Let's be real, choom. When you think of Night City, you think of chrome, neon, and chrome-plated despair. You don't exactly think of... pets. But trust me, in the sprawling, cutthroat dystopia that is Cyberpunk 2077, even a furry (or scaly) friend can be a rare slice of humanity. Now, with Project Orion on the distant horizon (early stages as of 2026, but we're dreaming big!), it's the perfect time to look back at this under-the-radar, dare I say, wholesome feature and imagine how it could be the next big thing.
Cyberpunk 2077, after all its legendary updates, is a masterpiece of world-building. Every dark alley and towering megabuilding in Night City tells a story, often a grim one. And nestled within that grimness are a couple of unexpected companions. It's a subtle nod, a quiet feature, but it speaks volumes about the world. Owning a pet in Night City is a flex, a status symbol as potent as a new set of mantis blades. It screams, "I've made it... or I've at least found a weird egg."
The Feline and the Reptile: V's Unofficial Roommates
The game dabbled, and we loved it for that. Here's the lowdown on your potential apartment buddies:
- Nibbles, The Sphynx Cat: This is the main event. A sleek, hairless cat chilling in Megabuilding H10. To make this little guy your permanent roommate, you gotta complete a specific side gig. It's not exactly a walk in the (non-existent) park, but totally worth it for the vibes. Coming home after a brutal firefight to a cat judging you from the couch? Priceless.
- The Iguana: Now this one's a pro gamer move. During the iconic heist in Konpeki Plaza, if you've got the eyes of a hawk (or just read the guides), you can snag a mysterious egg from Yorinobu's penthouse. Take it home, wait... and wait some more (we're talking in-game months), and voila! A tiny iguana hatches. Miss the egg? Tough luck, no scaly friend for you. It's these hidden gems that give the game its soul.
Honestly, these pets are more like living decor. They don't fetch your guns or hack terminals (imagine a netrunning cat, though...). But their mere existence is a powerful storytelling tool.
Why Pets in Night City Are a Bigger Deal Than You Think
Let's break it down. Night City is a concrete jungle where the actual jungle got flatlined by human "progress." Wildlife? Mostly extinct. Animals? Incredibly rare and astronomically expensive. This isn't just a gameplay quirk; it's world-building 101.
| Status in Night City | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Wealthy Corpo | Can afford a genetically-engineered show dog. Ultimate status symbol. |
| Middle-of-the-pack Merc (like V) | Might luck into a stray cat or a fancy egg. A rare comfort. |
| The Struggling Streets | Animals are a forgotten luxury. A stark reminder of what's been lost. |
This class tension is the bread and butter of Cyberpunk. Pets aren't just cute; they're a walking, meowing billboard for inequality. And that's chef's kiss for dystopian storytelling.
Project Orion: Leveling Up from Pet Owner to Pet Partner
Alright, CD Projekt Red, you've had your test run. The foundation is solid. Now for Project Orion, let's go full beast mode! đž Here's my wishlist, straight from the gutters of my imagination:
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Earn Your Companion: Keep the class struggle real! Pets shouldn't be a starting gift. Maybe as you climb the ranks, a fixer rewards you with a lead on a cyber-mutt in need of rescue. Or you save up enough eddies to buy a license (because of course Night City taxes pet ownership).
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Street-Smart Sidekicks: Enough with the apartment decor! Let my dog, let's call him "Ripper," roll with me in the Badlands. A cyber-enhanced hound could sniff out loot, distract enemies, or even pack a non-lethal takedown. A cat? Perfect for stealth missions, slipping through vents to scope out locations.
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Morality Plays: Your pet reflects your path. Go the "good" merc route? Your dog is trained for defense and search-and-rescue. Choose the violent, chaotic path? That same dog could be modded with reinforced jaws and aggression implants. The choice, and the consequence, should be yours.
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More Variety, Please! Give us options! A resilient cyber-roach in a terrarium for the true minimalist. A salvaged drone that acts like a parrot. A genetically revived, tiny dinosaur for the ultimate flex. The sky's the limit (though the smog probably blocks it).
Cyberpunk 2077 was a phenomenal starting point, a neon-drenched proof of concept. Project Orion has the chance to not just iterate, but to innovate in ways that deepen the world. Expanding the pet system from a cute Easter egg to an integrated gameplay and narrative element could be a masterstroke. It would highlight the franchise's core themesâloss, luxury, and the search for connection in a broken worldâin a uniquely personal way.
So here's hoping that in the next dive into Night City, I won't just be a legend of the Afterlife. I'll be a legend with a very good boy by my side, ready to take on whatever the city throws at us. See you in the future, chooms. Keep your eyes peeled for eggs and your hearts open for strays. \ud83c\udf0c\ud83d\udc36