CD Projekt Red is Using NPC Routines to Build Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City to Feel Alive
Thus far, fans have seen naught but in-game screenshots, concept art, and a story trailer for Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt Red is keeping actual gameplay footage carefully under wraps; the studio has now screened two gameplay demos, one at E3 and one at Gamescom. In both cases, however, only select audiences from the media and other gaming companies were able to attend. In a recent interview with VG24/7, however, producer Richard Borzymowski gave fans some insight into what they can expect to find in the Cyberpunk 2077 setting of Night City.
The Cyberpunk 2077 Setting of Night City
The Cyberpunk 2077 story trailer, released at E3, gave fans their first real look at Night City; the corporate-controlled Californian mega-city. However, fans still don’t know what walking the city’s crowded streets will look like in-game. According to Richard Borzymowski, CD Projekt Red is building the city around realistic routines; “Our community is based around routines,” he explains; “In certain parts of the city there are communities set up, they have their routines and they behave differently during the day and night. Districts that might be very lively during the day might be very empty during the night, which might influence you going there because there might be some other guys going around. You have to constantly think about what you’re doing at what time.”
While The Witcher III: Wild Hunt featured elements like this, it sounds as though Cyberpunk 2077 will go far further. The city of Novigrad felt like a realistic city, but Night City is far, far larger. Not to mention that CD Projekt Red has vehicles to contend with now too. “Some people are [shopping] for groceries, calling people, etc.” continues Borzymowski; “We aim for a realistic city. To create a realistic city environment, you need the blood of the city which is the population, otherwise it would feel empty.”