Cyberpunk 2077 is an upcoming role-playing video game developed and published by CD Projekt. It is scheduled to be released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One and Stadia by the end of the year, and PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X in 2021. Adapted from the Cyberpunk franchise, the story takes place in dystopian Night City, an open world with six distinct regions. Players assume the first-person perspective of a customizable mercenary called V, who can acquire skills in hacking and machinery, an arsenal of ranged weapons, and options for melee combat.
Cyberpunk 2077 is being developed using the REDengine 4 by a team of around 500, exceeding the number that worked on the studio’s previous title, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015). CD Projekt launched a new division in Wrocław, Poland and partnered with Digital Scapes, Nvidia, and QLOC to assist with production. Cyberpunk creator Mike Pondsmith is a consultant, and actor Keanu Reeves has a starring role. The soundtrack features music by Marcin Przybyłowicz and several licensed artists. Various adaptations will be produced, including a comic book series, card game, and an anime.
Cyberpunk 2077 is played in a first-person perspective as V, a mercenary whose voice, face, hairstyles, body type and modifications, background, and clothing are customizable. Stat categories—Body, Intelligence, Reflexes, Technical, and Cool—are influenced by the character classes that players assume, which are NetRunner (hacking), Techie (machinery), and Solo (combat). The perk tree branches into melee, blades, handguns, shotguns, rifles, sniper rifles, hacking, two-handed combat, assassination, “cold blood”, engineering, and athletics. V must consult a “ripperdoc” to upgrade and purchase cyberware implants; black markets offer military-grade abilities. The rarity of any given equipment is shown by a colored tier system. V can take cover, aim, run, jump, double jump, and slide. Melee strikes can be dealt with close-combat weapons. There are three types of ranged weapons, all of which can be customized and modified—Power (standard), Tech (which penetrate walls and enemies), and Smart (with homing bullets).Ranged weapons are equipped to ricochet bullets in a target’s direction and slow them down in bullet time. Four types of damage can be inflicted and resisted—Physical, Thermal, EMP, and Chemical. Weapon use increases accuracy and reloading speed, which are manifested in character animations. Gunsmiths repair and upgrade weapons. The game can be completed without killing anyone, with non-lethal options for weapons and cyberware.
The open world metropolis Night City, California consists of six regions—the corporate City Center, immigrant-inhabited Watson, luxurious Westbrook, suburban Heywood, gang-infested Pacifica, and industrial Santo Domingo. Its surrounding area, the Badlands, can also be explored. V navigates these locations on foot and in vehicles, which are subject to either a first or third-person view. In autonomous cars, V can more easily engage in gunplay. Pedestrians are vulnerable to vehicular collisions. Depending on the location, law enforcement may be alerted if V commits a crime. Radio stations are available to listen to. The full day-night cycle and dynamic weather affect the way non-player characters (NPCs) behave. V owns an apartment and a garage. Night City features non-English-speaking characters, whose languages can be translated with special implants. “Braindance” is a device that allows V to undergo other people’s experiences. Branching dialogues enable interaction with NPCs and actions in quests. Experience points are obtained from main quests and fuel the stats, while side quests yield “street cred”, unlocking skills, vendors, places, and additional quests. Quests are acquired from characters known as Fixers. Throughout the game, V is aided by various companions. Consumables, like soft drinks, are used for healing, and objects can be inspected in V’s inventory. Minigames include hacking, boxing, auto racing, martial arts, and shooting ranges. “Game over” messages only appear at the point of death; if a quest is failed, the game moves on all the same. Player choice leads to different endings.
Setting
Night City is an American megacity in the Free State of North California, controlled by corporations and unassail by the laws of both country and state. It sees conflict from rampant gang wars and its ruling entities contending for dominance. The city is reliant on robotics for everyday aspects like waste collection, maintenance, and public transportation. Its visual identity is derived from the four eras it underwent—austere Entropism, colorful Kitsch, imposing Neo-Militarism, and opulent Neo-Kitsch. The Internet is managed by corporations and the army. Homelessness abounds but does not preclude cybernetic modification for the poor, giving rise to cosmetic addiction and consequent violence. These threats are dealt with by the armed force known as Psycho Squad. Trauma Team can be employed for rapid medical services. Because of the constant threat of physical harm, all citizens are allowed to openly carry firearms in public.
