Category Archives: Cyberpunk

Something to look forward to: Summer Game Fest has four events lined up for the Month of June. CDPR will update fans on Cyberpunk 2077's progress. EA will have a stream devoted to what it has in the works. Day of the Devs will present what they had planned for the GDC. And Steam is holding it's week-long Game Festival.

CD Projekt Red has scheduled a Cyberpunk 2077 reveal event in June as part of the four-month-long online expo Summer Game Fest. The presentation is a developer's update CDPR is calling Night City Wire.

The studio has not hinted at what it has to show, but it's highly likely we will get a new trailer or maybe some live gameplay. The game which is set to launch in September is certainly far enough along to be playable, so the later is a distinct possibility. Whatever they have, fans on Twitter are pretty excited.

Night City Wire is scheduled for June 11, right in the middle of the Steam Game Festival: Summer Edition, which goes from June 9 through June 14. Like its spring event held in March, the Steam Game Festival will showcase titles that will be releasing within the next year. It will feature timed demos to try out new games, Q&As with developers, and the chance to add unveiled games to your wishlist.

Coinciding with CD Projekt Red's presentation is EA Play Live. The event is slated for 4pm PST on June 11. CDPR has not set a time for its show, but since they are both a part of Summer Game Fest, organizer Geoff Keighley is sure to make certain there are no scheduling conflicts.

In keeping with the theme of surprises, EA did not reveal much about what it had in store.

"EA Play Live 2020 is about connecting players around the world and bringing them closer to the game franchises they love," its announcement page reads. "During this year's digital event, we'll showcase our games through a live broadcast, community content, and more."

And finally, Summer Game Fest has a Developer Showcase scheduled for June 22. The broadcast starts at 8am PST and will give us a look at upcoming AAA projects as well as indie offerings. The event will feature the team from Day of the Devs, which will show off a curated selection of indie and triple-A titles they were planning to present at GDC 2020 before it was changed to an online event. The Developer Showcase will also have musical performances, extended gameplay demos, and some surprise reveals.

A partial list of studios that will be presenting content includes Akupara Games, Annapurna Interactive, The Behemoth, Finji, Kowloon Nights, Longhand Electric, MWM Interactive, Panic, Sabotage Studio, Skybound Games, Team17, thatgamecompany, Tribute Games and ustwo games. Day of the Devs is still accepting submissions for the event so that that list will grow.

So far, that is all that has been posted for June. However, there could be some developers joining Summer Game Fest at the last minute to hype what they have coming up. You can keep an eye on Keighley's official website for an up-to-the-minute calendar.

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Cyberpunk 2077 update and more are coming to Summer Game Fest in June - TechSpot

Nekki and Banzai Games have today announced their latest title, a cyberpunk fighting game called Spine. It aims to deliver stylish 3-on-3 character-based team battles, and it's currently in development for PC, consoles, and mobile.

Set in the near future, the game revolves around an advanced piece of tech by the name of Spine. It's a combat AI that connects to the spinal cord of the human body and can control every muscle, kinda like the concept behind Leigh Whannell's Upgrade.

This allows fighters to perform beyond the levels of human capability, bolstering their reaction times, precision, and dexterity. It's said to be the main weapon in a world now split between two opposing factions, each with its own roster of characters.

These guys come with unique special abilities, fighting styles, and firearms, hopefully meaning the roster is varied and interesting. Once you've selected your fighter, you'll head into battle and duke it out against three worthy opponents.

Don't expect to see this one anytime soon, however, as it's still in the pre-production phase, with full development set to begin this summer. Still, the teaser offers a tantalising look at the game's cyberpunk world and character designs, which will likely be enough to draw the attention of fighting game enthusiasts or fans of Nekki's Shadow Fight series.

Speaking of Shadow Fight, the latest game in the series Shadow Fight Arena is still on track for a 2020 release. It'll come to PC and mobile first, with PlayStation and Xbox versions to follow at a later date.

Pocket Gamer alum Harry Slater reviewed Shadow Fight 3 back in 2017, calling it "a slick and violent brawler that pulls a few punches but is still well worth a look", before awarding it an impressive Silver Rating.

You'll find it available for download now over on the App Store and Google Play. And we'll be sure to let you know as soon as more info on Spine surfaces.

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Spine is a cross-platform cyberpunk fighting game from the makers of Shadow Fight - Pocket Gamer

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A new clip has recently been released by Microsoft. Well, this clip reveals the look of Cyberpunk 2077 themed Xbox One X console. To know more about it, continue reading.

First of all let us introduce you all to this modern era game. Developed by CD Projekt, Cyberpunk 2077 is an upcoming role playing video game. The gameplay takes place in dystopian Night City. This is an open world with six different regions. Players need to play the role of V , a customisable mercenary acquiring skills in hacking as well as machinery, collection of ranged weapons, and also options for melee combat.

However, earlier Cyberpunk 2077 was to release in April this year. But later, it was found that the developers are still working on the game. It was announced that it will take some time to work on it. So, it will be delaying. Later on, we received a fresh release date i.e. September 17, 2020.

Now Microsoft has released a clip on social media revealing the looks of upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 themed Xbox One X console. The console is launching soon in July. It includes decals that glow in the dark, blue LED light on the front side of the console, and laser etchings. Moreover, Microsoft has planned a custom Xbox One controller for this console.

The fans are now more than excited to get the Cyberpunk 2077 themed Xbox One X console. It seems that the console will also provide you with a games copy. However, the game will be releasing in September i.e. three months after its launch. Microsoft havent yet informed us about the exact launch date of the gaming console. We expect that Microsoft will soon announce the exact date of its release. Fans cant wait to see more of Cyberpunk 2077 themed Xbox One X console. More will be revealing in the coming days. Till then, stay with us.

Alos Read: Cyberpunk 2077 wallpaper hides an easter egg(Opens in a new browser tab)

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Cyberpunk 2077 themed Xbox Box One X shown in New Clip - Gamer Rewind

The Nebula Awards could be described as the Academy Awards of SFF literature; they are voted on by the professional peers of the award nomineesmembers of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. There are six nominees in the best novel category this year. Every day this week, I will be reviewing each of them and figuring their odds of taking home the prize. Welcome to Blogging the Nebulas 2020.

Id like to begin with a bit of a mea culpa; I started writing this review series back in early March, at a point when it seemed unimaginable Id have trouble finding time to write a few thousand words about six fantastic sci-fi and fantasy novels before the deadline of the Nebula Awards ceremony on May 30. But then I got a new full-time writing and editing job, which became a work-from-home job when the pandemic shut down New York City, includingperhaps most significantly w/r/t my productivityits elementary schools. Regardless, Im back, and I still havea couple of weeks to go until we have a new Nebula winner to celebrate, and Id certainly be remiss not to discuss the rest of this shockingly good ballot. Beginning with

A Memory Called Empire, by occasional Tor.com contributor Arkady Martine (ne historian AnnaLinden Weller) is one of my favorite kinds of science fiction novels: the political thriller. That is to say, it a political thriller pasted into science fiction, or perhaps the other way around; its story functions as an exploration of the politics of a future human society that feels sensibly extracted from that of our present day, plus cool spaceships and a dash of cyberpunk. I like books like this because they usually have a lot to say about the world around us, but can do so with enough cool technological ornamentation that you might not notice if you arent paying attention. Iain M. Banks is the master of this sort of thing; The Player of Games is the best political SF novel Ive ever read. Ann Leckie is no slouch either; in fact, the sequels to Ancillary Justice disappointed a contingent of readers when they revealed the Imperial Radch trilogy to be less about the flash of space battles and more about the small moves of political gambits.

A Memory Called Empire is also a very, very good political sci-fi novel (see: the Nebula nomination, I suppose, but even still). It takes place within a dominant future human empire known as Teixcalaan, which has control of a network of wormhole gates that have given it the means and the methods to absorb the cultures and resources of one human civilization after another (there are no on-the-page aliens to speak of in this space opera, though signs of a mysterious, unconfirmed alien presence encroaching on Teixcalaan space do kick the plot into gear). Our protagonist is Mahit Dzmare, ambassador to the Teixcalaan from the strategically located but otherwise unimportant Lsel Station, a self-sufficient outpost that is doing everything it can to avoid annexation by the empire.

The question of independence is a bit clouded as the novel opens, as Mahit is making her way to the Teixcalaan capital to replace her predecessor, Yskandr Aghavn, who has been incommunicado for 15 years and is also recently dead. With no knowledge of the alliances Yskandr had forged on the stationnor the enemies hed madeMahits position is a tenuous one from the outset, especially considering the fact that the Teixcalaan elite tend to view Lsel as a backwater and Mahit as an uncultured barbarian of sorts.

What the Teixcalaan dont know is the Lsel Station has maintained its independence for so long thanks to a remarkable bit of proprietary technology: the Imago, a small biomechanical device implanted near the brainstem that records the experiences, skills, and personality of its host, preserving them for implantation into another body and mind down the line. (It might help to think of it as a mix between Altered Carbons cortical stacks and the Trill of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.) Unfortunately, Mahits Imago of Yskander dates back to his last visit to Lsel Station, meaning the voice in her head can only offer so much helpand less than that, once the device stops working altogether for mysterious reasons.

The question of the faulty Imago is but one of the mysteries that drives the plot. Another concerns the fate if Yskander himself: Did he die of natural causes, or due to lethal misadventure, or outright murder? Certain there are plenty of suspects, for the Empire is in the midst of a succession crisis, and various key players seem to have viewed Yskader as either a threat or a potential allyor both. Minus the aid of her implanted predecessor, Mahit must rely on the aid of her cultural attach, an ambitious young diplomat named Three Seagrass (Teixcalaan naming conventions are a delight Ill let you discover for yourself). Plots and counterplots pile atop one another as Mahit begins to unravel a conspiracy involving a potential civil war, with Lsel station serving as an unlikely lynchpin keeping things in balance.

I knew within a few chapters that A Memory Called Empire was going to be an impressive first novel, and my opinion of it only improved in the reading: Its a nearly flawless one. Its been a long time since Ive read such a cohesive debut, so assured in terms of narrative voice (slyly amused and expertly controlled), plotting (dense but never confusing), and character (Mahits maturation from naive tourist to savvy operative is entirely believable; the supporting characters are succinctly drawn and memorable, if not downright endearing). Its incredibly rich thematically as well, musing on the push and pull of colonialism, cultural appropriation and gentrification.

I am not quite sure it is my favorite novel of 2019 (if anything, it shares the top spot with another book Ill be discussing in this series), but it is unquestionably the best thing I read all year.

It may seem silly to say this, but I think A Memory Called Empire is one of the top contenders for the Nebula this year for no other reason that it is an appallingly impressive novel; frankly, I find it slightly infuriating that its author managed to write something so accomplished right out of the gate.

While theres certainly no accounting for the individual tastes of Nebula voters, its hard to imagine a whole host of them wont be supremely impressed by the skill with which this thing has come together. As a work of political science fiction, it excels; Martine has crafted a careful consideration of the politics of colonialism and empire, power and exploitation, subjugation and interdependency.

As a feat of worldbuilding, it is playful and imaginative; the peculiar language and politics of the Teixcalaan Empire are massively interesting and enormously fun (try to finish the book without choosing your own Teixcalaan name), and are woven into the narrative so effortlessly that you wont be bored by infodumpsnor will you strictly need to consult the appendix at the back (though I recommend doing so; its quite delightful).

In particular, the clever epigraphs that open each chapter offer truly economical yet intriguing background on the history of this civilization. In the form of customs paperwork, a guidebook, a news transcript, a screenplay and more, they are amusing to read and doubly so to puzzle outparticularly because half of them pull from Teixcalaan sources and half from those of Lsel Station, and their accountings of the way of things dont always agree.

As a political thriller, it is first-rate. The plot starts off as a murder mystery and builds from there, the death of Mahit Dzmares ambassadorial predecessor turning out to be most consequential indeed, and for reasons I definitely did not see coming. There are many factions vying for power on Teixcalaan, and none of their motives are quite the same. But as complex as they are, the politics are never confusing, which is no mean feat in a book with so many characters and, yeah, Ill say it, such challenging naming conventions (so maybe I did use the appendix a few times).

All this, and the characters are memorable too: Mahits is a comfortable mind to spend a few hundred pages inhabiting; shes both incredibly competent and occasionally naive to a fault. The supporting cast is peppered with fascinating foils and allies who youll come to know and hate or love in appropriate measure (and weep for, on occasion; not everyone makes it out alive). I didnt know there were plans for a sequel until Id finished reading it, and I was delighted at the prospect, if only for the chance to see a few of these folks again.

In short, I cant think of much negative to say about this novel. I fairly loved it, and remain deeply impressed at the feats it accomplishes more than a year after reading it for the first time. Amazon twice named it one of the best science fiction book of last year, and Im finding it hard to disagree.

As I mentioned in the first post in this series, debut authors dont have the greatest track record at the Nebulas; typically an author will have a better shot at taking the top prize if theyve got a few more books (or even Best Novel nominations) to tout on their Wikipedia pages. And while she has assembled a respectable list of short story and non-fiction publications over her eight years writing in the genre (which you can peruse on her website), this is Arkady Martines first awards season.

To grope blindly for other points of analysis, I might also suggest that the Nebula winners over the past have decade have indicated a general preference for fantasy novels over science fiction; last years victory by Mary Robinette Kowals fairly realistic SF alt-history The Calculating Stars notwithstanding, the last winner that really slots alongside Martines debut in terms of tone and subject matter is Ann Leckies 2013 novel Ancillary Justice; in the years in-between, voters favored works of fantasy of one sort or another over space opera the likes of The Three-Body Problem, Ancillary Mercy, and Ninefox Gambit. Space opera in general doesnt tend to take home the top prize often (you can count the number of winners in the past quarter-century that prominently feature spaceships on one hand.) And speaking of which, theres another splashy big-ideas sci-fi novel crowding the ballot this year too, threatening to steal some of Martines high concept thunder.

Of course, hemming and hawing about track records and past precedent is only somewhat efficacious. A books only real competition in a given year are the other nominees. Martine happens to be one of four debut novelists vying for the award, meaning there are pretty good odds one of them will take itand if youve read A Memory Called Empire, you know it pretty goddam well deserves to.

Joel Cunningham was the founding editor of theB&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog(RIP), where he explored the galaxy for 5 years, pickingup a Hugo Award (well, tangentially) along the way. Hes now managing editor ofLifehacker, which means hes managing at least one thing nowadays. He lives in an apartment in Brooklyn with his wife and two children and hopes to go outside again someday. He tweets@joelevard.

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Blogging the Nebulas: Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire Marries Cyberpunk, Space Opera, and Political Thriller - tor.com

Cyberpunk 2077 Updates

CD Projekt Red is developing the new feature to Cyberpunk 2077. So, recently the company has revealed that the new update will be with the features of Mad Max Reaver car. So, that people can drive into badlands. Mad Max is an Australian action media franchise. So, in the film series, it involves some cars in the movies action scenes. Thus, CD Projekt clarified that this car will be like the one which we saw in Mad Max.

Also, Mad Max is completing its fifth anniversary, from the release of Mad Max Fury Road. So, the CD project is giving fans a feature, which is similar to the cars used in Mad Max. This will be based on the features which are on the Quadra Type-66 car. Also, this will be with the 1000 horsepower. Thus, it will give to ride eternal, shiny, and Chrome. These updates of the car revealed through the tweet of CD Projekt.

So, the quest designer Pawel Sasko of Cyberpunk 2077, has revealed the picture of this quadra type-66. Also, this will be shown in the game. Thus, this quadra type-66 is based on the real world 1970 AMC Javelin AMX. However, fans could realize that the shot of reaver is from the area, which is outside of Night City.

Thus, it clearly shows the area of Badlands, as per CD Projekt. So, fans were excited about the car and they liked it very much. Also, Cyberpunk 2077, has posted a video of the new car. It is with the black body, tortoise decals, and red trim. This car will be with the power of the Aston Martin Valhalla and Ferrari SF90 Stradale.

This tribute of giving to Mad Max Fury Road through their car was an excellent part of the company. So, fans are excited to use in their video game. Cyberpunk 2077 is a huge fan-based video game.

This game will be available on Xbox series X, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, and Microsoft windows. But, this video will be ready to release on 17th September 2020. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing issues of coronavirus it may delay.

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Cyberpunk 2077 Developer Shares Some New Artwork For The Upcoming Game

Cyberpunk 2077: Xbox One X Limited Edition is Available Now For Its Customers!

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CD Projekt Has Revealed A Car Featured In Cyberpunk 2077 - Techno Info Plus

The Dark Future of Cyberpunk 2077 isn't a nice place to be. In fact, it's a minefield the uninitiated aren't likely to survive. Cyberpsychosis can turn your mild-mannered neighbour into a killing machine. Your thoughts could be stolen via hacking. Megacorporations own almost everything, including you. Basically? It's bad news. The key to avoiding a dirt nap is knowing your enemy. That's where the Cyberpunk Red: Jumpstart Kit comes in. It's a tabletop prequel to the video game that gives us our best look yet at the dangerous world of Cyberpunk.

To get you up to speed, we've gathered all the key info and Cyberpunk 2077 lore you need to know in this primer. That includes a dictionary of common terms you're sure to encounter in the game itself, not to mention a timeline to give you a sense of what's happening in the Cyberpunk universe. There's plenty to draw from; the series has been going since the 1980s and is arguably one of the best tabletop RPGs around.

Strap in - we've got a lot to cover.

Because the franchise has been around in one form or another since the 1980s, a Cyberpunk 2077 timeline is almost essential to unpick the story so far. There's almost 40 years of lore to absorb, after all. To bring you up to speed as quickly and easily as possible, we've pulled together an abridged version of Cyberpunk's rich background right here.

But before we dive into the Cyberpunk 2077 timeline, it's worth pointing out that this isn't supposed to be a possible 'version' of our future. Instead, it takes place in an alternate reality - Cyberpunk history diverges from our own in a few nasty ways. The Cyberpunk Red TRPG gives us a good overview of how (and when) things went wrong, so we've listed the most important events below.

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Cyberpunk 2077 dictionary and timeline - the Cyberpunk universe explained - GamesRadar+

Exploring dystopian worlds resplendent with cybernetic enhancements and megacorporations, cyberpunk continues to evolve the more its science fiction-based future becomes reality. The following interactive interpretations of the subgenre draw upon a wealth of insight, whether it be in human relation, technological prowess, or even video game development. It is not so much the story or even the characters, so much as it is the world that marks the best cyberpunk games of all time.

In the wait for the postponed release of Cyberpunk 2077, these games are the best way to quell that ever-growing appetite for cyberpunk. Otherwise, escape through other options, from the best VR games to the most satisfying 2020 indie experiences.

Before the now-iconic Silent Hills playable teaserand Death Stranding, Hideo Kojima followed up Metal Gear with a cyberpunk classic, called Snatcher. Upon its 1988 release, despite limited sales, the graphic adventure garnered an immediate cult following. The narrative follows an amnesiac who joins an agency hunting Snatchers, or robots killing and taking the place of humans. With its semi-open world, coupled with thought-provoking themes and novel visual elements, Snatcher remains a benchmark in science fiction gaming and a must-play Kojima title.

Like Neuromancer by William Gibson, Philip K. Dicks Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is a pivotal novel in the expansion of the cyberpunk subgenre. Its Hollywood rendition, Blade Runner, would go on to become even more renowned, evolving into the face of cyberpunk and influencing many years worth of media in its likeness. Though it may not be remembered as well as the novel or film, Virgin Interactives Blade Runner, released in 1997, captured a similar essence as its predecessors. Rather than replicate Ridley Scotts work, Westwood Studios instead told a story that intersected with the original, following Ray McCoy on a quest to destroy the last remaining replicants. Blade Runner stands among the best cyberpunk games of all time for granting fans an interactive experience within its remarkable world, now the inspiration for various cyberpunk offshoots.

Made all the more enigmatic from spiritual successors, like Deus Ex and BioShock, 1994s System Shock opened the doors on interactive cyberpunk and horror. The gameplay of System Shock alone was an innovative step forward in the industry, dropping players into the 3D environment of a space station in the year 2072. Reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey, the story of System Shock is led by an unspecified hacker in an attempt to thwart an evil computer system, known as SHODAN. A remake of the famed original is currently being developed by Nightdive Studios for release sometime this year.

For an isometric strategy game, Syndicate proved itself to be an outlier with a cyberpunk story and gameplay elements that set it apart from all the rest. It was released in 1993 by EA and garnered immediate success. The player assumes control of a corporation with the goal of global dominance through the aid of taxation and cybernetically enhanced operatives. Once a country is taken over by these pawns, the player can accrue money through taxation, but only if they are vigilant. If a country is pressured for too much, the citizenry may start a coup. Surviving assassination attempts via government agents or rival syndicates is also a key component of the game. Syndicate not only sparked various expansions, but also a sequel and reboot.

Without a doubt one of the greatest video games of all time, packing an emotional punch at every turn in its expansive narrative and exploration of a world riddled with tyranny, Final Fantasy VIIis exemplary of Japanese cyberpunk. The 1997 original PlayStation experience emulates Akira in many ways, showcasing the evil megacorporation of Shinra hoarding the planets last remaining sustainable resource. Cloud, the main protagonist of Final Fantasy VII, is unwittingly flung into class warfare, going up against not only Shinra but the potentially world-shattering Sephiroth. The recently released Final Fantasy VII Remake is a testament to the greatness of its predecessor, giving only a tiny glimpse into the epic cyberpunk adventures of Avalanche and their fight to save the planet.

Deus Ex was a critical success upon its 2000 release, spawning several re-releases, PC mods, sequels, and prequels that would inevitably cement it as a video game series with unreplicable stature in the industry. The initial title tracks JC Denton, a United Nations Anti-Terrorist Coalition agent with nanotech augmentation, which ranges from 18 different in-game options. A central mechanic in Deus Ex is player choice, allowing players a multitude of varied avenues for mission completion. What makes the cyberpunk title stand out most is its heavy-hitting narrative based in an alternate history, wherein real-world conspiracy theories are fact. With six titles in the series, the last of which was seen via 2016s Mankind Divided, Deus Ex is due for a welcome return.

Simon Parkin of The Guardian says it best: its a clich that invites clichs: sprawling, neon-lit, Blade Runner-esque. Still, over-familiarity with the aesthetic does little to blunt the fierce appeal of Cloudpunks game world. Released mere weeks ago, Cloudpunk offers players a chance to visit a true cyberpunk world as an immigrant named Rania. The player is tasked to pick up and drop off packages at the behest of the Cloudpunk delivery service. The various adventures across the city, which is outlined by crisscrossing vehicles and high-rises, is what makes a seemingly laborious playthrough the hallmark of Cloudpunk. Not only is the games world mesmerizing, but its cyberpunk-laden story is compelling. The more Rania traverses the innards of the futuristic city, the darker Cloudpunk becomes.

Based in the city of Cloudbank, a well-known singer by the name of Red acquires a powerful sword, called the Transistor, following a botched assassination on her life. Through the help of robotic commandos, known as the Process, the malignant Camerata stops at nothing to hunt down Red and retrieve the lost artifact. Transistor, despite being an isometric RPG, still enjoys greatness through a wondrous narrative uplifted by an even more evocative soundtrack. The game was nominated for many accolades, inevitably walking away with IGNs Best Art Graphics and the D.I.C.E. Sprite Award in 2015. Due to its subversion of the more commonplace cyberpunk themes, Transistor remains among the best in the subgenre.

Inciting new ways of thinking about world traversal and surface lighting in video game development, Mirrors Edge gave cyberpunk new vibrancy. The action-adventure platformer, which was developed by EA DICE and published by EA in 2008, takes place in a dystopian near-future city, wherein a totalitarian and militaristic government reigns supreme. The player controls Faith Connors, one of many runners, navigating her across rooftops and ventilation shafts with their own varying degrees of impediments. Rather than explore a dark noir and neon-tinged world like others among the best cyberpunk games, Mirrors Edge instead focuses on minimalist and luminous environments that serve as the players only savior.

Bloober Team, known for horrors like Layers of Fear and Blair Witch, delivered a simultaneously terrifying and intriguing experience with 2017s Observer. In the year 2084, following a digital pandemic that wiped out large swaths of the globe, a megacorporation rules over Poland using detectives, known as Observers. After a cryptic phone call from his long-lost son, Daniel Lazarski uses his investigative prowess to find and hopefully save his only child, yet inevitably finds himself spiraling into damnation. The cyberpunk horror is getting a next-gen facelift with additional content available later this year upon the debut of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

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The best cyberpunk games of all time - Digital Trends

After months of minimal news following its reveal last year, Ghostrunner finally received a free demo, giving fans a clearer idea of what's in store.

With all the hype surroundingCyberpunk 2077, some might have lost sight of another cyberpunk game in the works. IfGhostrunnerwasn't on your radar before, it should be now. Ghostrunneris an upcoming first-person action hack-and-slash game set in an dystopian cyberpunk universe that's being developed by One More Level.The game was first revealed in a trailerlast year which promised fast-paced and high-adrenaline combat. Since then, we've only gotten mere glimpses of the game through screenshots, videos and rare demos at conferences such as PAX.

To say that the information regarding the gametrickled out slowlyis an understatement. However, that all changed on May 6 when the developers released a public demo on PC, available until May 13. With this sudden wealth of information, let's take a look at what we know about the game so far and what we can expect from its full release.

Related:Cyberpunk 2077: Trailer, Story, Gameplay, Release Date and News (So Far)

In terms of story, there's a lot that's up in the air. The only things we know for certaincome from theGhostrunnerofficial website. According to the website, the worldis in a sorry dystopian state where life doesn't amount to much and death is always close by. However, it also hints that the world was not always this bleak and miserable.It refers to an "apocalypse" thatruineda once shining civilization. Even more mysterious is the presence of a tower that "houses the survivors of the apocalypse."

As the main character, players are tasked with ascending the tower and figuring out the truth about what really happened to the world. Thistask is complicated by the fact that there are many foes adamant on hunting the player down for the augmentations and technology underneath their skin. From the cinematic trailer, we can also assume that the game will feature some kind of boss battle encounter with that Dr. Octopus-esque person. Thankfully for the player, the main character is far from a push-over.

Related:Wait, Does Animal Crossing Take Place in a Post-Apocalyptic World?

InGhostrunner, players take control of an augmented living weaponcapable of things beyond the scope of a normal human. Imagine if you took the cybernetic ninja, Genji, fromOverwatchand gave him the supernatural abilities from theDishonoredseries. The result of that concoction would be theGhostrunnerprotagonist.

From what we've seen in the demo, players are able to wall-run, use a grappling hook to get onto platforms, bisect foes in one clean sword swing, deflect bullets, dash, slow time and slide their way to victory. And this was all just from the demo. In the full game, it wouldn't be surprising if players could upgrade preexisting abilities or install new software to learn new skills. For example, it would be incredibly useful if playerswere able to unlock infrared sight to see enemies through walls. All of these abilities are necessary to survive in Ghostrunner, as combat can end in the blink of an eye.

Related:Microsoft Is Really Pushing 'Smart Delivery' - Here's What It Is

Ghostrunner's gameplayrequires players to move fast andthinkfaster. Much like Mirror's Edge andDishonored, there are a lot of movement mechanics in the game, all of which players must master in order to have a chance at surviving.This is clear from the demo in whichplayers have to dodge bullets, wall run, slow time and jump all within milliseconds of each other. Movement is essential because players are only equipped with a katana,a weapon that is only effective when you're close to an enemy. There's no time to rest because, if you stop, you're going to get perforated by the trigger happy enemies.

Obviously, the gameencourages players to move fast, and this is further underlined by the way death works. Inmost games, death is followed by a loading screen and areturn to acheckpoint, butGhostrunnertakestheHotline Miami approach.Players respawn immediately after death with little to no wait time. With one simple button press, players are back in the game, free to try again. This system helps keep the break-neck pace of the game consistent.

Overall, Ghostrunnerlooks to be a promising cyberpunk action game. With all the current mechanics and the possible addition of more, Ghostrunner might just be a big hit. Currently, there's no official release date, but it's slatedto come to PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in2020, so keep an eye out.

Keep Reading:Cyberpunk 2077: What We Know About the Character Creation System

Justice League Odyssey Just Killed Off DC's Deadliest Batman

Philip Hou is based in Portland, Oregon. He has been playing video games since his fingers were capable of holding a SNES controller. Philip is also a huge fan of fighting games, particularly those from Arc System Works. Other than playing video games, Philip enjoys drawing, hanging out with friends, and working on his "Youtube career".

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Ghostrunner: Everything You Need to Know About the Cyberpunk Game - CBR - Comic Book Resources

When Cyberpunk 2077 releases via the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, and Google Stadia, it will transport players to Night City, a megalopolis where people are equally obsessed with three things: power, glamour, and body modifications. It's a major urban area, home of many gangs and organizations fighting for power and influence. And of course, players will come across and interact with all of these different factions.

Using the game's official Instagram account, Polish developer CD Projekt Red previewed the various gangs and factions players will come across during the game. From a blindly violent group that uses ultra testosterone and animal supplements to a faction that defends sex workers, Night City is full of different groups. Some hide behind their ideals. Others are simply bad news. And a few of them are pure evil.

Below, you can read more about the game's various gangs and factions, which include the 6th Street, Voodoo Boys, Tiger Claws, Totentanz Club, Valentinos, The Mox, and the Animals.

At the moment of publishing, it's unclear if there are more gangs and factions in the game, but for now, this is all CD Projekt Red has revealed.

Cyberpunk 2077 is set to release worldwide on September 17 via the PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Google Stadia. It's also in development for PS5 and Xbox Series X.

For more news, rumors, leaks, and all other types of coverage on the game, be sure to check out all of our past and most recent articles pertaining to the game by clicking right here.

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Cyberpunk 2077 Details Its Gangs and Factions - ComicBook.com

Despite marketing itself as an RPG, Cyberpunk 2077 is an immersive sim, a genre that has often gone overlooked despite critical acclaim.

The immersive sim as a genre has been foundational to the advancement of modern video games, emphasizing player choice, creative decision making and interactive worlds. Yet it is also a genrethat has historically sunk studios and offered little in the way of profit or mainstream success for those who make them. However, despite masquerading as an RPG,Cyberpunk 2077'simminentrelease hasonce again providedthe immersive sim with an opportunity to expand its appeal to a much wider audience.

For over two decades, game developers have attempted to make the immersive sim a mainstream genre. But despite their continued efforts, it seems as if the genre has forever relegated its appeal to a niche audience due to the relative complexity of the moment-to-moment gameplay that is characteristic of immersive sims. Though games like PreyortheDeus Ex series have put a spotlight on immersive sims and have received endless critical praise, neither hasbeen particularly financial success for their respective studios. Developed in the early 1990s during a time of great experimentation and creative freedom in the industry, from the very beginning, the immersive sim seems to have survived despite itself.

Related: Cyberpunk 2077: Trailer, Story, Gameplay, Release Date And News (So Far)

When immersive sims first emerged onto the scene in their earliest incarnations la theSystem Shockgames, their gameplay advancements and innovations wereso monumental that gamers of the time were left with few other points of reference to describe this new genre. Most playersdisregarded these early games as poor Doom and Half-Life clones respectively.

Though these games received critical acclaim at the time and continue to be hailed as progenitors of immersive sim design philosophy, both titles failed commercially during their initial releases. This is partially due to mishandled marketing, but also a lack of understanding or interest on the part of the gaming audience.

Unfortunately for fans and developers of immersive sims, the continued lack of mainstream interest inthe genrehas been a continued trend over the last twenty years. Despite receiving somewhat of a resurrection during the last decade, with multiple Bioshock, Dishonoredand Deus Ex games having been released, none of these modern immersive sims have turned enough of a profit toencourage developersto make the genre a staple of modern game releases.

Related: Shadowrun: Why You Should Try The Beloved Cyberpunk Tabletop RPG

In fact, the only times an immersive sim has reached mass appeal is when the emergent gameplay systems and action-RPG mechanics have been streamlined to the point of near nonexistence.This is the case withthe Bioshock franchise, which (while having elements of the immersive sim) still plays far more like a traditional first-person shooter.

However, with the release ofCyberpunk 2077 right around the corner, the potential for a real, complex immersive simfinally reaching the mainstream is here. While the past eight years of marketing hype forCyberpunk has put an emphasis on its history as a tabletop RPG and the incredible potential for unique role-playing scenarios within the game world, it becomes ever more clear that CD Projekt RED's latest game is less of a regular RPG, but is instead the most complex, detailed immersive sim that gamers have ever seen.

Related:Four Indie Games to Keep You Hyped for Cyberpunk: 2077

During an E3 2019 interview with YouTube personality, YongYea, a quests director on theCyberpunk development team was quoted as saying, "We paid lots of attention in adding this level of non-linearity in terms of gameplay...We've put a lot of attention and focus on giving the player the freedom to play the game the way they would want it to be played." Clearly, CD Projekt RED has been hard at work ensuring that their latest game is full to the brim with player choice and emergent gameplay. These are hallmarks of the immersive sim, as arefirst-person sneaking, hacking and shooting gameplay trifecta.

With that said, ifCyberpunk 2077manages to live up to its immense hype and become the summer blockbuster it is shaping up to be, the potential for more games to take advantage of the immersive sim design philosophy will be bigger than ever before. Regardless of Cyberpunk 2077's success, or lack thereof, there will likely still be immersive simsreleased from time to time. However, if it is not a financial hit, it could spell disaster for other immersive sims in development, such as System Shock 3 and theSystem Shock Remake, and make it unlikely that the genre will ever make the leap to the mainstream.

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Kurt Larson is a writer, filmmaker, musician, and avid gamer living life in the ever rainy municipality of Portland, Oregon. Kurt is a video game features writer for cbr.com, the arts and entertainment editor at the Advocate newspaper, lead editor of Venture magazine, film critic, and general purpose ideas guy. When he's not busy putting virtual pen to paper, Kurt enjoys composing original music for guitar and bass, tinkering with computers and electronics, and binging YouTube, among other things.

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