Cyberpunk: Night City Deep Dive (History, Gangs, Neighborhoods)

Night City, the City of Dreams... You would be hard pressed to find a better exemplar of the dark future of corporate excess and rampant criminality. Night City has an expansive history starting with utopian ideals and going through two wars that left great impacts on its people. This video will seek to explore that history with special deep dives into the Night City of 2020, 2045, and 2077.
Sources:
Night City, City Sourcebook for Cyberpunk (Supplementary Sourcebook for Cyberpunk 2020 TTRPG)
Cyberpunk RED (Core Rule Book for Cyberpunk RED TTRPG)
Cyberpunk 2077 (Video Game)
The World of Cyberpunk 2077 (Lore Book for Cyberpunk 2077 Video Game)
Music Used (All from Cyberpunk 2077, OST or Radio Tracks):
0:00-2:41 - "r e l - Night City"
2:42-11:06 - "Bells of Laguna Bend"
11:07-15:33 - "The Streets Are Long-Ass"
15:34-18:26 - "Tower Lockdown"
18:27-20:48 - "Bells of Laguna Bend"
20:49-21:07 - "Atlantis"
21:08-32:34 - "Scavenger Hunt"
32:35-52:33 - "The Streets Are Long-Ass"
52:34-1:10:18 - "Friday Night Firefight"
1:10:19-1:21:46 - "Extraction Action"
1:21:47-1:29:49 - "Hanako & Yorinobu"
1:29:50-1:43:30 - "Atlantis"
1:43:31-1:52:02 - "Outsider No More"
1:52:03-1:55:05 -- "Selva Pulsátil"
1:55:06-2:02:03 - "Night City Aliens"
2:02:04-2:05:31 - "Bells of Laguna Bend"
2:05:32-2:09:51 - "Atlantis"
2:09:53-2:11:44 - "BM"
2:11:45-2:14:16 - "V"
2:14:17-2:18:56 - "There's Gonna Be A Parade!"
2:18:57-2:20:59 - "Urban Downunder"
2:21:00-2:33:50 - "Modern Anthill"
2:33:51-2:35:14 - "On My Way to Hell"
2:35:15-2:36:37 - "Wushu Dolls"
2:36:38-2:38:19 - "When It's War"
2:38:20-2:39:57 - "Night City Aliens"
2:39:58-2:41:33 - "Dinero (feat. Cerbeus)"
2:41:34-2:43:26 - "No Save Point"
2:43:27-2:45:19 - "Hole in the Sun (feat. COS & Conway)"
2:45:20-2:47:30 - "To Hell and Back"
2:47:37-2:49:22 - "I Really Want to Stay at Your House"
Intro: (0:00)
One Man’s Dream...: (1:16)
Coronado City (1994-1998): (6:26)
Mob Rule (1998-2011): (11:33)
Corporate Takeover (2012-2020): (17:37)
2020: The Cyberpunk Golden Age: (20:48)
The Fourth Corporate War (2021-2023): (1:10:40)
Survival & Recovery (2023-2045): (1:21:48)
2045: In the Time of the Red: (1:29:49)
Reborn & Rebuilt (2046-2069): (2:02:03)
The Unification War (2069-2070): (2:05:32)
Independence (2070-2077): (2:09:51)
2077: A New Corporate Era: (2:11:44)
Outro: (2:47:46)

[@WatchmanGamingLore]

Dogtown video out now: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3fKfp59q5qJgbc

[@chesterstevens8870]

It's wild to think that all these stories we hear about now, like Bartmoss nuking the old net and Morgan Blackhand declaring war on Arasaka, are all the result of Mike Pondsmith and his friends playing a tabletop game almost half a century ago.

[@mort7987]

The lore for this entire series is sooo insanely cool and so much content. Mike sure has a great fantasy and knows a thing or two about worldbuilding

[@nicolasoliveira4903]

​@@mort7987 Theres any chance we get another game like that? Dont need to be 2077, but another year in that universe.

[@mort7987]

@@nicolasoliveira4903 I mean, everything is possible. if a studio wants to do a game I'm sure there will be a way for them to develop it. But since 2077 kind of flopped i am not sure if there will be any games similar to 2077

[@dentistrygt4946]

​@@mort7987 sounds like you'll be surprised how successful cyberpunk actually was financially. In the first week of release it had made over 500 million euros of profit. The reputation wasn't great but I think it's image has been improved a lot now. Defo more to come from the series

[@ArdalanKian]

@@dentistrygt4946 Right! What was a flop was CDPRs ruined brand image and trust. They did a good job of redeeming themselves. As long as there isn't another huge breach of trust/blunder, I think the Cyberpunk IP is something they will absolutely continue to invest in big time.

[@novacaine_]

It is truly staggering how so much lore has been produced for Cyberpunk, it's a rich world... You did a fantastic job putting this together.

[@joshuaosiris]

You know it's been around since the 80s?

[@LordofSyn]

I highly implore you to get into the tabletop game. It has existed for almost 40 years but you really only need Cyberpunk Red and can find sourcebooks for the older editions. They don't need much to adjust for the newer system and you will have years of stories to tell. O7

[@zavk157]

😊😊😊😊q

[@antonbrandell723]

@@LordofSyn qq

[@LordofSyn]

@@antonbrandell723 Don't cry, dry your eye.

[@CaidicusProductions]

This came up automatically, while I was sleeping in front of my TV. I'm a light sleeper, and generally, whatever I'm listening to gets incorporated into my dreams. Needless to say, I had some pretty awesome dreams while listening to the entirety of your presentation. I really appreciate the work you put into this presentation, it was fantastic.

[@damndatscrazyyy940]

Damn wish I could do that too

[@Wooksley]

Damn I wish I could do that… as well

[@damo905]

Damn i wish i could do that……..

[@CaidicusProductions]

@@damo905 I think it started happening more and more often the more I "daydreamed" while falling asleep. Each time I go to bed, or take a nap, I start imagining things the way I'd like to dream them. I do this each night or day, each time I close my eyes for a break, basically. I play in my mind. I guess my brain just started making me remember my dreams, not to mention make me aware I'm dreaming while I'm dreaming, because this and my "daydreaming" are so similar, I'm more ME when I'm dreaming than I used to be. To make that make more sense, I think the reason we often can't remember our dreams is because our dreams are so different and disconnected from our waking lives that our brain automatically deletes any memory or severs the connection as soon as we wake up. The brain says "this is this, and that is that, totally unrelated, no need to bother you with that information." That's how it normally works, I think. So, by intentionally basically manually dreaming the way I want to dream, as soon as I close my eyes, there's less of a clear boundary between the two (or more) me's. I hope that makes sense. I definitely do this (from my original comment) a LOT more, after starting manual dreaming, a lot more than I ever have before. It's a super common occurrence for me now, while it wasn't common at all for me, before.

[@Blackfire_2022]

Damn....

[@javierburgos9975]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't know how much time you saved me. This helped me fill in the gaps in my main hook for the Cyberpunk Red campaign I'm preping. Thank you

[@WatchmanGamingLore]

Glad it helped!

[@hectorlopez9453]

Hows that going??

[@DaichiTheBrawler]

Ooohhh how IS that going?

[@mekaibowen8262]

Yes yes!! How is THAT going??? Good luck!

[@jarredlucas4000]

@@mekaibowen8262 yoooo how is that GOING?

[@BrandonJXN2]

Thank God for wireless earbuds. I'm cleaning up my apartment and this video is essential listening. I absolutely love the lore of Cyberpunk 2077. Thank you for this incredible video.

[@ZEROZEX-yf2gp]

YESSS CYBER CLEANERS UNITE

[@jackfoxx6351]

Same plus i love this guy's voice and audio equipment.😊

[@mekaibowen8262]

I'm listening at work!! Gotta love long form videos like this to listen to while being productive.

[@Vkiller711]

@@mekaibowen8262 work gang lmaooo

[@joshuaosiris]

It Cyberpunk 2013, 2020, Cyberpunk RED, and 2077. I can't stand when someone say they love something, yet know nothing about it.

[@whowhatwhydoyouknow]

I love pondsmiths cyberpunk. It’s so extremely interesting. I found it at a time where I was really low and I connected with the empty cynical cyberpunk world which was also so alive and vibrant and aesthetically beautiful. The fiction we saw as kids just doesn’t feel relatable or interesting anymore, It feels childish. Cyberpunk is one of the mediums that feels real like it could be the future for our children or maybe even late in our lives. It reminds us of the high stakes environment we faced in medieval and prehistoric times which we are so attracted to including in apocalypse shows and such. And cyberpunk doesn’t mincemeat the gruesome details In how society works. So it feels relatable. Edge runners was so good and ever since the game came out I already knew the world had huge potential for a show. I really hope there’s another cyberpunk show with new characters. I’ll admit though I can only think about cyberpunk for so long until it gets to dark. But it’s one of the only few fictional universes I’m actually interested in.

[@veryrare2337]

ive never resonated so much with a comment before

[@davidponder1654]

Especially since alot of cyberpunk lore is just what happened while pondsmith and his group were playing the game

[@nuh-uhbro765]

This comment was perfectly said 👌 I’m still in the beginning of my first play through, still haven’t seen the anime, and I’ve never been so fascinated by lore in a game.

[@Elyseon]

It's definitely not a future to aspire to, though, unless you're a nihilist or a psycho.

[@ShunyShock]

An exaggeration of current reality is always most satisfying to our ape like brains.

[@adidasbhoy8212]

My big brother always had the cyberpunk table top books lying around I would used to flick through them as kid. The cyberpunk night city universe is so well built. It becoming a video game was inevitable. Loved the video 💚

[@zachhewitt767]

Was your bro excited when he heard there was a cyberpunk video game?

[@radicallybean]

yeah, how did you brother react to them announcing a video game about it?

[@nottoofast]

Come on, choom. Ya gotta tell us how your brother felt about the game coming out.

[@adidasbhoy8212]

Sup choomas, he loved it especially how CDPR stayed turn to the source material in how utter dark the world is. Men, women, children all being exploited beyond the realms of humanity

[@HCG]

I have insomnia and this video has helped me fall asleep countless times. Your voice is quite relaxing and the fact that you don’t use loud music or sound effects is appreciated. Looking forward to more hopefully

[@cloudmane4159]

Yea i was out in under 2 mins

[@BenignAndaHalf]

Just what he wants to hear, that you use his videos to fall asleep.

[@skullingtonfx4441]

​@@BenignAndaHalfit's soothing and gives him good watch time numbers. Win for everyone!

[@HazyJ28]

CDPR and Mike Pondsmith did a really good job keeping retcons to a minimum. Not an easy thing for an almost 50 year old IP. Anyway, great video. 🎉

[@crysiscontained4421]

It's a very easy thing to do...READ THE SOURCE MATERIAL (Even if you wrote it, read it so you remember what you wrote)

[@joshuaosiris]

Dude, it come out in 88 you got some bad math there.

[@starpaladinnelaj]

Incredible video dude! This is my favorite Cyberpunk lore channel! I'd love to see you cover the Sourcebooks that discuss the lore of Asia, Europe, etc. I can't get enough of this universe and your narration of it

[@elperrodelautumo7511]

Well someone said that the EuroSource ain’t the best Cyberpunk course book.

[@shanehudson5438]

I need to see some lore on asia and europe

[@fidanza8109]

For someone who's fallen in love with this game, this was fascinatingly entertaining to watch! felt like I was really watching an actual documentary of a made up/fictional city and it's history! I can only imagine the level of work and dedication this must have taken!

[@chrispysaid]

You DID watch an actual documentary of a made-up/fictional city and its history.

[@cybercruxz]

This was an excellent history!! Many thanks. I would love for you to do more long form lore on main NPCs such as Silverhand, Blackhand, Rogue. Also, love a similar treatment covering Europe, Asia, Africa and space

[@jackfoxx6351]

Adam smasher please

[@TheCorybonuaf]

I have to admit, I’ve watched a lot of different “deep dives “into cyberpunk. This has to be by far the best one I have seen and it has set the bar for all other videos I will watch of this type of Contant. Good job.

[@SpicyHerbz]

This deserves SOOO much more view. Beautifully done my friend.

[@commodorecommodore]

My god that was an excellent vid. I know this must've taken a tonne of work, but it's the best long form cyberpunk lore video I've seen! Hope you do more on the topic when you feel ready!

[@perryjohnson3801]

Can’t wait for more of your Cyberpunk content! It’s definitely some of the best Cyberpunk 2077 universe lore on this platform

[@skipj5480]

Wow, it’s scary how accurate this could be in real life. In many developing countries crime is as plentiful as described in this game. In California the homelessness has become just as crazy. I hope policy makers can use night cities stories to avoid this possible future. If not, I guess a career as a bounty hunter might be doable.

[@blackbettys]

It’s a lot closer than you think. There’s a corporate twin being built in Arizona we have ai. And ar technology in fast development along with the neurolink and we already got exo skeletons in use. It’s all around the corner lad

[@foximacentauri7891]

@@blackbettyswe’re not even remotely close to the tec or the political situation in cyberpunk. AI is greatly exaggerated by people who have no Idea what they’re talking about, and neurolink is barely in its infancy, otherwise you‘d see more cooperate interest in it. The closest where we are to cyberpunk is that corporations get more and more influence and we’re not stopping them.

[@BenignAndaHalf]

In order to keep corporate influence to a minimum we need a government FOR the people, which we don’t have. The demoncrat scourge push the evil “progressive” agenda meant to use simple minded leftists and corrupt our youth. Not to say the Republicans are much better, but the first step is removing the scourge from power completely and permanently before turning our attention to the spineless republicans.

[@greysnake2903]

This is the way

[@skullingtonfx4441]

​@@foximacentauri7891ads being everywhere is already happening. Don't think corps will have wars soon but I guess PMCs are still in their infancy like AI

[@GugaSomething]

Super glad you didn’t cut out any details. Awesome work. I bet it took you a lot of time and work to get this done.

[@halloweye4613]

Your content is preem choomba! I've watched each of your cyberpunk vids several times now. Thanks for giving cyberpunk the quality content it deserves!

[@callanbarclay1248]

This choom is nova

[@pftheflyer]

I come back to this video almost every other week when I’m in need of listening to something while I work. Great video!

[@mannotter]

I've been waiting for a comprehensive video like this since the game released. Thanks for your hard work 👍

[@ravendelacour1917]

Well done. As an old school Cyberpunk TTRPG player, I appreciate the level of detail you presented here. Made me nostalgic for some of my first tabletop game sessions.

[@MariShowsLove]

Just discovered you and I have to say this was the BEST video that presented a thorough timeline of events in the Cyberpunk universe. Thank you!

[@purplepioneer5644]

You make by far the best cyberpunk lore videos on KZbin. I loved the details!

[@VioletW00885428]

This is seriously so well done. Would love to see more long form videos like this!

[@codedniche3263]

Love Cyberpunk and know pretty much everything there’s to know but I still watched the whole video lmao, this was excellent. Thank you for putting this together choom.

[@TheDrummerfreak79]

Awesome video! Seriously, the time you took to make it is incredible. It's definitely gonna make my new 2077 run even more immersive!

[@adipradanat.r.8770]

Congratulations!, we'll be waiting for the review

[@nekdo_kavc]

I love that you made this video and that it is as long as it is; really appreciate you did not cut the detail.

[@Gyrfalcon312]

The sheer amount of worldbuilding involved here... and your patience/ perseverance to recount it all! Knocked me out; this is... my third relisten, haha!

[@Abp.Mars-Assembly]

Wow, well done. I have viewed allot of Cyberpunk essay videos but non are so comprehensive and straight to the point like this one. I would say Madqueen Show is very expansive, but this one was a very comprehensive lecture. Nothing pretentious or comercialized. Minimal conjecture and just straight literature. Very replayable video. I wish I could play every version of Cyberpunk and take in the moment. Cyberpunk is just so unique and incredibly in depth. Mike Pondsmith is a mastermind!

[@aceofhearts9928]

Thank god for you making this. There is a criminal lack of lore videos on cyberpunk pre 2077. So thank you much and please please keep it. Your making my GM life so much easier!

[@EdgarMHernandez96]

By far best vid I've seen on this subject

[@alexzandernite7864]

This Was Great You Did A Fantastic Job Oh & I Didn't Mind This Being Long....Thx Yes Do Some More!

[@polaraix]

Amazing video! Loved listening to it whilst grinding out my levels in Cyberpunk 2077

[@helixform]

Awesome video, I really enjoy these Cyberpunk lore videos and this is one of the best, please continue making these!!!

[@thekkidd3d]

Great video, really appreciate the details and carrying the threads through the full timeline. Hope to see more like this!

[@woody4779]

Actually incredible video. Thanks!

[@Jomoko89]

Thank you for producing this video!

[@keithpharoah6110]

This was an immense and impressive undertaking. Respect and thank you.

[@jamesjay11]

Been waiting for you to drop more content. Keep up the amazing work my friend.

[@jonnythedemon]

I work some of my shifts as a prep cook and i cannot tell you how many times i have listened to this end to end. Great work!

[@derekcarner4940]

fantastic job. extremely informative. thank you!

[@fatal9109]

This is really fun to listen to, you're very underrated, my friend

[@z3122]

Awesome vid! May you feel better soon.

[@simergoth]

Wow! Thank you so much for this great video! The amount of effort in research on all of this is amazing!

[@angelyarelescobedo417]

Video was effin awesome man Keep up the great work

[@jamescrawley7993]

What a "blessing" this video deep dive is, because I am currently playing Cyberpunk, and it helps finding the different areas in Night City and everything! Thanks!

[@IIARROWS]

Thank you for your work, coming from 2020 a long time ago, waiting for 3 years for playing 2077 videogame (for various reasons, from not being interested in a videogame having experience with the original and discovering how good it was setting wise, to waiting for bugfixes, then the expansion). Really appreciated, you deserve more public.

[@JimnyVR5]

Glued to the screen for 3 hours - good work man :)

[@Wintermist-SWE]

Awesome video, watched it in one go :D Thanks for the effort!

[@lostferwords5650]

Amazing video great work, really enjoyed it thank you

[@azura7253]

Wow. This was incredible. I can’t even imagine how much work this was to put together. Thank you!

[@thatdamnpunk]

Love the detail. Can't wait for your deep dive into Dogtown!

[@shyboievris834]

i woke up to this playing and do NOT regret letting this play completely. amazing documentation

[@robertsharp1511]

this has been extremely enlightening. awesome vid.

[@jessicaschoen6647]

This was fantastic. I've been digging for lore videos on the Cyberpunk setting to prime myself for running a TTRPG in Night City. You made an engaging and interesting lore video, thank you.

[@hofferification]

Man, this was awesome! Super informative background on Night City and the periods leading up to the 2077 game release. Having all this history is making playing through the game even more fun. Subscribed and looking forward to more of your content!

[@raymondcarire5918]

Great vid. Keep up the good work. Love listening to it while I'm playing and grinding. Can't wait for the DLC.

[@OsirisMalkovich]

This is an invaluable resource! Thank you for this monumental video!

[@davidfilus1741]

I love cyberpunk and its lore and this video was amazing. Thank you for making it!

[@beargenxgm]

Great stuff! Very well done chombatta!😊

[@metzgerov]

This is simply amazing and so well done, thank you!!

[@phantomog8457]

This video was incredible, thank you for making this.

[@Lintary]

Had to watch it in batches, but great overview, learned quite a few things from it about the universe.

[@andyjezek8116]

great job man, compiling this much info at once is insane to think about. Hope you make more content like this in the future!

[@TimoCruz177]

this is probably the best piece of lore I've ever found about cyberpunk. I would gladly watch another hour of this with no problem. PS: very mean of you to end the video with "I really want to stay at your house" I haven't fully recovered from Edgerunners yet despite having watched that show on release

[@nevengrossman9713]

This video was fantastic man! Good job!

[@olivierdemontigny-papier7149]

I absolutely loved this! Fantastic content, and delivery.

[@DougJessee]

Awesome deep dive into the Lore! I have been playing Cyberpunk since the late 80s.

[@themightyant3670]

My first time on this channel and highly satisfied/recommended. Today I sub

[@LouisianaAstroRambler]

Awesome video bud, you did one hell of a job explaining all of that

[@arkhamknight050playz8]

This video is absolutely stellar. I'm running a Cyberpunk tabletop session soon based around 2020 using RED (Party wished to be in the age of 'legends') so amazing stuff and super helpful!

[@dante6605]

on my 3rd rewatch and still catching things i missed. thank you!

[@Sesheyan101]

This was some amazing work, very well done, I enjoyed this immensely.

[@giant4331]

I love this new stuff, I never knew there was so much more to the Cyberpunk history.

[@thatbeme22]

I’m so glad I found this video!!! You have a very good voice for this format! This is giving me inspiration for role play for my many future play throughs for Cyberpunk 2077! Thanks!!

[@thegreatfulgamer5749]

Fantastic video I appreciate the time and effort that you put into this amazing stuff, keep it up

[@linus.catch.the.sinus.1022]

Awesome video!! Thanks for that ❤

[@stephenjenkins956]

Thanks, man. Really well researched and entertaining video. Cheers!

[@ScudLance]

This was dope. Please do more!

[@veryuncoolguy8045]

Amazing video, the best cyberpunk lore video on KZbin in my opinion. Keep up the good work!

[@jamesbolho]

First time i saw such a big video, this was awesome. Very well done indeed.

[@ElementalAlchemy]

First of all, this is a phenomenal video. I love it. Also, jokes on you, I love long form content. Honestly, the almost 3 hour timestamp is what drew me in. I think it would have been a bit of a disservice do have done it shorter. Thanks for the hard effort, mate. It's greatly appreciated.

[@Undeadwilly13]

Great video man! Thank you for your work brother! Keep up the great work!

[@WaptugOrg]

Great job. Keep it up. Love your work. Spent the last 3 days watching it in bits as I had time. Finished it up Thanksgiving night 2023. Motovating me to get my Dog Town update soon.

[@harlevinlp]

Great video and nicely narrated, I'm going to check out your other videos.

[@ryotarodojima2556]

This video keeps playing after any video i watch lmao. U did a damn good job

[@brettrichards4048]

Dude this video is fucking amazing. My current D&D campaign is coming to an end and I've been looking to run a Red campaign and your video organizing the lore by time periods and going into districts and factions is an absolute gold mine. But also, including that song at very end 😢. Come on, can't have me crying at my desk like that.

[@ZRFehr]

Red is super fun to run, did you ever start your game?

[@Gyrfalcon312]

Hopefully, you weren't trying to drink wine while the song was playing. 😁

[@FUD1337]

This was a great listen to the lore of the CyberPunk universe, thanks.

[@soyboy_NPC]

finnished the video. my experience with the game and the tv series is so different so much immersing. Thanks for your hard work

[@kairuw6477]

First video of yours I have seen. I am impressed and would love more like this. Subscribing!

[@SnepSnep420]

This video was amazing. Finished it entirely. such an in depth and detailed world

[@churchillomondi4423]

Loved the Lore my friend really educative and Entertaining

[@D3DM4N007]

I am a brand new player in CP2077. Just started today. Played for 5-6 hrs. Now listening through this video at my work. Its playing such a critical role to immerse me into the game. Thanks so much

[@rookbwater]

Id throw in the anime edgerunner too it help me get more into the game

[@sorrenblitz805]

​@@rookbwater Edgerunners is great but I don't think it really helps with immersion, at least it doesn't for me.

[@sorrenblitz805]

Nothing gets more immersive for me in the game than driving through the streets at night in Night City listening to the radio.

[@SunShine-hn7qk]

Welcome to nite city choom, I recommend you do all side gigs before meeting takemura or judy after the intro. Getting as much street cred and exp as possible before main story’s and getting ur stats like technical And intelligence up to like 15 So you can always have access to short cuts/ hidden paths. Physical strength also open paths. Those 3 skills really come in handy for me, keep iconic weapons(maybe in the trunk) idk why yet but that’s what a friend told me.

[@Nightc1tyronin]

@@sorrenblitz805I mean, it’s cannon to the franchise. It also has a connected quest, weapons, shards, small easter eggs and jacket from the anime.

[@peacewalker4058]

No way this video has less than 10k views. I thought this had like a million views as i watched it on an off throughout the week. Excellent compilation of lore.

[@iMAmAllTheAbove]

Best cyberpunk video I have watched. I can’t wait for the next installment.

[@brotherberevius2098]

You just saved me and my players a bunch of context searching. I appreciate it 🙂

[@JennyM4trix]

Just found this the other day, and am definitely a long form content enjoyer. I loved it! Now to watch your other videos ^-^