In a recent interview with GamesRadar, Lead Quest Designer Danisz Markiewicz confirmed that the Patch 2.1 update for Cyberpunk 2077 did more than just make the metro system usable. The developers at CD Projekt Red aimed to immerse players in the world of Night City and offer a new perspective of the city. It turns out this metro system is part of the action.
According to an interview, Markiewicz recognized that Night City offers different transportation options, such as cars, motorcycles, and fast travel points. The introduction of NCART (Night City Area Rapid Transit) added some more roleplaying elements. In the NCART, players can choose to stand or sit and enjoy the scenery through the windows, creating a more immersive experience.
According to Markiewicz, the train carriages feature various animations and interactions designed to encourage roleplay. The developers took inspiration from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners to capture the essence of Night City and its inhabitants. This resulted in features such as full integration with the Radioport media player and a specific train line designed for uninterrupted travel while listening to music.
The city of Night City is divided into different districts, each with its own personality. The NCART system reflects this diversity by providing a comprehensive network of lines that cover all these major areas. With five lines, getting around the Night City underground is similar to real-world subway systems, such as the London Underground, which inspired the developers.
“Game lore was also a consideration, of which Line C is a perfect example. If you look at the map, it’s very short and even odd at first glance, connecting Corporate Plaza with Pacifica, two very unlikely destinations. Until you consider Kurt Hansen, the de facto ruler of Dogtown [in the Phantom Liberty expansion], and his influence and connections. If not for Hansen, this line and probably the entire Pacifica station would be shut down.”
Danisz Markiewicz
Markiewicz explained that the team used their own experiences to design the in-train atmosphere. They gathered moments observed on subways worldwide. This includes places like Warsaw, London, Berlin, and Los Angeles. These real-life experiences were incorporated into the game, presenting various interactions and scenes. For instance, there is a well-known scenario called the “creepy stare,” where a passenger’s unsettling gaze makes the player feel uneasy.
While the NCART stations and tracks were already part of the Night City map, creating a working metro system posed its own challenges. According to Markiewicz, the main difficulty was setting up a network of lines that would be convenient for players and believable for Night City residents. This required strategically adding new tracks and expanding existing stations like Corporate Plaza to ensure smooth travel within the city.
The city’s lore significantly influenced the metro system in Night City. For example, Line C connects the corporate hub of Corporate Plaza with the volatile Pacifica district, which may seem illogical at first. However, this connection is explained by the influence of Kurt Hansen, the ruler of Dogtown in Pacifica.
It’s crazy how much detail went into a system that most people ignore. However, for those who want to immerse themselves fully, this is really cool and appreciated.
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