Night City 2045 Q&A with J Gray
Oh, hi there! You caught me posting week three of the Night City 2045 (NC2045) preview … that probably works better in videos. Anyway! I’m J Gray, line manager for Cyberpunk RED and we’ll be sharing weekly blog posts until release. Don’t forget, you can come to Origins this year and celebrate the physical book’s existence with us!
Now, onto the preview. Last week, I revealed a timeline of history from the Night City Facts chapter of the book … but that’s only a part of it! There’s plenty of additional information. I can’t share it all, but how about I tease you with some facts from it in the form of a FAQ?
Stick to the end for a new image from the book!
Q: Is Night City an independent city state?
A: No. Night City is part of the Free State of Northern California. It is, however, a free port (looser restrictions on corporations and business) and an independent city (a legal term meaning it is not part of a larger county).
Q: How does citizenship work?
A: NorCal citizens have a SIN number and card. You’re either issued one at birth, apply for one, or are given one when you stand trial for a crime. You can hold multiple citizenships. Nomads rarely hold citizenship and instead have alternative arrangements for legal status.
Q: How does travel to/from Night City work?
A: Most people travel to/from Night City by car, plane, Sky Queen, rail, or long distance ferry service. Cost depends on mode of travel and origin point/destination. There’s a good chance you’ll be dealing with a nomad somewhere along your journey.
Q: Does driving in Night City require a license?
A: Legally, yes, and only citizens can hold them. No test needed. Just pay the fee. Vehicles do need to be registered to be legal. Again, nomads have alternative arrangements.
Q: What’s public transportation like?
A: NCART runs four subway lines reaching most districts. Additional service via bus (now also run by NCART and not NCTC) is available. Execs of Rank 4 or higher working for certain companies can take the Executive Monorail. Ground taxis are available from Red Cab, Combat Cabb, and Tyger Cab. Air taxis are available from Aerocab and Red Cab. Pedicabs and water taxis are also options.
Q: How many seats are there on the City Council?
A: Currently, twenty-three Manager Seats and fourteen Advisory Seats. Anyone can pay a fee for an Advisory Seat, but the cost is staggering, so most are held by corporations. All seats have voting power.
Q: Is it legal to own a weapon in Night City?
A: Yes … and no. Citizens (and only citizens) have the legal right to bear arms. Non-automatic handguns, rifles, and shotguns do not require a license. Automatic weapons, sniper rifles, and heavy weapons require a license and weapon registration. Explosives also require a special, and expensive, license. No rules against melee weapons.
Q: What about drugs or BDs?
A: Most drugs are legal. Drugs causing HL or whose primary use is chemical warfare (looking at you, drugs from Solo of Fortune 2045) are illegal. BDs are legal. XBDs are not. Selling drugs and BDs is legal … as long as you have a license. Which is why black market sales by gangs still happen.
Q: What happens if I’m found guilty of a crime?
A: First, you probably will be found guilty. Congratulations! The system is stacked against you. Second, the punishment depends on the severity of the crime. It can be anything from a fine to local detention (in which case you’re “hired out” as slave labor) to state prison (New Alcatraz is most common) to execution. Oh, you can reduce your fine by submitting to an electrolashing. They sell tickets for that!
Q: Does Night City have a 911 service?
A: Yep! Run by Ziggurat. You don’t speak to a person, you speak to an SAAI. Then they hang up on you to “free the line.”
Q: Are their schools?
A: Some, yes. A few districts have honest to goodness physical schools. Most kids in Night City are educated by interactive braindance programs at home, though.
Q: Who provides electricity?
A: Electricity is provided by PacCon Electric. It flows from a solar farm and wind turbines in the Outskirts … and there isn’t enough. Expect blackouts in some districts.
Q: Does someone collect garbage?
A: Depends on where you live. The nicer the neighborhood, the more often the garbage trucks come by. Your City Manager will contract with either Coastal Carting (a subsidiary of Petrochem) or SMKP Hauling (a subsidiary of SovOil).
Q: What is entertainment like?
A: All television is owned by either Net54 or the WNS/DMS alliance. Radio is pretty robust, with multiple stations available. Microstations capable of only broadcasting to a few blocks are popular among community groups. Pirate stations pop up and vanish quickly, usually in a hail of gunfire. The two biggest Screamsheets are Night City Today News and the Augmented Optic … and, of course, there’s the Data Pool: a collection of media and information shared via the CitiNet.
