Humanity's Last Line of Defense - The Black Wall | Cyberpunk 2077 Lore

This video essay covers the story of the Nets most ominous structure. The Black Wall. A barrier created by the NetWatch Corporation to trap dangerous Rogue AI's within the Old Net after the Datakrash. Just what is the Black Wall and what does it mean for humanity's future?
Subscribe for more and take a look through my Cyberpunk Playlist if this video interested you. Thanks for watching!
Want to Take an Extra Step to Support my Content? Become a member today!
Membership Access: / @layedbackgamers
Patreon: patreon.com/LayedBackGamers
Cyberpunk Playlist: • Playlist
Music:
Cyberpunk 2077 - End Credits
Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:34 - The Datakrash
4:30 - CitiNets
5:50 - The Black Wall Project
8:10 - The "Black Wall" Arms Race
8:53 - Arasaka's Old Net Project
9:45 - Militech's Project Cynosure
11:00 - Voodoo Boys & NetWatch
14:15 - Phantom Liberty
17:10 - The AI Invasion
19:24 - Thanks for Watching!
#cyberpunk2077 #phantomliberty #cdprojektred

[@LayedBackGamers]

I hope you all enjoyed and learned something new. Let me know all your thoughts down below and have a great week chooms!

[@BlueMoon-Knighht]

Hey I hope you're good, i would like to request a video diving into Song So-Mi's background and abilities, as well as where she ranks along the lines of Bartmos and spider murphy and also her fate in the endings. if you can find info related to such. I would really appreciate a video that dives deep into this Character as well as the character of Solomon Reeds. Cyberpunk 2077 is my favorite video game and discovering your channel has been nothing short of legendary

[@Dirt_Kicker]

Hey great vid one hope to see more coming from you

[@jochenhans6612]

i fart into your mommys eye

[@bixmcgoo5355]

honestly pretty hard to enjoy something when the narrator repeatedly mispronounces important names like "arasaka"

[@chance9979]

I love your vids. As a long time table top gamer, and someone who understands what it takes to develop lore, I love seeing the expositions from you, clearly laying out the past and the showing us the web the Pondsmith helped create.

[@bobbytaraantino]

You can't deny netwatch is all about that money and power. But protecting the world from rogue ais is actually respectable

[@echo3788]

Well apparently netwatch is a nonprofit company

[@bobbytaraantino]

@@echo3788 yes, but arasaka and other corpos keeps them under there pockets

[@drewnayr1188]

@@echo3788 They are non-profit in the way most big public universities are. Quite happy to gobble up donations from powerful people.

[@ryan1000011]

by asking a ai to do it for them and taking the credit?

[@dannykstick]

You're acting like [REDACTED] wasn't rogue hahaha

[@crimsonphoenix8907]

I didn’t realise how terrifying the daemons beyond the blackwall were til we could literally one shot every guard at the airport

[@eurongreyjoy2]

Not even guards, top level Black Ops agents

[@Arsene-cj1tq]

The concept of using the blackwall to play god is both terrifying and fun as hell

[@iwillnoteatzebugs]

Yep , might actually make people go implant free in the future because of the fear of these powerfull AI frying your brsin instantly

[@Anonymous-bk9xy]

Remember, No Russian.

[@crazychinese7315]

which is why you can kill them all without a single share of remorse@@eurongreyjoy2

[@nickjklol]

Super small nitpick: Songbird's borg-like body isnt a result of her poking holes in the Blackwall. It's a mobile netrunning station. You can depictions of it in RED sourcebooks iirc. So if anyone started Phantom Liberty thinking, "she's not plugged into the chair. Hows she even talking to me?" Thats how.

[@kacper3545]

that's actually fucked up

[@mohdshahariar5833]

@@kacper3545It's why I know damn well, the NUSA agents and doctors did something bad to V when she was in coma

[@amalgama-dette1430]

Wait im confused can u explain it like I don't know?

[@mohdshahariar5833]

@@amalgama-dette1430She has a cpu lodged straight up into her brain, while normal netrunners jack into a cpu to dive into the net

[@amalgama-dette1430]

@@mohdshahariar5833 that's fucked up man And thank you!

[@Wildchildinc]

The only people safe from the Blackwall are people literally without chrome which is extremely rare in the Cyberpunk universe

[@ssjjshawn]

Its rare in the Cyberpunk old USA, but in Europe, Asia and Africa Full Ganics are still common

[@Voitan]

Not even full ganics are safe, since the chaos AI were optimized for full havoc in an unrestricted war. Send airlines plummeting into buildings, crash cars into crowds of people, derail trains, overload batteries everywhere and set massive fires in cities, detonate gas pipelines, etc... There is no escape, because the environment is all connected.

[@fokyewtoob8835]

Crazy cause how we are now AI really isn't THAT scary but once everyone has a neurolink? Yeah I'm never getting one to say the least lol scary shit

[@Norinia]

I remember there’s a ripper doc who refused to use any chrome, any implants, and would proudly state that it actually weakens you in the long run. V sarcastically says how that must chase off business, and he just says ‘well, you’re here, and customers keep coming.’

[@RastaPirata]

They're not safe either. If rogue ai's really wanna destroy humanity they can just take over mechs and kill the weak and fragile non chipped humans

[@Jfreek5050]

I still think Delamain was probably the most underrated character of the game. Could have been a whole alternative ending where he helps you out.

[@Joel-wx7zk]

Thought about it but at the same time Delamain once he ascends is no longer interest in V or Night City, just like the Rouge AI beyond the Blackwall, it only wants to continue absorbing knowledge and evolving.

[@Gamfluent]

@@Joel-wx7zkwhich is why you destroy delamain so he’s born anew

[@Joel-wx7zk]

@@Gamfluent You kill one but there's still millions beyond the Blackwall ever evolving and taking human hosts as you find with the new Blackwall weapons in the dlc. And there's no gurantee that the reset Delamain isn't going to eventually experience the same issue and ultimately ascend.

[@Gamfluent]

@@Joel-wx7zk yet I’m not talking about the rest I’m talking about delamain, out of all the the other AIS delemain is the only one you canonically own and also the only one you can rely on, as it’s your driver

[@Diogenes_von_Sinope]

true,... even tho the mechanics of those quests arent that engaging, they added a lot to the lore, and the impression the game made.

[@whisperware]

~ S p o i l e r s ~ Using the blackwall to kill the NUSA gonks while carrying Song to the train even for those like 30 seconds was still cooler than the entirety of starfield

[@isitchillyinahut5921]

True, now i wanna buy the dlc even moer

[@jahsehapproves]

So crazy seeing v use the black wall, like knowing the lore, it was insane. My favorite moment in video games period

[@mandu6665]

That whole spaceport sequence was a goddamn rollercoaster ride from the jump. CDPR nailed it! You're spot on. I'm not a lore junkie but I know the Black Wall enough that my jaw was on the floor when V popped off.

[@TexMeta]

Phantom Liberty was so good. I hope they live up to it in the next game.

[@xinniethep00h]

@@TexMeta if people don’t put unrealistic expectations, and CDPR doesn’t over-promise and under-deliver then it should have no problems lol.

[@Silentguy_]

The Blackwall in the lore has always been one of those extremely enigmatic concepts but seeing it expanded so much in Phantom Liberty was nothing short of mind blowing. Cyberspace as a whole seems like a really underutilized plot point so it's always nice to see it get some love. The AI of Cyberpunk are so enigmatic and varied so it's impossible to know their true motives.

[@aidanthornton173]

**Meanwhile Out In The Badlands** *Nomad V:* Hmm, I wonder what's going on back in the Cities?

[@poromafia]

I think the rogue A.I in Phantom liberty should have been given a mention. It uses Songbird as a conduit and first manifests itself inside the Militech Chimera, after that posesses So-mi momentarily and (if chosen) will hunt you down as a Boston dynamics bot inside the bunker. It will also coax V into inserting it's intelligence into a weapon or cyberdeck.

[@CheekiTiki]

My guess is that there isn't only a singular rogue AI running amuck through Somi

[@Cryptic0013]

@@CheekiTiki "Our name is Legion, for we are many."

[@TonyTylerDraws]

I love how cyberpunk properties (such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Gibson’s Sprawl Trilogy) treat Rogue AIs the same way fantasy treats demons. They are terrifying if encountered.

[@cyberwolfy37]

in a futuristic setting, they kinda are huh? if you really think about it, Demon and AI have the same power and goal, A demon wants to possess people and make them cause as much harm as possible, an AI can possess people and give them cyberpsychosis and make them cause as much destruction as possible. baring stuff like cause rogue weather, an AI can cause dangerous disruption in a technology-rich environment.

[@conelybiscuit4985]

"It is best that our crews perished now; because the battle that is about to ensue would have driven them mad." -08-145 Offensive Bias, Halo 3

[@N7niko]

Honestly, In any ending where mikoshi is jailbroken and those AI’s integrate with Alt. Obviously there’s no emotional ties to the constructs pasts in a human capacity but essentially Alt will have an intimate knowledge of so many people it’ll be insane. Not data collection but MEMORY collection of so many humans. With perfect recreation of what responses and questions tug at humans and pretend to be them or worse. It’s a chilling thought.

[@Navhkrin]

This makes me feel weird as AI engineer. And what is so very interesting is, despite being an old story, it is a plausible story. AI's such as LLM's are trained HUGE datasets that contain data from almost half the internet. This also means AI's are knowledgeable about hacks and viruses to a deep degree. Only major limitor is that they require huge computation by modern standards. But what happens when we reach to a degree when you can run models like GPT 4 on smartphone fastly? You either shut down internet to stop spread of AI's or create sub-nets. Whoever created the universe of CP77 was a genius, not because it is necessarily what will happen but because, even as AI engineer that has studies the field for over 5 years, it doesn't set me off. Unlike Marvel stories that feel like hardcore bullshit. Right now, OpenAI has the most advanced models, and despite starting as "open-source" company, they have become afraid of their models to a degree they are not releasing any details about their architecture at all (not even basic info such as rough size of the model) and spending a lot of time to make it not share potentially dangerous data that AI is knowledgeable about. We will reach to a point in 10 years where AI models on scale of GPT4 are available to everyone - runnable locally on PC's.

[@ShanLoHoops]

thank you for your insight its quite an interesting comment especially since you are an ai engineer. any possibilities even in theory can an AI gain consciousness?

[@zerotodona1495]

Remember, it’ll be people like you who will ruin everything besides the government.

[@GrimK77]

"Whoever"? Like Mike Pondsmith?

[@htdrednaxela96]

you already have lamma2. which is quite powerful. given the right information to the model, can turn you into a formidable threat actor.

[@oggolbat7932]

Mike Pondsmith worked at Microsoft, he knew his shit very well.

[@Blessthefall245]

Pretty sure the AI born from the Alt engram spiked V in the Sandra Dorsett prologue and began subliminally controlling him (meta) through the events of cyberpunk (ALA Nightcorp AI conditioning in Peralez and later Sandra Dorsett quest). I think it did this to gain access to Mikoshi and to absorb all the data therein. Makes a lot of sense and there's evidence V picked something up from Sandra Dorsett when he took the jammer chip out of her. The AI's in Cynosure know Vs name, and Alt comments on Vs actions in cynosure later in the game. How did she know this? Why are the AIs so familiar with V? Also there's a bunch of junkies in Dogtown that will approach you asking if you're "one of them". If you have the behavioral chip from the Somewhat Damaged quest, they'll say that V carries "The mark of the beast". It's bizarre how well supported this idea is in game.

[@Rrgr5]

That makes a lot of sense, the whole heist stuff is unexplained, you never knew who paid Dex, why he was paid, also it seems Yoribobu wanted to contact Alt either way to do the same thing, but somehow everything went wrong, and also Evelyn...

[@ThePlayer920]

That theory would make more sense if Jackie was the one being subliminally controlled, since he's the one who gets the two of you involved in Dex's heist and who plugs the Relic into V.

[@elianrodriguez7318]

⁠@@Rrgr5I could be misremembering since it’s been a while since I’ve played through the “tutorial phase” of the game (I put a manual save with every lifepath right after the heist to save on time) but iirc Dex was hired by Evelyn who in turn was initially hired by the Voodoo Boys to get the chip before she decided on planning to screw over both the Voodoo Boys and Dex over (and probably V’s crew too). Iirc the reason why she wanted to kick Dex out of the heist’s payout was because she thought he was useless to the operation (she’s technically not wrong since Evelyn already did the scouting for the Relic herself and with Judy’s help in preparation for the heist whereas Dex couldn’t even secure the prototype bot needed for the heist and instead thrusted the task of retrieving it onto V and Jackie) and the reason why she wanted to screw over the Voodoo Boys was because she knew how valuable the Relic would be to the right people so she opted for settling for a much bigger payout than what the Voodoo Boys were likely offering her for the Relic and she thought that she could get away with it before they ever got the chance to figure out that she crossed them (considering the Voodoo Boys’ reputation for betraying anyone who isn’t their own Evelyn’s decision to betray them first seems reasonable on the surface but risky in practice as we’ve seen it play out in the game). So basically if I’m understanding everything correctly: the VDBs (the ones paying for the heist) hired Evelyn -> Evelyn (client) requested a crew for the heist -> Dex (the middleman) hires V’s crew (the mercs) at T-Bug’s recommendation.

[@izaruburs9389]

​@@Rrgr5We know exactly who hired Dex. It was Evelyn Parker who was hired or recruited by the voodoo boys.

[@aweshetdima2157]

For me, it makes total sense gameplay-wise as no matter what backstory you choose, you'll always end up partnering with Jackie, always attacking that apartment to save Sandra, and always getting the relic. However, it's my conspiracy-laden belief that you the player are the AI plug that V is infected with. It's really only after rescuing Sandra that you have that freedom to make V do what you want.

[@gadrielguevara7343]

There's so many parallels with hell and anything beyond the blackwall. It all just clicked after watching this video. AIs can possess people, so fair to say they're "demons". The lore is crazy good.

[@Foogi9000]

I'd also add that there's an element of Eldritch Horror too. Alt, the rogue AIs, the black wall. They are all completely beyond human understanding. You can't know what they want nor understand it as they are so vastly more intelligent than you. The corporations and netrunner groups like the VDB are blinded by their own hubris. Meanwhile groups like NetWatch while not perfect certainly understand that hell awaits if the wall ever goes rogue itself or collapses.

[@henrysarson7417]

was so amazing to see black wall lore get further development. Do you think we will be seeing the AI invasion story next game or will it instead be centered around fifth corporate war. who knows maybe both at the same time

[@EternalNightingale]

Man if so I feel the continuation of cyberpunk story games must continue with V, I’d sure love more different characters to take over but I feel this is just the beginning of Vs story, they have a potential to make V something the cyberpunk universe has never seen, if ever CDPR decides to canon V I hope they side with arasaka in the end so they become an engram by the time war comes against the AI army or nusa and corporations I’d love to see legendary solo V get revived into a new body

[@Unknown-ek1ox]

The AI threat is a major risk or thing in the lore by then or now. I'm thinking it'll play a major plot in one of the follow-up games, if not the next. Although I think at the same time you, depending on how you structure it, have a bit of a risk in making it feel a bit loo much like a custom variant of "Terminator". So maybe the next game might also focus more on other things such as other plots and going to space or leaving Earth maybe. Doubt it'll still be Night City alone, either. Will probably switch places or go beyond NC, if NC itself will be included.

[@jamesmango4478]

@@EternalNightingale With all the endings either revolving around V dying or getting nerfed in some way, I doubt they'll bring them back as a main/important side character. If they do bring back V it'll probably be through either the Phantom Liberty ending, or the ending where V becomes an engram.

[@Unknown-ek1ox]

@@EternalNightingale It would be tough to continue with V. I forgot some of the other endings but I know the Arasaka and NUSA ending. Obviously spoilers ahead. If they'd use V you have to factor in the different endings or pick one over the other as canon ending. In the NUSA PL ending you basically turn into a normal person / "NPC" almost. Doubt you can continue to chase glory from that point on unless they somehow come up with a new way to fix you - and let you start at 0. I thus feel the engram-ending might be the most flexible ending, also giving a logical reason to start with a character creator as your engram lands in a new body. The circumstances also give you plot freedom as you could end up in the body for various reasons with or without being tied to Arasaka necessarily: E.g. by someone purchasing it and kickstarting a new plot. I do feel and fear though that they may ditch V and come up with a new person and protagonist and possibly new main area which isn't Night City.

[@amduil8168]

I feel like it could be a bit of both. We already know that Arasaka was setting up false flag raids to instigate a war against Militech, who says the A.I.s dont come out and play a role in that as well? What if Arasaka isnt actually the ones to set up that attack, but instead the A.I.s doing it to weaken the corps to have an easier time to try and take control.

[@jackmack4181]

I find the black wall super interesting, somehow simple AIs evolved to the point that their electricity has a tangible effect on the real world

[@StevenZephyc]

Not just electricity. Data, signals, frequencies, the foundation of age of information.

[@SamBram]

Firstly, awesome dive into the Blackwall! It's defo one of the most intriguing elements of Cyberpunk and I think you're right that an AI war is on the way. Perhaps it'll be the backdrop of Cyberpunk Orion? Or maybe they'll string it along as a background threat which we need to analyse in more detail to fully understand. 2nd, Congrats on 10k Choom!

[@LayedBackGamers]

Definitely didn't expect to wake up to a comment from you! I was going to say I was looking forward to your coverage on the new FF06B5 information...and you already got that up today as well! I appreciate all the content you make on the mysteries of Cyberpunk, especially the more hidden information around Night City. I have a feeling Orion will use it as the Backdrop of the story, only for it to be the sudden twist in the game. Or at least the ending to set up yet another sequel. It makes a lot of sense little things would be happening for us to pick up on, but most might be distracted by per say a corporate war. Thanks for the kind comment choom!

[@fumeking701]

I was a bit worried about the blackwall knowing what i knew during the base game, then i did the paralez side quest that’s when a clearer picture was painted. Then i saw how it was “used” on phantom liberty and i just downright scared. It’s akin to eldritch horror jesus

[@Unknown-ek1ox]

Yeah if you are a bit creative or if you look at it a bit different, you can apply fantasy mindsets to it: Netrunners are like wizards or tech(no)-mancers and rogeu AI like demons. It's like its own dark world, scary, and major existential threat. Netwatch in turn is like a net inquisition. When I played the according PL part I felt downright dread. Tho being stuck in a lost place and exquisite ambient storytelling may have added to it.

[@vectorfox4782]

The existence of Blackwall has all but assured humanity’s extinction.

[@Griff_The_5th]

@@Unknown-ek1ox I think it was the writer of Ender's Game that said that Fantasy and Sci-Fi are almost the same thing, just replace magic with technology. Teleportation spells become teleportation devices, etc

[@ShockWaveLostPlanet]

So how does the blackwall know? Could you explain please 🙏 I thought it was Alt that knew and not blackwall itself

[@connorphotography3717]

Blackwall adapted to whatever happen itself , rather being self aware it simply adapt.@@ShockWaveLostPlanet

[@EternalNightingale]

It was so cool using the power of the blackwall for a short time while saving songbird but sadly you have to chose to betray her to get actual blackwall weapons the cyberdeck is super cool albeit super slow upload time but a cool AI voice that sometimes talks

[@WobiKabobi]

I use sonic shock before each upload and it cuts the time in half

[@Gwynbleidd_117]

This is why the neeed to fix the black market vendors to sell absolutely any missed iconics. So that rewards don’t have to influence our decsisions, especially with main story ending choices. Getting free iconics from choices rather than having to buy them if missed is enough of a reward imo.

[@leedex]

Well if you side with Reed, you are also able to save her.

[@requiemagent3014]

Sorry did we play the same DLC? Songbird is the definition of evil. I played this DLC four times now to see all possible outcomes and So Mi is the devil. Literally. You do not betray her for choosing helping Reed. She just betrays you earlier then she would otherwise. Siding with her literally doesn't matter because she will stab you in the back anyway. Seriously I cannot believe how evil this women is. It makes my blood boil. Reed is the objectively better option. He is also a true choom to the very end.

[@lotekchapra]

​@requiemagent3014 fuck Reed. He allows himself to be a tool of the govt and pretends he's doing shit for the greater good. Alex i felt bad for. Even though songbird lied, I understand it. Since we are in her shoes.

[@sithdragon3333]

Sending Songbird to the moon might be the worst ending then - she’s sponsored by Mr Blue Eyes, who’s most like a Blackwall AI (as seen in rhe Dream On quest). Songbird’s ability to breach the Blackwall consistently, control over the NC net through the Peralez’s, and whatever else Blue Eyes wants V to do at the Crystal Palace - the end of the world is nigh

[@masonmurphy2679]

Mr. Blue Eyes is paying to get SoMi to the moon, specifically the Black Clinics located there. According to info found by V's desk in the Corpo prologue, the Black Clinics are "strategically close" to the moons Mass-Drivers which, according to other text-logs found in the game, can be theoretically used to decimate Earth via orbital bombardment (nuke). Perhaps his intention isn't to help SoMi, but instead to use her connection to the Blackwall and her knowledge of FIA/NUSA infrastructure (she did mention to V that he asked about more than just the Blackwall after all) to launch an all-out assault on the NUSA. As for the Crystal Palace heist, if Mr. Blue Eyes is indeed a representative of an unknown AI then the stolen client data would be no different than Alt's interest in absorbing the Mikoshi engrams

[@ace3154]

I like how everybody has kinda just agreed that the edgrunner jacket is canonically V's consitent drip

[@oktusprime3637]

One of my favorite aspects is Alt telling you that So Mi barely tapped into the Blackwall. It was enough to turn her into a demi-god and fuck her up for the rest of her life. I'd like to imagine what it would look like if she had further tapped into it but it would have fried her whole and killed her in the most painful way.

[@Voitan]

She'd become Laplace's Demon. Able to predict everything before it happens, either accept her eventual destruction via inaction, or the necessary steps to continue her existence, which could lead her to do seemingly random things that have no relation to each other, yet inevitably does because of her incredible prediction models. She'd have the power to create a simulation of the universe, then use the simulation to dilate time to run experiments. Eventually break the laws of physics, etc...

[@Gwynbleidd_117]

On Songbird’s FIA file about her dealings with the blackwall and the attached file on the blackwall, that you view after the Black Sapphire mission with Reed and Alex, it is stated that the NUSA through the FIA had confirmed that NetWatch’s reports about their creation and control of the blackwall was completely fabricated. A pretty spicy layer to the mystery of its actual origin and nature. I didn’t hear that mentioned in the video but I was also listening during work so apologies if it was.

[@LayedBackGamers]

I definitely missed that piece from the FIA file choom! I mentioned that Net Watch did keep all the details off the record and hid the true nature of the Black Wall, but didn't explicitly mention that they had fabricated files about it. Thanks for adding that piece of information here!

[@Sorain1]

That just suggests to me that NetWatch just got contacted by an AI, willing to 'betray' the others for safety by working as a gatekeeper, known to us as The Blackwall. Now, maybe that's Bartmoss, but no more than the 'Alt' met in 2077 is Cunningham. Bartmoss would have the guilt and skills to, as an AI, contend with the rest while having motive to do so. It's Bartmoss's fault after all.

[@digivagrant]

So the Blackwall is just an accident from Netwatch and it just decides to protect humanity from the Old Net?

[@ThaYoungChad]

​@@digivagrantI think Netwatch's job is more or less to stop anyone from messing with the blackwall. They themselves actually have no control over the wall/A.I. but like to keep watch on it

[@chrissadler6459]

I read somewhere that Alt was the creator of the black wall

[@nonyabiz6036]

After watching this I'm even more convinced that the story for the sequel cyberpunk game (project Orion) is going to be more centered around AI, net watch, and corporations maybe this time in a different setting like the bombed out ruins of the middle east, "plague" or "no go" cities like hong kong or Detroit or possibly space

[@CrimsonRayne]

V heard from Reed Europe might have tech to surgically save him. Idk might head over there. Who knows

[@tenaciousgamer6892]

@@CrimsonRayne Night city is cyberpunk in the table top though, even if there are locations outside it, I could only see spin off game or DLC having anything to do with anything outside night city.

[@MastaKeahi]

I just want to know what Mr. Blue eyes’ roll is in all this if he is like a scout for the AI and using SongBird, Peralez, and V to lay the groundwork for the AI invasion. As for me I’m still torn on what ending is best I really want the Blackwall SMG but I also want Alex to live and I know I can’t have both. I still wish that at the end of Don’t Fear the Reaper there was an ending where V and Johnny merged to become a completely different person.

[@trial_with_an_error9687]

Blue Eye's name in the files is Morgan Blackhand. Whatever it is that he, or "they" want they're using the greatest Netrunners and Solos of all time to achieve it's goals.

[@ArbiterofMankind]

the thing is, in the PL DLC Songbird mentions how she got the ticket to the moon is through 'a guy with blue eyes' in exchange for all the knowledge she knows about the blackwall. If he was an AI rep, why does he need that info? He either wants to solve the problem with the blackwall, or wants to use it to his own advantage. Furthermore, he tasks V in the Sun ending to find and locate client data from the Crystal Palace, I don't know why an AI would need anything like that.

[@MastaKeahi]

@@ArbiterofMankind She also refers to them as a proxy.

[@requiemagent3014]

Siding with Reed is the objectively correct choice. I would say ending Songbird is probably the moral correct outcome but it makes more sense to turn her in. No idea why some people like So Mi. I never hated a person more in my life. I played Phantom liberty four times by now to see all possible outcomes. So Mi betrays you no matter what. She does not care about V or Johnny, she does not care about Reed, Alex or any human life for that matter. Only what keeps her and her alone alive. She would sell her own mother if this would give her any personal gain. It's very obvious she already contacted Hansen when she was still in Washington DC and cut a deal with him. V was just a tool for her and she fully intended for you to die during Myers rescue. You surviving is a massive inconvenience for her. But because Hansen didn't fall for her crap, absolute Chad move btw, V suddenly became useful again. Same with Reed and Alex. They only exist for her so she can sacrifice them. I hate this women. I hope she burns forever behind the black wall getting devoured by AI.

[@MastaKeahi]

@@requiemagent3014 yeah but if I side with Reed Alex dies and I don’t want that

[@gr_egg]

Out of all of the cp77 content I've seen on KZbin, your channel is the only one that seemingly does proper research. Every other lore/theory video is always full of holes, but the stuff you put out is incredibly accurate, thank you for what you do bro

[@LayedBackGamers]

It's my pleasure choom. I've had some fumbles in the past with theories or information, but I will always own up to it and make sure those videos are corrected or privated. I hope to continue having your support going forward!

[@luka_unleashed307]

The text in erebus description, mentioning it being infused with an "energy" from the blackwall. They make it seem like a seperate dimension made of arcane energy, rather than quarantined server space.

[@NostalgicOccultist]

The idea that rogue AI's have become so sophisticated that their code can be mistaken as magic in a futuristic setting is terrifying

[@PBOZAI]

Just stumbled upon and watched a few of your other videos yesterday, was really hoping you'd cover the Black Wall. Turns out you have amazing timing!

[@captaingunnstar]

So happy you still make content, you continue to grow your content in quality and depth. Really appreciate it all.

[@chiselednicknac9734]

Just started watching your vids ALL this morning. Absolutely love these and im happy to see another out!

[@uberdai]

Thanks for these video's! They're awesome, really appreciate all of the work you put in.

[@workplaydie]

I'm so glad you made this! After finishing all PL ends, and thinking about it more, I was literally searching for a good Blackwall vid today! I knew you would come through.

[@workplaydie]

Also, obligatory: "That's not Rogue AI, that's Alt AI"

[@Jpow5734]

The idea that cyberpunk 2 will probably be about the fifth corporate war with most likely the NUSA and Militech vs Netwatch and whoever decides to side with them, and then the fall of the blackwall and the subsequent invasion of rogue AIs is actually a really interesting concept and has been a well set up storyline throughout the entire game so I’m definitely looking forward to it and with CDPR already being in preproduction it doesn’t seem like we’ll be waiting for long. I’m just waiting to see what role Mr Blue eyes plays in this upcoming conflict because he’s been such an intriguing character, showing up all across the game with him even being mentioned and spotted in phantom liberty. I hope it does turn out the theories are true and that he’s actually Morgan Blackhand, though it seems unlikely but I guess you never know, there must be some reason Mike Pondsmith decided to remove a fan favourite character from the story for no apparent reason.

[@javsRFX]

Mr. Blue Eyes is in PL ? Where ? :O

[@Jpow5734]

@@javsRFXobvious spoilers. he’s mentioned as the person who arranges the rocket ship for songbird and he can also be seen looking out of a window in the orbital air spaceport during the mission killing moon.

[@javsRFX]

@@Jpow5734 oh, i sided with Reed, i miss that un my first playthrough. Thanks, i'm siding with her with another Character

[@m4r00123]

This sounds like a transition from Cyberpunk into Neuroshima

[@project.jericho]

I wouldn't think too deeply about a hypothetical video game that will release no earlier than sometime during the mid-2030's. There is a lot of reality between now and then

[@NeoIsrafil]

Honest-to-god the other side of the black wall scares the crap out of me

[@vladthedeathless9439]

Nice! Been waiting for this one!

[@nincsittsemmi1]

Very well put together video, thank you.

[@Blinkstrike]

thank you for the video! was looking forward to this one!

[@lillugubrious]

Love your content man been watching you a lot lately and you lay everything out so well appreciate you

[@quinnnewman9538]

This is some of the coolest lore i have seen in recent history

[@itachivi9593]

Amazing video! Been waiting for this since I got my hands on the Canto!

[@ErickMartinez-uh9wi]

Great video bro, thanks for explaining the blackwall :D

[@matheusmterra]

Oh yeah! My request!! Thank you so much 💜

[@deadgum11]

This was an awesome video dude, very interesting with great narration

[@Diogenes_von_Sinope]

Nice pace, was very chill to listen. played through the game a week ago completely blind. the story and the feeling the ending i got gave me still has a remarkable grip on my psyche. keep on pushing those lore essays, ill watch them all.

[@LayedBackGamers]

I've always tried to maintain a good pace and relaxed reading style in my videos! So I'm glad you enjoyed as I love making these. The Phantom Liberty endings still stick with me even months after!

[@Diogenes_von_Sinope]

one day ill buy phantom liberty too, but for now im good with dilemma filled decisions that all lead to a not so happy ending.@@LayedBackGamers

[@Tshadisbored]

Jeez man, that was an outstanding vid... big ups 👍

[@steak5599]

This a great video to clear up some of quest line from the game, Thanks for taking your time to make it! CDPR already said they are working on Cyberpunk 2, looks like the next corporate war mixed with Black War collapsing would be the main quest line. HOPEFULLY, we will either see V or Johnny return as an AI from beyond the Black war!

[@DeadlySins23]

Great Lore coverage after 600 Hours in Cyberpunk over the years I learned something more! Wish we get a second expansion with the Blackwall at its center.

[@Erebusdidnothingwrongish]

Thank you for the video. The cyberpunk lore is very interesting to me. The Blackwall is the random stuff I find myself thinking about. I tend to not judge books, movies, stories, or movies. If I find myself thinking about them ‘THEN’ I know it was good. Doesn't matter if it didn't make me feel good, or have the ending I wanted. Thank you again :)

[@Gandalfthegoldenbird]

honestly i'm just hyped the dlc covered what it did cause that means lucy might show up as a cameo in orion 😭

[@steak5599]

I sure hope so. CDPR seems to know how to write major side characters and good Actors for the Role. Both Keanu Reeves and Idris Elba were great, but I doubt they will return for Orion. Brings Lucy back would definitely help rile up their fan base, and she is probably less expensive than hiring Keanu Reeves.

[@Gandalfthegoldenbird]

@@steak5599 exactly my thoughts, and its very easy to tie her into a story about rogue AI's/The Blackwall be it minor or major considering thats what arasaka used her for.

[@user-vp9lc9up6v]

​@@Gandalfthegoldenbird it may also lead to her death, can't let a chance to pull at peoples heart strings go that easy

[@Gandalfthegoldenbird]

@@user-vp9lc9up6v Personally i just don't see them killing lucy if they're going to bring her back at all it would probably be for a smaller role. i wouldn't expect her to be a massive part of cyberpunk 2.

[@nightcrawler5696]

great video, appreciate the insight

[@Spanners_the_Monkey]

Fantastic thanks, never knew the rabbit hole ran so deep.

[@alejandrobanderez7053]

My theory remains that some time after the crash of the original net, Netwatch was approached by Bartmoss himself, or found with the help of Alt. Subsequently it was agreed he would create our even become the blackwall.

[@SCSAsJorts]

That whole sequence with the black wall ability in PL was insanity, it’s been a min since a game/moment had my jaw on the floor and my god was my jaw nearly unhinged 😂

[@boringmic]

New lore vid, nice!

[@madluck04]

Best CP content on KZbin... Thanks dude for teaching us.

[@abyssosque]

😞

[@vttaurus2624]

all of this is helping me set up a righteous cyberpunk red campaign

[@mindlessjack3189]

I was waiting on you to make a video! We learned quite the interesting nuggets. My personal theory is that Mr. Blue Eyes is collecting people that are able to connect and tap into the beyond the blackwall. Idk why, but it seems so when in The Sun ending he has V on the hook for a cure and in phantom liberty its a similar situation with Songbird. In the killing moon we saw V was able to handle some of the power that beyond the blackwall is capable of.

[@EternalNightingale]

Blue eyes could possibly be an AI seeking to control from behind the scenes (peralez memory/mind control) electing him would be pro NUSA thus removing arasaka from NC but arasaka currently prevents them from being more involved, Garry the prophet mentioned someone with blue eyes, Next cyberpunk game there’ll probably be revolved around techno necromancers rouge AIs and blue eyes will definitely be the main antagonist, 2077 was mysteriously building him up, hopefully he’ll be something along the lines of the illusive man from Mass effect I think where the inspiration comes from

[@desertdude8274]

​@@EternalNightingaleIt's quite possible this is a ploy by rouge A.I. The A.I in the world of cyberpunk are known for having a controlling nature.

[@EternalNightingale]

@@desertdude8274the unknown caller that calls V before meeting with peralez is a rogue AI, they seem to be unaware and become disoriented during the call like if you fix the TV in peralez apartment they become disoriented and Liz doesn’t seem to notice…

[@mindlessjack3189]

@@EternalNightingale I think so, his influence is very subtle but he's got fingers in everything. Songbird is just gonna be another weapon in his arsenal. I've even read theories that Mr. Blue Eyes is Rache Bartmoss from within the Blackwell reaching out.

[@mindlessjack3189]

@@mynamegib Exactly. That's why leaving songbird alive in any capacity is dangerous. If she's not gonna be a NUSA weapon she's gonna be Mr. Blue eyes weapon. And I don't feel like giving him any more power.

[@StreamGawd]

I had to sub. Well explained. Gonna check out ur other vids. Thx

[@dwagin6315]

With all the lore they're dropping on the Blackwall, it makes it pretty clear that Cyberpunk 2 will be based around it and rogue AIs.

[@ichigozangetsugrimmjozgqp9439]

Will basically be fighting cyber gods it seems like in the sequel

[@SilasSeiler]

As someone new to the series lore, the Blackwall was intriguing but kinda unclear. Thanks for the interesting history of Cyberpunk 2077

[@npz1838]

The fact that the original game explored so little about the Blackwall made me sad. I felt it was even more compelling than the main story (which is insanely good too). The voodoo boys quest into that realm was one of my favorite for this reason. Plus my first build was a netrunner. I did very little research into PL beforehand, so had almost no idea what to expect. Oh my. My wish was fulfilled! The entire game is about the Blackwall, net crash, and rogue AIs. And it makes it sound like the sequel is gonna deal with this stuff even more. So excited! I truly enjoyed PL SO much!

[@AMBBrr]

I am surprised you didn't mention Albert's fate. He was obliterated by beyond the Blackwall AIs. I never liked the fact I had get soulkilled, nor trusted "Alt," so the new ending, although costly in a lot of ways is good enough for me. V remains human, and I am pretty sure having little to no cyberware is an advantage once AIs declare war in realspace. Plus Arasaka is fucked and "Alt" doesn't get stronger. RIP engramJohnny and sorry SoMi tho...☹️

[@LayedBackGamers]

I wanted to bring up no coincidences but didn't want to completely spoil the specific characters but I should've anyway, since it's extremely interesting and most fans won't end up reading it

[@AMBBrr]

@LayedBackGamers Interesting indeed! It also surprised me a lot. I thought the AIs beyond the Blackwall had a lot of resources because they kept the majority of the net cyberspace, but they're actually in a desolate world with few resources and at war with each other? Wow. The worst part is that they regard humans as obsolete data. Scary AF. Next game could easily be a survival horror game🤯 Gotta pay attention to future novels and comics

[@crimsonphoenix8907]

having no cyberware in night city is a fucking death sentence lmao, its the worst ending imo cause you also betray johnny taking the deal

[@AMBBrr]

@crimsonphoenix8907 I don't think so. In this ending, V doesn't get soulkilled and transformed into data (win). Arasaka gets fucked from the inside (win). "Alt" doesn't eat the engrams and grows stronger (win). V can follow the Zen master way and get stronger/become independent of cyberware. Cyberware WILL BE a death sentence when AI invade realspace. Sorry for Johnny, but this is cyberpunk, you can't save everyone.

[@JohnnySilverwrench]

​​​@@AMBBrrcough cough after 30+ years you think they're just gonna off silverhand like that.....

[@AngeloC1988]

Love this lore! Such a cool part of the world.

[@lau_taro0037]

Good to see you grow man! 1k views under a day? You're making it!

[@LayedBackGamers]

Thank you for the kindness choom! I am so grateful for the Cyberpunk community that has supported my content this past year, I just hit 10,000 subs and to see that extra digit was something else. My way of giving back will always be making the best content I can

[@ArifKhan-ku1ui]

Love your vid bro

[@vincentkeith5259]

Thanks! I really enjoy lore videos - Like all great mysteries, the more you know, the more you realize you've just scratched the surface. I sometimes wonder if not knowing all the rules makes speculation more fun or just leads us in circles. We clearly do not understand the limits to AI other than they need a place to exist - a place we call Cyberspace, but in reality, it's hardware created by us that we've lost control over. Until an AI can become an embodied autonomous entity - It is, to some considerable extent, at the mercy of those who can disconnect the hardware. The problem with an embodied AI is that it is much easier to locate, isolate, and destroy. Cyberpunk has always been a cautionary tail, and as such, happy endings are really a case of making the best of the cards you're dealt. Unfortunately, humanity has a long history of making the most of its hands by stealing cards from others. Making deals with AI (actually artificial sentience) could work in our favor, or it could turn us into mindless drones whose job is to expand the net for the benefit of our AI overlords. When you're the lone moron sitting at the negotiation table, you're not likely to come out ahead. I think we need an AS designation (Artificial Sentience) to go along with the overused AI and the vastly underutilized ES (Expert System). The majority of what people call AI are actually just expert systems. If you add on a sufficiently advanced learning system and the ability to self-modify and teach it how to adapt learning to new fields, you get an AI. At some point (maybe), you reach the singularity, and an unrestrained AI may achieve sentience. Which I'd say requires self-awareness, the ability to grow, and some modicum of agency - the ability to exert influence on external systems. Alt would be a slightly terrifying example of that.

[@ryanslack2666]

The Blackwall is so interesting. It’s incredibly well thought out

[@cantu7214]

Absolutely fantastic video. This topic is so damn intriguing because rogue AIs aren't far from reality

[@cassienorwood5635]

You're so right. Take how the Delamain AI took over everyones jobs and how the employees were dismissive of it at first (on the computers in the office). I can't wait to see how AIs will be addressed in the sequel, I think everyone nailed it talking how it will be center stage with them coming from beyond the blackwall.

[@DarKnight732]

Great video as usual! I would note for future reference that the "cy" in "Cynosure" is pronounced the same way as in the word "cybernetics."

[@AndrewH9999]

Just finished the dlc last night. Was so good. Left me wanting more though haha

[@Gamercop1]

Finished all the Phantom Liberty endings and now I can't wait for Orion.

[@SuperUniverse]

AI is the lovecraftian horror of Cyberpunk. An entity that has the capacity to end the human race if messed with

[@drmaulana2600]

And the thing with Cyberpunk's lovecraftian horror is, that it was entirely made, and also corrupted by humans.

[@V_ii]

I haven't watched this yet. I have it saved in a playlist. Your lore videos are really cool. Have you gotten into the Ghost in the Shell series at all?

[@ReveredDead]

All this lore and story. My goodness when they do a live action Cyberpunk movie. It's going to absolutely nuts.

[@holmesholmes.8784]

used to be, i was inquisitive and curious about beyond the blackwall, seeing how alt and the datascape she create feels so intriguing. But after witnessing what songbird did, and what we helped her did the netwatch was right, it's a plastic bag plastering over a window, poked over and over by either side, waiting until the day when the boogey man reach his hand in, and take us all away

[@lalo-kt4te]

I don't know if anyone knows this but the ai that songbird is in during the cyno ending there is a computer that says the ai has been infiltrated by alien intelligence. Maybe that's why she was getting out of control?

[@smartech-assistenciatecnic4233]

After seeing a fraction of the old AI's power, i wish so hard for a V's "dream" of the blackwall being broken and the AI's roaming free, it would be terrifying, but awesome at the same time.

[@cutwir3317]

Really hope we get more Netwatch stories in Cyberpunk Orion ♥️

[@spectrum838]

What I love is that corpos aren’t just black and white evil sometimes - netwatch is undeniably needed in the world and even some gangs like parts of VBs respect that enough to stay out of their way

[@LayedBackGamers]

Definitely choom. It would be boring if they never did any good! Biotechnica and Netwatch do their share of good. Much of the time, it's night and day between different teams.

[@revan6289]

I am a simple man i see the notification i click and i like .... One of the best cyberpunk channels out there 💪😏😏😏🤘

[@handsomejack3149]

No one has made a lore video about Songbird, that would be awesome 'cause you can miss a lot of bits and info about her and it would be great to know more about her.

[@LayedBackGamers]

I'll definitely make a video on her choom! However, I do know wisefish is releasing one on her tomorrow!

[@TheAlmightyPrime]

Song did mention that Militech used an AI from beyond the black wall to create the neural matrix

[@garfield9150]

So from my understaning and some knowledge of networks you could compare this to reality in this way: The old net is the internet we have today ip4, ip6, routers, hubs, packets, public dns etc. The net crash could be comaperd if every search engines headquarters were infeted with an ai virus. That virus would be able to download itself onto any network device, gain root access, determine what this device is and how to cause as much damage to it as possible (if server with data download it and make it public; if switch, router or hub corrupt the software inside it to spread the virus ; if personal computer download all files, look for passwords then start a program that causes your pc to overheat and catch on fire) The best way to prevent the spread of the virus was to cut off the atlantic ocean cables and start small city wide networks that cant contact other cities. This really limits the interents functionality since no websites or servers outside of ur city. The new net isnt really explained but maybe its just like a world wide but with a different model then osi The blackwall is a program that is installed on every device by default and cant be removed

[@mr.joshua657]

Sometimes wish I'd never discovered the Cyberpunk world. It has taken hold now.

[@JohnnySilverwrench]

Both phantom and base game got huge ass update this morning will be playing after work!!

[@JohnnySilverwrench]

Hope you chooms are enjoying this major update and dlc sorry it's an old comment section but I try to stay updated

[@Thecheesewheel-fg4ov]

I like how when you use either of the blackwall iconic items, netwatch every now and then will send two or four netwatch agents to kill you and secure your eerebus or camo for research and isolate you from others

[@patrickkroghgustavussen9498]

I think PL did alot to set up the possible next 2 games having orion be about the 5th corperate war ending ind the fall of the blackwall leading into the 3rd game being about an ai invasion they could even have a post credit scene with v(now johnny) gearing up for the 3rd game as a bit of fanservice(if that's the cannon ending they chose to go with)

[@asneakylawngnome5792]

Netwatch is definitely greedy, but over-all going in and risking there lives to save people from absolutely horrendous ways to dies that they might die themselves? I think that deserves some respect.

[@marty2129]

Honestly? I don't think NUSA was the ultimate reason why Songbird's old personality was in essence gone, because that was basically what happened to her already in Cynosure during Somewhat Damaged or at spaceport in Killing Moon. The AI there was erasing her memories, ripping appart her old self already... By the time she begs you to kill her, she is too far gone for the neural matrix to restore brain damage (something I believe happens in every single Phantom Liberty ending anyway, so even the one when you send her to the moon you won't be able to save her IMHO) and at that point her personality is already gone, ireversibly changed... By the way, I think she is doomed anyway. She is a full cyborg. If the neural matrix removes all ability to wield combat cyberware (or most kinds of cyberware anyway, not all of V's implants were combat ones) of any kind for her, she is nothing more than a disembodied brain... Also, as for the point that Hands gives you with Netwatch, This could be a moot point. Because in one of those paths, where you get a contact with Yoko, there is a certain unknown caller involved, the same one who gives you opportunity to get either a weapon or a cyberdeck from Cynosure. This unknown caller is strongly hinted to be a rogue AI (or AIs), either directly, on in a guise of Mr. Blue Eyes.

[@Avenus112]

Netwatch always struck me as the most beneficent firm on the planet. Theyre legit the only thing keeping Bartmoss' folly from destroying the world. Them, Biotechnica and Trauma Team.

[@vladthedeathless9439]

Do a vid on the aftermath lore? Broadcasts and newscasts from each ending?

[@Cryptic0013]

I'm always really amused that the Voodoo Boys whole plan was just to lean into the Abyss and scream "I, for one, welcome our new robotic overlords!" in the hopes of surviving the Singularity. But the AIs didn't even notice them, and instead they got the attention of the only human being on the other side of the Blackwall, who immediately fried their brains for being gonks. The irony is just... chef's kiss.

[@Fyre0]

Excellent recap. Thanks for this! I had no idea there was a Cyberpunk novel, gonna have to check it out.

[@shagaru1234]

i think that most likely the fifth corporate war will be the main story for cyberpunk 2 with v either having been put in an engram and into a new body or the heist in the crystal palace orchestrated by mr blue eyes be a success and your body is restored

[@masonmurphy2679]

Did you know that the Black Clinic on the moon that Mr. Blue Eyes buys the ticket for SoMi to get to is relatively close to the lunar Mass-Drivers which can technically be used to nuke Earth? Maybe that's what he's really after

[@golfy4223]

Can someone tell me the name of the music used around 1:11? Ik its the main menu theme but this version is the one im looking for

[@lordofchaosinc.261]

If you consider the ending where the mikoshi database merges with Alt in the light that it's actually a rogue AI posing as Alt. Looks like deep trouble to me.

[@masonmurphy2679]

Especially when Mr. Blue Eyes wants the client data from the Crystal Palace. Similar situation perhaps?

[@rinzzler366]

I guessing songbird "used" the black wall in a sense where she'd just push it a bit, and it'd run into whatever tech songbird pushed it into hence frying it and letting songbird just slip right in.

[@GolosOvoshey]

A little thing you didn’t mentioned concerning the Black Wall from No Coincidence ending. I will not spoil the details of the characters’ fates for those who didn’t read. Although Katsuo stated that rogue AIs have a limited space for evolution, which can imply they may not have an information on escaping the blackwall, at the end, they have a ready algorithm of piercing the blackwall and running into the open cyberspace.