Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (サイバーパンク エッジランナーズ) is a cyberpunk original net animated (ONA) miniseries based on the video game Cyberpunk 2077 by Polish studio CD Projekt Red.[2] Produced by the Japanese animation studio Trigger under the supervision of CD Projekt, it premiered on Netflix in September 2022.[3] Set in the Cyberpunk universe created by Mike Pondsmith, the anime serves as a prequel to the game and takes place about a year before the events of Cyberpunk 2077.

Upon its release, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners received critical acclaim, with praise directed at its characters, animation, and worldbuilding.[4] A standalone sequel series, titled Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, was announced in July 2025.

Premise

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is set in Night City, a self-reliant metropolis located in the former state of California, within the location of the former Morro Bay, that suffers from extensive corruption, cybernetic addiction, and gang violence. The city is split into six districts, each of which has its own precise living requirements, and is controlled by several megacorporations, including Arasaka and its rival Militech. The anime's story is primarily set in Santo Domingo, the oldest, poorest, and most industrial district of Night City, and takes place in 2076. The story follows an impulsive but talented street kid named David Martinez, who, after losing everything he has in a drive-by shooting, chooses to survive on the wrong side of the law as an "edgerunner": a high-tech, black-market mercenary also known as a "cyberpunk".

Characters

• David Martinez (デイビッド・マルティネス)
• A Latino American teenager who is a top student at the prestigious Arasaka Academy. Because he comes from a very poor family, he is relentlessly bullied by his classmates and feels like he does not belong at school. A sudden and devastating tragedy leads him to abandon his education and puts him on the path to becoming an edgerunner.
• Lucyna "Lucy" Kushinada (ルーシー)
• A young and mysterious netrunner who becomes romantically involved with David and introduces him to the criminal underworld of Night City. She has a particular hatred towards Arasaka and dreams of traveling to the Moon.
• Maine (メイン)
• A veteran edgerunner who commands his own crew. He is one of Gloria's clients and allows David to join the crew under his guidance.
• Dorio (ドリオ)
• Maine's girlfriend and second-in-command.
• Pilar (ピラル)
• A foul-mouthed techie and a member of Maine's crew. He is also Rebecca's older brother.
• Kiwi (キーウィ)
• A veteran netrunner who is often cold and stoic, and a member of Maine's crew. She is also Lucy's mentor.
• Falco (ファルコ)
• A member of Maine's crew who works as the group's getaway driver.
• Rebecca (レベッカ)
• A young and trigger-happy edgerunner and a member of Maine's crew. She is also Pilar's younger sister.
• Faraday (ファラデー)
• A fixer who works for Militech. He has a business relationship with Maine's crew and often hires them to conduct jobs that usually involve them performing corporate espionage against Arasaka.
• Adam Smasher (アダム・スマッシャー)
• A bloodthirsty and fully cybernetic supersoldier who works for Arasaka as their chief of security. His English voice actor, Alec Newman, reprises the role from Cyberpunk 2077.
• Ripperdoc (リパードク) "Doc"
• A local ripperdoc who helps upgrade and install David's cybernetic implants, as well as providing him with the required immunosuppressants.
• Gloria Martinez (グロリア・マルティネス)
• David's mother and a paramedic who works herself to the bone to pay for his tuition at the Arasaka Academy.

Production and release

The series was announced during a "Night City Wire" livestream for the game on June 25, 2020, as a collaboration between CD Projekt and Trigger.[10][11] Hiroyuki Imaishi directed the series, with Masahiko Otsuka and Yoshiki Usa writing scripts, Yoh Yoshinari designing the characters and serving as animation director, Yuto Kaneko and Yusuke Yoshigaki serving as assistant character designers, Hiroyuki Kaneko serving as assistant director, Hiromi Wakabayashi serving as creative director, and Akira Yamaoka serving as the show's composer.[12][13] The anime's opening theme is "This Fffire" by Franz Ferdinand,[14] while its ending theme is "Let You Down" by Dawid Podsiadło.[15] Edgerunners also utilized songs from 2077's in-game radio stations.[16] Rosa Walton's song "I Really Want to Stay at Your House" was featured prominently and critically praised.[17][18] Aniplex released the series on a Blu-ray Disc set on May 28, 2025.[19]

Episodes

Reception

In its first week, the show debuted on Netflix's top ten list, with 14.88 million hours of viewing.[21] Its success helped increase the sales of Cyberpunk 2077 to 20 million units.[22]

Future

In an October 2022 interview with Famitsu, CDPR community manager Satoru Honma said that no plans exist for a second season of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners but that if ever there would be, it would not be a continuation of the first season but "something completely different."[39][40]

On September 19, 2024, Netflix released a short teaser for a new tie-in with Cyberpunk 2077. This followed rumors about a Cyberpunk: Edgerunners sequel and CD Projekt Red joint CEO Michał Nowakowski signaling plans for more animated tie-ins.[41][42]

CD Projekt Red announced in July 2025 that a stand-alone sequel series, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, was in development, with most of the original creative team returning, and to be streamed on Netflix. It will feature a new story separate from the first series and a new cast of characters. Kai Ikarashi will direct the season, with Bartosz Sztybor serving as writer, producer, and showrunner, Ichigo Kanno as a character designer, and Masahiko Otsuka returning as scriptwriter.[43]

Other media

A prequel manga series by Asano, titled Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Madness (サイバーパンク: エッジランナーズ MADNESS), debuted on Kadokawa's Comic Alive+ website on December 13, 2024. Dark Horse Comics will publish the manga in English in paperback format in North America.[44]

Lucy was added as a playable character via downloadable content to Guilty Gear Strive on August 21, 2025.[45] Additional avatars and music from Cyberpunk were also added.[46]

A collaboration between Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Wuthering Waves is planned for 2026.[47]

External links