Welcome to Night City

Night City is a megalopolis in the Free State of Northern California, controlled by corporations and rife with gang warfare and corruption. It is a world of extreme violence and technology, where implants, drugs, and virtual reality blur the lines between human and machine, reality and illusion.

History

Founded in 1994 by corporate tycoon Richard Night, Night City was designed to be a utopian metropolis free from crime and poverty. After Night's assassination, the city fell into decay, and control was seized by megacorporations.

A series of conflicts known as the Corporate Wars ravaged the global economy, leading to the collapse of the United States government and the rise of corporate-controlled city-states like Night City.

Locations

Corporate Plaza

The gleaming center of corporate power, home to massive arcologies and corporate headquarters. The streets are clean, the security is tight, and everything is under constant surveillance.

Watson

A formerly corporate district that has fallen on hard times. Now it's a crowded, multicultural neighborhood with a mix of old corporate architecture and new, improvised structures.

Pacifica

Once intended to be a tourist resort, Pacifica was abandoned during construction when the economy collapsed. Now it's a lawless zone controlled by gangs, with half-finished buildings serving as makeshift homes and fortresses.

The Combat Zone

The most dangerous part of the city, where law enforcement doesn't even bother to patrol. Gang warfare is constant, and only the most desperate or dangerous individuals live here.

Factions

Megacorporations

• Arasaka: Japanese megacorp specializing in security, banking, and manufacturing
• Militech: American weapons manufacturer and private military contractor
• Biotechnica: Leading biotech and genetic engineering corporation
• Netwatch: Global network security agency

Gangs

• Maelstrom: Cybernetics-obsessed gang known for extreme body modification
• Tyger Claws: Traditional Japanese gang with a focus on martial arts and honor
• Voodoo Boys: Mysterious netrunners operating from Pacifica
• Animals: Muscle-focused gang that abhors cyberware in favor of biochemical enhancement

Technology

Night City is a playground of advanced technology:

• Cyberware: Technological implants ranging from simple subdermal chips to full limb replacements
• Netrunning: The ability to directly interface with the NET using a cyberdeck and specialized implants
• Smart Weapons: Firearms with targeting computers, tracking bullets, and other enhancements
• Braindance: Technology that allows users to experience recorded memories, including sensations

Social Structure

At the top sit the corporate executives, living in ultra-luxury high above the city. Below them are the corporate employees, enjoying relative comfort and security. The middle class consists of small business owners, skilled freelancers, and high-ranking gang members.

The majority of Night City's population falls into the lower class, struggling to make ends meet through legitimate or illegitimate means. At the bottom are the homeless and destitute, fighting daily for survival in the city's most dangerous districts.