Cyberpunk Dystopia in Cyberpunk 2077: Dominance and Escape 🌇

Seeking a moment of tranquility in the dystopian nightmare…

2025年1月29日

6 minutes

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk Dystopia in Cyberpunk 2077: Dominance and Escape 🌇

As a genre and culture deeply rooted in the 70’s science fiction movement, Cyberpunk dystopia has ripened in the gaming industry. Cyberpunk 2077 fully taps into the exploration of a Cyberpunk dystopian future by not just focusing on the dominant power, but also the escape and temporary peace. This post will explore how Cyberpunk 2077 reflects the bipolar dynamics of the Cyberpunk culture.🦿

Cyber + Punk = Cyberpunk 🦾
Plunging into the future of Cyberpunk dystopia
The utopia enclaves in Cyberpunk 2077
Conclusion: dynamics between dominance and escape
- Reference

cyberpunk dystopia dr. paradox in cyberpunk 2077 — Dr. Paradox, snatched away by the Soulkiller. – Screenshot taken by the author

Cyber + Punk = Cyberpunk 🦾

Too often we mention the word “Cyberpunk” in Cyberpunk dystopia without dissecting the combination of “Cyber” and “Punk”. Especially in the popular culture in China when both parts of the words are cultures quite foreign to the people.

“Cyber” symbolizes the high-tech, the science part of this genre. It indicates a society with highly advanced technology such as Cyberspace, smart prostheses and implants, genetic control, and the tech corporations who are the producers. “Punk” means the rebellious movement in such a society. The “punk” people are the minor trend against the inundating corp tech and consumer culture. “Punk” introduces the anarchic wave and rebellious trends against the 1980s late-capitalist world. (Sterling, 14) It is the key element in the Cyberpunk movement that completes the theme.

In Cyberpunk 2077, the world setting would not be complete if there were no rebellious movements in the city. The story would seem stagnant and overly oppressive without people like Johnny Silverhand, V, and other characters going against the corpo. In other words, the sole focus on late-capitalist corporations will simplify the complex societal forces at play in a Cyberpunk world.

Plunging into the future of Cyberpunk dystopia

Without a doubt, Night City in Cyberpunk 2077 is an epitome of a dystopian society. There is no denying of the overwhelming dominance of the corporations. Even more funds and efforts are dedicated towards more advanced technology and more thorough control over not just human bodies but human minds.

Late-capitalism: the dominance of corporations

The social hierarchy of Cyberpunk 2077 is plain to see from the city layout. The corporations like Arasaka own skyscrapers that can overlook the whole city. On the other hand, common folks are struggling at the basements and shacks. The social structure is highly vertical, showing the only way that you can choose: you can either become a legend or a no-one.

Only the corporations have the resources to develop the top technologies and tech is the absolute power to control. In Cyberpunk 2077, Arasaka hijacks Cunningham to develop the Relic, which enables them to become the only company who has the advantage over soulkilling and extracting people’s consciousness. This is unquestionably the top tech in Night City. However, it doesn’t lead to freedom, but it opens up the path to absolute control.

In the game, you can locate other side quests that ask you to find out the traces of some goods from Militech or other corporations. It is clear to the gangsters in Cyberpunk 2077 that the “good stuff” can only come from the corporations.

The glittering world of consumerism

Another horrific aspect of Cyberpunk dystopia is that everything can be bought. Schmeink observes that,

“Everything in and about life can be bought, from body augmentations that radically alter human looks and abilities to eternal life in form of a consciousness transfer or cryogenic freezing.” (225)

The quote details the world of consumption in the classic Cyberpunk novel, Neuromancer. Cyberpunk 2077 incorporates this idea and diversifies it even more.

Not only people can buy commodities from corporations, but they can also become commodities as well. The side quest “Small Man, Big Evil” reveals the human trafficking story in the Night City.

The game also presents the startling contrast between consumerism and the waste it brings. While the center of the Night City is filled with billboards and radio ads broadcasting sound, the outskirt of NC features a bleak and massive landfill.

Nothing tells more about consumerism ironically than the ad in Cyberpunk 2077:

Want money? Sell kidney!

cyberpunk dystopia silverhand comments on night city and late-capitalism. — Johnny Silverhand tells V about the dystopian NC. – Screenshot taken by the author

The high-tech exploitation of human bodies

The Cyberpunk high-tech is closely related to the combination of human bodies and technology. It becomes truer and truer that technology is the extension of human bodies. However, this integration doesn’t necessarily entail the benefits for humankind. Cyberpunk 2077 also explores this topic comprehensively.

Implants on the body can turn you into a killing machine. Service points of rip doctors can help you install implants onto every system on your body, enhancing your killing performance. Netrunner chair allows you to delve into the deep net. Yet, the integration of bodies and tech also leads to the Cyberpsycho situation. The influence of technology becomes more akin to the use of drugs.

cyberpunk dystopia silverhand explains why he hates the relic — Johnny Silverhand comments on the Relic. – Screenshot taken by the author

The utopia enclaves in Cyberpunk 2077

Stemming from the 1970s feminist wave, Cyberpunk inherits not just the dystopian side of the wave, but also the idea of utopian enclaves where there are “potential emancipatory alternatives.” (Nixon, 219)

In Cyberpunk 2077, the anti-waves of Cyberpunk dystopia coexist with the dystopian society as other alternatives against the dominance. Liang points out that “the oppressive spaces feel like an ever-expanding force, and the heterotopic sites subsist in its edges and enclaves.” (102) These enclaves offer moments of quietness and peace in the greater struggle.

Players will remember the monks who refuse body implants in Night City. The braindance offered by the monk immerses you in the serenity of nature. Johnny Silverhand will also take you to the sunset view of Pacifica where temporarily, nature regains its dominance over the human world.

Cyberpunk 2077 completes the exploration of the Cyberpunk dystopian topic by incorporating the fleeting moments of escape and tranquility into the greater struggle. In those short moments, the utopian escapes are acheived and remind us of the existence of another possibility.

pacifica sunset view with silverhand in tapeworm mission — Pacifica sunset view from “Tapeworm” main quest. -Screenshot taken by the author

Conclusion: dynamics between dominance and escape

Cyberpunk is about the dystopian society, but never just about the depressing dominance of late-capitalism and exploitative technology. It also tells the punk-style rebellious story and the temporary utopian tranquility. Cyberpunk 2077 doesn’t fall short in presenting the dynamics between the suppressing dominance power as well as the escape, the calmness, and the rebellion. The theme is ever complete and enriched with Johnny Silverhand’s music, monks’ braindance, and Pacifica sunset.