Cyberpunk 2077 is one of 2020's most anticipated titles, taking fans new and old back to the dystopian future of the 30 year old franchise. While the genre does typically lend itself to a certain type of narrative - one of corporate intrigue, the dangers of unchecked technology and the human condition - it still gives writers a lot of freedom to work with.
So what, in essence, is Cyberpunk 2077 about?
Despite being the latest entry in a long-running series, it is possible to jump into 2077 without having played other Cyberpunk games and still understand what is going on. For long-time fans, there are countless callbacks and references, as well as a tabletop prequel called Cyberpunk RED that is a direct link between 2077 and the previous editions. However, enough time has passed in-universe for earlier storylines to act only as world-building, unless specifically referred to and explained in-game as well.
The setting follows an alternate timeline in which everything was identical to the real world up until 1990, when history diverges from our own. Starting with a corrupt war called the Central American Conflict in 1990, a series of events, battles and political turmoil led to an economic crisis in the USA and caused the government to practically collapse. Megacorporations seize power due to the country's reliance on them for economic survival.
These companies essentially become new governing bodies, operating above the law and gaining authoritarian power. Several "free states" which, on paper, are still part of the USA begin to operate independently in practice, while various natural and man-made disasters ravage the world. In the Free State of Northern California, pretty much all of the urban metropolitan areas along the coast merge into a single colossal unit, known as Night City.
