The Roleplaying Game of the Dark Future
Cyberpunk Red
The 4th Corporate War’s over and the big dogs have retreated to their corners to lick their wounds. That leaves everyone else to fend for themselves in a shattered world.
And that’s just fine. ‘cause you’ve got interface plugs in your wrists, metal in your limbs, and chips in your skull. You’re wired in, loaded with chrome, and ready to take it to the Edge.
There’s a world full of opportunities out there. Maybe this time you can do more than save yourself. Maybe.
Cyberpunk RED is the latest edition of the classic roleplaying game of the Dark Future, featuring updated mechanics and new lore set in 2045, midway between the events of Cyberpunk 2020 and Cyberpunk 2077.
The Cyberpunk RED Jumpstart Kit debuted GenCon 2019. The core rulebook for Cyberpunk RED hit the streets in November 2020.
Look for physical copies in your friendly local gaming store or our webstore.
Check out digital copies at DriveThruRPG.
We are currently on the third printing of the Cyberpunk RED core rulebook. If you have a 1st or 2nd printing we recommend you download the errata document. If you own a digital copy, check your library at DriveThruRPG or Bits and Mortar to see if you’ve got the latest version with errata built into the PDF.
Subscribe to our Newsletter!
Interested in staying up to date on the latest R. Talsorian Games news, including new releases? You can sign up for our newsletter. We won’t share your data but we will send you neat things via the NET!
Cyberpunk 2020
The Corporations control the world from their skyscraper fortresses, enforcing their rule with armies of cyborg assassins. On the Street, Boostergangs roam a shattered urban wilderness, killing and looting. The rest of the world is a perpetual party, as fashion-model beautiful techies rub biosculpt jobs with battle armored roadwarriors in the hottest clubs, sleaziest bars and meanest streets this side of the Postholocaust. The Future never looked so bad.
But you can change it. You’ve got interface plugs in your wrists, weapons in your arms, lasers in your eyes, bio-chip programs screaming in your brain. You’re wired in, cyberenhanced and solid state as you can take it to the fatal Edge where only the toughest and coolest can go. Because you’re CYBERPUNK.
Cyberpunk: the original roleplaying game of the dark future; a world of corporate assassins, heavy-metal heroes and brain burning cyberhackers, packed with cutting edge technology and intense urban action. Within this book, you’ll find everything you need to tackle the mean streets of the 2000’s — in a game system that combines the best in realistic action and playability.
- Winner, Origins Gamer’s Choice Award, Best Science Fiction RPG 1989
Cyberpunk 2020 and its supplements are still in print and still available!
- You can purchase printed copies of the game and many of the supplements from our webstore.
- Or you can find books in PoD and digital versions on DriveThruRPG.
Want to know more about Cyberpunk? Here’s a great glimpse of the creator, Mike Pondsmith, running the game for IGN.
Thanks to IGN for sharing this video with us.
If you would like to know more about the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 video game, please visit our partners at CD Projekt Red.
Any news about “Genesis Descent”?
Genesis Descent is a Cyberpunk project licensed by Angus Abramson (late of Cubicle 7). We haven’t heard anything more about it since Angus left C7 and we’re in the dark as much as you are. Sorry.
I have to say that you all changed my life as a kid in the 80’s – the game rocked! – and it led me to read Gibson, Sterling, Rucker, Neal Stephenson, and Mick Farren and opened an entire view of the future for me. If you’re ever in Detroit or attending a Con, I’d love to buy you a beverage. -Doc-
I have a couple of questions. First, I noticed Cyberpunk 2020 back in in your store, but but not the Fuzion system Cyberpunk 203X, released back in 2005. Does this mean you’ve essentially abandoned that version? And, what does this mean for those of us who want to upgrade or characters to Fuzion rules in Cyberpunk proper?
Secondly, assuming that 203X hasn’t been “completely voided”, When the Fuzion system first came out, I picked up the Bubblegum Crisis RPG books to convert my characters to, long before 203X came out. And there is one thing in the BGC character creation rules that I found “missing” from the 203X rules, namely the “Complications” which granted characters extra CPs at the cost of phychological, physical, or societal “issues” which could adversely affect the character in game. Was this a deliberate choice? and can the Complications rules be implemented in Cyberpunk 203X? Pretty much all of my characters require them, as each has major real “problems” built in, and a number of them are older, more experienced characters (one is a US Army Delta Force Command Sergeant Major), with a good number of higher level skills, and very long life paths, in some cases.
Third, assuming that 203X has been voided, is there any chance of a new Fuzion version of Cyberpunk, even a Fuzion version of CP 2020, coming out?
Hello!
There will be a newer version of the tabletop rpg of cyberpunk, thanks to CDPR?
I ask because online I haven’t found many others cyberpunk-themed tabletop rpgs and the first versions (CP2020 and CP203x) may be outdated at their core mechanics.
In short, it would be wonderful news if there actually is in program a new cyberpunk with an update to the core mechanics.
Actually we have a new updated Cyberpunk 2020 edition coming up called Cyberpunk Red. There will be updates. It will primarily be Fuzion.
Any word on when the new printings of the Core Rules and Night City will be available?
We’re currently working out logistics. Thanks for being patient.
Any new, fun updates on Cyberpunk Red? I am foaming at the mouth for info as well as my buddies! 🙂
Nothing yet. Hopefully soon. Mike’s working on it.
Cyberpunk Red? Is this a new version of Cyberpunk that is coming out? If so, what is the release date for the book?
Yes, its a new version of Cyberpunk. An update of 2020. We don’t have a release date yet but will shout it to the heavens when we do!
Are you planning to use rules from data fortress in Cyberpunk Red? Cp2020 has many homerules and some proposals added interesting things
Ps Thank you for your job!
We aren’t specifically looking at other rulesets as we design Cyberpunk Red, although parallel evolution does occasionally happen in game design.
Ok, so a few questions…..I have been playing a ongoing cyberpunk campaign since CP2013/2020. We are actually currently playing our characters’ grandchildren!
My first experiance with the FUZION was with MEKTON ZETA+. I like it, but I prefer the original interlock system immensely (FNFF, for the win!).
I have a copy if the witcher pdf, and I like the product, I really do………
However, if the new CPred is fuzion based…..how much of the grittiness of interlock is going to be evident?
And on the FUZION note, is that the new rules set for R.Talsorian? Not that I’d mind, but it was interlock that hooked me into the beautiful madness that is Night City.
Will Fuzion have that edge that we all love?
And lastly, I remember a huge FUZION presence on the Internet (Atomic Fuzion). Will Atomic Fuzion come back? Or is that dead?
All in all, I am stoked for the next iteration of Mike’s genius.
And CP 2077, is on my radar until it comes out!
Both The Witcher TRPG and Cyberpunk Red are Interlock products. The Atomik Fuzion products weren’t made by R. Talsorian Games. They’ve since been converted to a line of generic game aid products available from Precis Intermedia. Thanks for writing in!
Will Cyberpunk Red use hitpoints,
like in the Witcher system?
Too soon to say. We’ll be releasing more information as development goes on.
Will Cyberpunk Red still have roles with special skills, or like be more like version 3 with no roles but special talents?
That’s a topic for a future blog post, to be sure, but not something we can get into at the moment.
So I’ve been a long time cyberpunk fan but have never had a chance(no friends) to actually play the game both that’s changed but I’m hearing all this wonderful news about cyberpunk red is the original 2020 a good starting point or should I just wait for red to come out and be part of the firsts of the new generation
We encourage you to make that decision based on your own resources. If you need to only buy one, it might be best to wait for Red. If you’ve got some spare cash, the original 2020 book will give you a good glimpse of where the game came from and give you something to read for the next few months!
In regards to Cyberpunk Red: Will it be a kickstarter? If not, is there a way to sign up as game tester? What about signing up as a scenario writer?
Looking forward to it, thanks!!
There will not be a kickstarter. We’re not currently bringing in other playtesters or writers.
got the jumpstart kit, cannot wait for the full core rulebook. Will it be in 2019? say yes please!
We can’t say yes or no at this point.
Great to see a new edition of one of my favorite RPGs, not surprising you sold all units you took with you to GenCon. I read you have more Jumpstart Kit boxes on the way to be shipped to stores. I’m presuming US stores will get priority, but can you give us a rough estimate when Jumpstart Kits will be shipped internationally, for me, specifically here in the UK?
Have already pre-ordered and now waiting excitedly for it, hoping that it won’t be later than September… 😉
Unfortunately, not yet. We’re still working on the logistics.
Will this game come to Brazil?
Can’t say yet!
I pre-ordered through my local game shop for months. Any news on when you may be shopping to local distributors? Kinda sucks you guys didn’t keep enough copies from gen-con to cover pre-orders. Anxiously waiting any news on this front.
Hello there! We expect the Jumpstart Kit to be start showing up in stores sometime in October.
With the release of the Jumpstart Kit, when will the full rulebook be released (i.e. will it be timed to release about the time Cyberpunk 2077 is released)?
We don’t have a release window yet for the Cyberpunk Red core rulebook. As soon as we do have one, we will announce it here!
When Cyberpunk was first released in 88 I bought 12 copies from Chris Harvey games here in the UK for my game shop.
Im convinced its main title was Dark Future not cyberpunk , it was then changed to Cyberpunk. Am I wrong?
Hello! It was always Cyberpunk. Even that first edition box set used “A roleplaying game of the dark future” as a tag line, though, so that might be where the confusion comes from. BTW, our business manager remembers selling those boxes to Chris Harvey. 🙂
Is the Cyberpunk 2020 Boxset not sold anymore? Only the rulebook?
Hello! We haven’t sold the 2020 box set in decades, actually. Everything but the dice was incorporated into the book so there’s no need.
any word on when there’ll be word on a release date?
We’re working on June but the current pandemic has us evaluating pretty much everything.
Any new streams ppl know of 2020 or red? I’m looking for a group on discord and Reddit
Fairyskruff
Will there be an updated FNFF. TNTT is a good option, but there are few systems that nail realistic trauma and combat like FNFF.
Yes.
So … what does Q Workshop know that the rest of us don’t?
Their new Cyberpunk Red dice set contains an entirely different combination of dice (classic 7) than the Cyberpunk Red Jumpstart Kit’s…
They actually offer two different dice sets. A set with a full range of polyhedrals useful for if you want to take Cyberpunk style into other games, and an Essentials set, which is just d10s and d6s.
Are you going to work out deals with VTT companies like Fantasy Grounds and Roll20 for Cyberpunk Red content?
We’re exploring VTT options.
Hey great job on Cyberpunk Red! Excellent read!
Will you release a new Eurosource in the near future?
Probably not in the near future, no. It might end up on the schedule later but no plans currently.
hello! Cyberpunk Red will it be released yet? it was canceled? I need news!
Will there be Chromebook equivalents released in the future for Cyberpunk Red?
There will be!
Are there already any plans you can share with us regarding future supplements?
On the same notion, are there any plans for a supplement that will allow us to play RED in the 2070s or 2080s also? Because while the Time of the Red is fantastic as a setting, it would be interesting to play the TTRPG in the rebuilt Night City of 2077 as well.
Can’t talk much about it yet but it is something we’re working on.
Any plans to publish a GM screen? Or to make available as downloads the most relevant tables? We could really use the play aids to manage all the complex rules.
We are currently working on a GM screen.
When will the Cyberpunk Red books be back in print/stock?
Hey there. As of today (1.5.2021) we’re currently working on our second printing but we don’t have a street date yet.
Hello, first off, thank you so much for creating Cyberpunk 2020 and it’s world, i’d like to know if you guys have any idea on how i can contact the artist Doug Anderson who worked on Cyberpunk 2020’s original art?
I’ve tried re-creating one of his arts, it’s amateur work but anyways, i done that because i couldn’t find a higher resolution picture of it online, i’m referring to the art on the cover, thanks again R. Talsorian and Mike Pondsmith
Unfortunately, we don’t currently have contact info for Doug.
I bought the game as a kid in the 90s. Bought the first 2013 edition in boxed set which I still have at home. And also bought the 2020 boxed set edition. Gave that one to a friend. Biggest mistake of my life. For YEARS I have been trying to find a boxed set of the CP3002 and I have NEVER been able to find ONE. The Friend I gave my box is nowhere to be found, he might even be dead, been totally unable to contact him. At home I got the 2013 box, 2020 rules in 2.01 edition… But I miss the art from my CP3002 edition.
For the game’s anniversay, someday, may we get a new issue of the CP3002 edition ? Box, core book, like it was in the CP3002 box ? With 2.01 but the original art from the boxed CP3002 set…
can you please make available for public the original art image of the cover of the cyberpunk 2020 rule book? thanks