculated risks and unintended synergies. The idea of Cyberpunk 2077 is to explore a crowded city full of secrets to find in every corner.
When they were mashed together, they formed a strange little scavenger hunt that will pay off in both curiosity and attention to detail. It is not a huge DLC or content shakeup; it is merely a cool thing that is present in the games, and players can consume it.
The Joker’s Updates Quest Design Philosophy
The way Maria Mazur goes about this quest deserves a mention. She has produced something that is entirely gratuitous and yet altogether satisfying. It has no success associated with it (at least not a trophy notification). No special weapon or game-winning reward.
Only a shirt, a trophy, and the pleasure of being able to solve the puzzle.
A design philosophy is uncommon in contemporary open-world games, where it is all about progress bars and completion percentages. It is content because it is content, and it is meant to be enjoyed by those who are willing to simply drive around Night City and see what they find.
Also, making a stroll to find these Joker cards made me realize how perfectly the pixel art style used by Jimbo could be placed into the world of Cyberpunk. Night City is already covered in graffiti, street art, corpo advertisements struggling to have space. The retro gaming aesthetic of Balatro does not seem out of place at all.
On the contrary, it brings out how the two games are played with nostalgia interestingly. Balatro is a classic poker game encased in a roguelike and retro aesthetic. Cyberpunk is based on the cyberpunk fiction of the 1980s and blends it with the contemporary open-world design. They are both remix cultures in their turn.
Before and After the Collaboration
| Aspect | Before Update 2.2 | After Joker’s Updates |
| Hidden Collectibles | Standard shards and graffiti | Unique Balatro Joker cards |
| Apartment Decorations | Static items only | Interactive trophy display |
| Crossover Content | Witcher Easter eggs only | Active Balatro collaboration |
| Secret Quests | Minimal post-DLC | Jim B’s treasure hunt |
FAQ
When does Jim B contact you?
There’s no specific trigger. Only play and install Update 2.2 for Cyberpunk 2077 and you will get a message after some time. It occurs within an hour, as reported by some players, and they had to wait longer.
Is it possible to locate the cards haphazardly?
Nope. They just hatch one after another. Attempt to seize the card number 5 and get cards number 1-4 and you will not be able to find anything.
Is this quest missable?
Not really. You have unlimited time on it when Jim B calls you, and you can have it. Move at your pace and be a sightseeing tourist.
Do the Joker cards respawn?
No, when you get all the cards away, it goes. That is okay as long as you have to snatch them once to get the rewards.
Is it possible to be banned from using guides?
Come on, it’s a scavenger hunt. CD Projekt Red anticipates players to exchange information and support one another. Half the enjoyment of these community-based hunts.
What would happen to me when I already finished the main story?
Doesn’t matter. This search is independent and does not need the development of your story. V might be on the final stage of their path or on the first stage.
Any further Balatro partnerships?
No official announcement has been made, but both dev teams appear to be willing to take on future projects. Both LocalThunk and Maria Mazur mentioned that they felt a creative connection, and it remains to be seen what will take place in the future.
Conclusion
Look, I get it. Other individuals believe that crossover content is merely a marketing gimmick that water downs both games. And yes, that is sometimes the case. However, the quest “Joker’s updates” in Cyberpunk 2077 reveals that sometimes passionate dev teams actually respect each other.
It is not attempting to sell you anything more than the basic game that you already have. It does not require that you watch both titles to understand the allusions. It is simply a little treasure hunt that is worth the exploration and gives some flavor to the already rich world of Night City.
And next time you are driving through Night City with Johnny snickering at you out of your passenger seat, you might want to take a detour. Check your messages. See if Jim B’s reached out yet. Those Joker’s updates are out there, and Night City still has a lot of secrets to unlock – even several years after release.
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