We at CD PROJEKT RED are very excited to release the Edgerunners update. And the first-ever anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners heats up shortly after (September 13th). Insight into what the two releases have in common. Trust me, it’s not just a name.
In Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, we meet David Martinez for the first time. He is an unlucky street kid peddling the black market Braindance (XBD) to help him and his mother his Gloria. Her bright yellow jacket, which is passed down to David, is the visual foundation of the anime, so it’s no surprise they chose to include it in the latest update.
Franchise and lore designer Patrick Mills, who has worked on item selections ranging from anime to Cyberpunk 2007, agrees.
“David’s jacket was a natural choice as it is an iconic element of the anime and holds many meanings. For those of you who haven’t seen the anime, I hope you enjoy wearing it as a cool new jacket around town and posing in photo mode, but for those who have seen the anime and know the story behind it. I hope that will become a new bridge between the world of shows and the world of games.”
This Legendary level item has an even bigger catch with the introduction of the Wardrobe, a transmog system. Dropping stylish gear for something with better armor always hurts, but players can dress up for a darker future without sacrificing their build.
The jacket wasn’t the only thing lying around after David’s explosive and bloody hours in Night City. You can also discover a new weapon called a shotgun named “Guts” that packs a punch. Combining the two worlds in a thoughtful and organic way, from item descriptions to dialogue, was a top priority when planning this update.
Writer Rafal Babraj was clear about his approach from the start.
“We wanted to incorporate anime characters and stories into the game as immersively as possible, and I think we found a cool narrative way to do that. We also want to make it a little more mysterious, just enough to pique the player’s curiosity and encourage them to discover what happened to David and his crew in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. We were making fun of the anime. We tried to take into account the personalities of the anime characters and reflect that in the way they communicate in-game and the descriptions of items that belong to them.”
Babraj also added, “Though they may be two different stories, V and David actually have a lot in common. What that is is up to players and viewers to discover for themselves.” I have!”
Players can also expect an all-new quest that connects them to David’s jacket and properly ties the two worlds together. Quest director Paweł Sasko worked with the team to ensure that the game and anime blended well together.
“Cyberpunk 2077 and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners share the same compelling dystopian world, but there are distinct differences in their graphic styles that make it exciting to see how they can be brought together. I had to come up with a logical solution, asking Danisz Markiewicz, the designer of Expert Quest, to watch the anime and pitch a narrative solution that builds on the story told in Edgerunners and ties it well into the game. He went down the Braindance route and actually suggested using a clip from the anime in the game! Thanks to a few other developers, our partners at Netflix, and a pinch of creativity, we’ve made it a reality.Braindance itself contains two little secrets that help players I’m interested in reading it online when it’s revealed.”
The process of creating the link between the two stories was organic and collaborative rather than one-way. In Sasco’s words:
“Studio Trigger has done a great job of making Night City really come to life in the anime. What struck me was that Trigger was first inspired by the game, and then when they set out to enrich the game with the Edgerunners Update, we were inspired by their great work. , braindance, gear, and the placement of all the other little events throughout the quest are very deliberately and intentionally tied into the story of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Designed as a tribute to fans of 2077 and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime.”
The anime-related content highlighted here is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Edgerunners update. There’s even more for gamers, including a playable Roach Race mini-game, additional weapons, quests, and the ability to pose his Nibbles in Photo Mode. Visit the website for a complete list of features. You can read more about anime here. Or jump into the game and check it all out for yourself!
Cyberpunk 2077 is available from the PlayStation Store for PS4 and PS5 for the price of $49.99.
