Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) — Story, World Setting & Character Breakdown
Developer: CD Projekt RED • Publisher: CD Projekt • Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
World Setting & Story Premise
Night City, a dystopian coastal megacity in the Free State of Northern California, obsessed with power, glamour, and body modification, governed by ruthless megacorporations like Arasaka and Militech.
Mercenary V and best friend Jackie Welles take a high-stakes heist contract to steal the prototype "Relic" biochip from Arasaka heir Yorinobu Arasaka. When Yorinobu murders his emperor father Saburo, the heist implodes; Jackie is killed, and V is shot in the head. The Relic revives V by initiating a fatal overwrite process containing the digital construct of legendary anti-corpo terrorist Johnny Silverhand.
Key Characters & Narrative Roles
V (Valerie / Vincent) — Protagonist
Affiliation: Night City Mercenary (Nomad, Streetkid, or Corpo background) • Relationship: Host to the neural construct of Johnny Silverhand
A determined mercenary racing against time to prevent Johnny Silverhand’s construct from permanently overwriting their mind.
Johnny Silverhand (Robert John Linder) — Co-Protagonist / Neural Entity
Affiliation: Rockerboy / Lead Singer of Samurai; Anti-Arasaka terrorist • Relationship: Construct sharing V’s neural pathways; played by Keanu Reeves
Nuked Arasaka Tower in 2023 before his soul was trapped via Soulkiller; evolves from an antagonistic parasite into V’s closest compatriot.
Jackie Welles — Companion (Act 1)
Affiliation: Heywood Mercenary / Valentinos alumnus • Relationship: V’s loyal partner and best friend
Helps V breach Konpeki Plaza; fatally wounded in the escape, dying with dignity as he inserts the Relic into V.
Goro Takemura — Key Ally
Affiliation: Disgraced personal bodyguard to Emperor Saburo Arasaka • Relationship: Unlikely ally to V
Framed for Saburo’s murder; allies with V to expose Yorinobu and restore honor to the Arasaka imperial family.
Solomon Reed — Phantom Liberty Co-Lead
Affiliation: FIA Sleeper Agent (New United States of America) • Relationship: Handler and ally to V in Dogtown; played by Idris Elba
A fiercely loyal intelligence agent torn between national duty and personal ethics in the walled combat zone of Dogtown.