Cyberpunk 2077's Sequel Has a High Bar to Clear With One NPC Class

Cyberpunk 2077’s Sequel Has a High Bar to Clear With One NPC Class

• Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City is shaped by 11 unique and territorial gangs, leading to potential conflicts and alliances.
• The DLC Phantom Liberty introduces a new powerful gang, Barghest, ruling over Dogtown with organized militia.
• Gangs are likely to remain a significant presence in Cyberpunk 2077’s future, either in Night City or a new location.

The rumor mill has been churning about CD Projekt Red’s follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077. As of the time of this writing, the Cyberpunk sequel is code-named “Project Orion” and will likely be kept under wraps for years to come. Fans aren’t even sure if the next game will take place in Night City. Or who the game’s protagonist will be. Regardless of what happens, there will be a key NPC element CDPR will need to consider in the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel: gangs.

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Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Proves Project Orion is in Good Hands

Now that Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty wraps up the experience of the action RPG with a nice bow, the sequel is on horizon and the future is bright.

Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City Is Shaped By Its Gangs

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There are 11 gangs scattered through Night City and its bordering lands, each with its own territory and modus operandi. The gangs might vie for some of the same turf, which can lead to bloodshed. Within the first hour of gameplay in Cyberpunk 2077, V is given a ride from Sebastian Ibarra, better known as Padre, a Fixer and former member of Cyberpunk 2077’s Valentinos.

While cruising with V and reminiscing about the state of Night City, a 6th Street gang member harasses the car. The Valentinos and 6th Street are both active in the Heywood and San Domingo areas, leading to occasional conflicts. Other parts of the city are controlled by the Tyger Claws, The Mox, the VooDoo Boys, the Animals, and Maelstrom. The outer reaches of Night City, known as The Badlands, are patrolled by the Wraiths and the Aldecaldos.

Night City Gangs

Gang Name

Territory

6th Street

Santo Domingo, Heywood

Aldecaldos

Badlands

Animals

West Pacifica

Maelstrom

Watson

The Mox

Watson

Tyger Claws

Westbrook

Valentinos

Heywood

Voodoo Boys

Pacifica

Wraiths

Badlands

Barghest

Dogtown

Scavengers

None

The formation of gangs has helped to explain how the lawless Night City continues to operate and often fleshes out the backstories of NPCs that have become fan favorites, like Jackie and Judy. Panam has dedicated her life to the Aldecaldos, and depending on the choices that players make, may invite V to join. It is through Side Jobs and story missions that V learns the lay of the land which, crucially, means what gang controls what part of the city. If V does favors for the Tyger Claws, then they are less likely to find trouble in Japantown. Some gangs cannot be bartered with, however, and serve instead as high-level enemies for V to take down.

Phantom Liberty Upped the Ante

The much-lauded DLC Phantom Liberty introduced a new gang of unprecedented power: Barghest. Ruling over Dogtown, this militia is far more organized than the gangs that stick to the inner city streets of Night City. Led by Kurt Hansen, the de facto antagonist of the DLC, Barghest is well-armed and well-supplied. After dominating Night City, and by extension its gangs, the ruling class of Dogtown presents the perfect challenge for V.

In Cyberpunk 2077, V starts out by having shootouts and brawls with lower-level gangs like the Tyger Claws. Later, as they gather better weapons and enhancements, they are pitted against the likes of Maelstrom, a ruthless bunch of cyberpsychos. 2023’s Phantom Liberty presents a wholly new challenge for players who have been running the streets of Night City since 2020.

Once A Gangster, Always a Gangster in Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City

If the new Cyberpunk title takes place in Night City, the gangs of Night City will have to continue to be an influential presence. Without some kind of corpo-catastrophe to wipe them out, it wouldn’t make sense to exclude them from the game. If Cyberpunk’s Project Orion is based around a wholly new location, then CDPR might consider the formation of new gangs to flesh out the history and lore of the time and place. Either way, the cyberpunk future has clearly established the idea that gangs are likely to form when there are eddies to earn and enemies to avoid.

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 is an RPG set in a future dystopian world. Players take up the role of V, who works as a mercenary in Night City in California. Gameplay involves branching dialogue, open-world exploration, character classes, and combat.

Platform(s)Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PS5, PS4, PC, Stadia, Xbox OneReleasedDecember 10, 2020Developer(s)CD Projekt RedPublisher(s)CD Projekt RedGenre(s)Action, RPGEngineREDengine 4ESRBM for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and AlcoholHow Long To Beat25 HoursMetascore75PS Plus AvailabilityN/A See at Amazon