Fans of Cyberpunk 2077 will admire CD Projekt RED's unique vision of Night City and the cyberpunk genre. Essentially, the game does a good job emphasizing the conflict between the sleek megacorporations and the stylish punks of the genre. Moreover, sci-fi fans will relish in the concepts Cyberpunk 2077 introduces from both the original TTRPG and for the sake of the game's story. For instance, Cyberware, Braindances, and even Smart Guns all brought a glimpse of a potential future for modern-day Earth.
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However, it seems Cyberpunk 2077's rather dystopian setting has some semblance with existing technologies. Moreover, some developing technologies may even grow to be just as advanced as Cyberpunk's concepts.
10 Smart Clothes (Fashion)
Style is everything in Cyberpunk’s dystopian future. In 2077, Night City’s citizens can subscribe to one of four primary fashion styles - style-focused Kitsch, function-heavy Entropism, slick and classy Neomilitarism, and the heavily-fancy Neo-Kitsch.
However, players might get more fascinated to realize that the real world actually has some form of smart fashion. These smart clothes integrate technology in various types of clothing. For instance, brands have been developing smart work clothes that can unlock phones, exchange digital contacts, and interact with other gear. Moreover, modern smart activewear regularly records fitness activity on various apps. Smaller items such as smart socks can even detect which parts of the feet get the most pressure during jogging!
9 Social Credit System (Lifepath)
Players declare their life as cyberpunk in Cyberpunk 2077 courtesy of a Lifepath. Characters can become the independent Nomad, the (in)famous Street Kid, or the business-savvy Corpo. Players start at the bottom and, if they’re lucky, make their way to the top - and numbers such as money declare one’s social status.
In the real world, things are also becoming more numbers-oriented. China, in particular, is currently testing various forms of a Social Credit System much to the concern of the modern geopolitical world. Essentially, the concept plans on using various technologies (e.g., Big Data, AI, and Facial Recognition) to form a national records system that can help determine a citizens’ social standing. Some versions of the System include placing a numerical score that can be “enhanced” or “deducted” depending on the behavior - something remotely dystopian, and something that might force a labeling of citizens akin to a Lifepath.
8 Chatbots, Smart Assistants (AI)
The world of Cyberpunk 2077 includes artificial intelligence (AI), each designed to do specific tasks. These range from Dedicated Heuristic Controllers with specific tasks such as driving Delamain taxis, to the more human-like Symbolic Analysis AIs. The latter seems more notable, as some Symbolic Analysis AIs use the brain patterns of the recently-deceased to mimic a human’s thinking patterns.
The story of Cyberpunk 2077 eventually explores the moral debate of what can make an AI “truly free.” However, humans might soon encounter the same dilemma thanks to more advanced chatbots and smart assistants. Modern assistants such as Apple’s Siri, Samsung’s Bixby, and Amazon’s Alexa have slowly upgraded to be more intuitive and compatible with various smart devices. Soon, with enough information, AI may be programmed to mimic even human behavior and speech patterns.
7 Brain-Computer Interfaces (The Net)
Thanks to cybernetics and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), almost everyone can interface with The Net. This sophisticated webspace, in Cyberpunk 2077, is converted into a more “visual-friendly” format for the human mind. In the world of Cyberpunk, highly-skilled Netrunners can hack not just security systems, but also cybernetically-enhanced individuals. If it has an interface, Netrunners can hack it.
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Interestingly, the idea of BCIs has started to lean away from sci-fi and more into reality. Modern applications of BCIs include using brain waves to operate prostheses or even do simple computer operations. However, Valve’s Gabe Newell envisions the use of BCIs to revolutionize gaming, while Elon Musk’s Neuralink has begun working on BCIs to make smart gadgets operable by the human mind.
6 Virtual Reality Applications (Braindance)
Style is everything in the world of Cyberpunk, and people can further customize their experience with a Braindance (BD) - a personalized virtual reality. Unlike the more interconnected aspects of Cyberpunk’s virtual world of the Net, a BD has more contained experiences.
Interestingly, the world of virtual reality today doesn’t just apply to gaming anymore. Modern applications of virtual reality also include therapy (e.g. to help deal with phobias), military (e.g., to help with battle simulations), or even personal experiences. Thanks to modern VR software like Google VR Tour Creator or InstaVR, even artists and amateurs can create VR-compatible worlds for people and fellow gamers to explore.
5 Augmented Reality Software (Trouble In Heywood, AR Shooter)
Players of Cyberpunk 2077 can tap into their inner child and play a more futuristic version of cops-versus-gangsters in an AR game called “Trouble in Heywood.” When playing the game, players (in the form of V) wear a special headset that “transforms” the visuals of players into the aesthetics of the game. In the real world, AR has begun to be more prevalent in both games and beyond.
For instance, Pokemon GO peaked at around 45-million players as the AR game took the world by storm. In this game, players can use their smartphone’s camera to “capture” Pokemon integrated into the background. Similar AR applications include embedding interactive content in marketing materials, or even educational materials.
4 Improved Prosthetic Limbs (Mantis Blades)
Fans of Cyberpunk 2077 relished in the fact of eliminating enemies with the Mantis Blades - a pair of menacing blades inside arms from the game’s trailer. The Mantis Blades reflect the prominence of prosthetic limbs in the Cyberpunk universe. However, while prosthetic limbs with weapons still don’t exist in the modern world, developers do continue to make strides in enhancing modern prostheses.
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For instance, the DEKA Research and Development Corporation developed the LUKE Arm system for the United States’ DARPA. Essentially, the LUKE Arm system is a massive development compared to usual prostheses. It system uses a simple yet intuitive system to provide users control with multiple limbs. These new prosthetics hope to add a new degree of motion, strength, and dexterity to military personnel who need them.
3 Microchips, Cybernetics (Cyberware)
In Cyberpunk’s dystopian future, more Cyberware meant more capabilities - which meant better work and better survivability in harsh Night City. Aside from limbs, players can put Cyberware in V’s body and internal organs, often including combat enhancements. In the TTRPG, these Cyberware also include creature comfort components, such as easier access to the Net.
In real life, prosthetics serve as the closest people have to Cyberware. Moreover, some of the most “advanced” forms of anything invasive include special-purpose microchips. For instance, as of 2018, thousands of Swedes have installed rice grain-sized microchips into their hands. These now allow them to access their offices, homes, and other amenities via a reader. Some of these chips even integrate online payments to them, removing the need to carry any currency.
2 Precision-Guided Munitions (Smart Guns)
Gameplay-wise, players can tap into Power (normal) guns, Tech (charge) guns, and Smart (programmable) guns that encourage them to have a more tactical approach to combat. Interestingly, it’s the notion of Smart guns that might have some players intrigued. After all, users in 2077 can now “program” Smart guns to have different effects in different situations.
However, Smart guns in 2077 actually have an equivalent in the real world. Modern militaries nowadays use and continue to improve upon something called Precision-Guided Munitions (PGMs). Essentially, manufacturers designed PGMs to strike predetermined targets - minimizing collateral damage and unnecessary casualties. Current iterations of PGMs integrate various guidance systems with computer systems to accurately strike their determined targets.
1 Cyberwarfare (Black Programs)
Thanks to the Net, Cyberpunk 2077’s dystopian setting allowed mercenaries to fight a revolution on two fronts: the physical space, and the Net. Moreover, with skilled Netrunners, mercenaries can launch Black Programs or malware specifically designed to cripple various Cyberware and other technologies.
Interestingly, a lot of experts have declared cyberwarfare as the “new norm” when it comes to modern global conflicts. Cyberattacks against corporations and even governments have been common these past few years. Moreover, aside from direct offenses with malware, some programs have been used to actively spy on individuals or groups and even manipulate global events. These include backlash against government and corporate surveillance (e.g., Facebook with Cambridge Analytica).
