🕰️ History of the Dark Future
“History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” — Mark Twain
The world of Cyberpunk RED exists in a timeline that diverged from our own in the late 20th century. Economic collapse, ecological disaster, and endless corporate warfare have transformed the planet into a harsh landscape where survival is the primary concern.
đź“š Timeline Overview
The history of the Dark Future can be divided into several major eras:
The Collapse (1990-2000)
The unraveling of the old world order—economic crashes, ecological disasters, and the rise of megacorporations.
The Metal Wars Era (2000-2020)
Corporate conflicts, regional wars, and the golden age of the original Edgerunners.
The Fourth Corporate War & Time of the Red (2020-2045)
The apocalyptic war between Arasaka and Militech, and the aftermath that defines the current era.
🔥 Major Events
The Corporate Wars
Four devastating conflicts between megacorporations that reshaped the world.
The DataKrash
The catastrophic destruction of the global NET, orchestrated by legendary Netrunner Rache Bartmoss.
The Night City Holocaust
In 2023, a tactical nuclear device detonated in Arasaka Tower, devastating Night City and killing over half a million people.
🌍 The World Before
Before the Collapse, the world was dominated by nation-states and traditional power structures. The United States was a superpower, Europe was still fragmented, and corporations were powerful but contained.
Key Changes
- America: Fractured into the New United States (NUSA) and Free States
- Europe: Unified into the European Community (EC)
- Asia: Rise of Japan and the Pacific Rim economies
- Environment: Ecological disasters, climate change, resource depletion
đź”— Related Topics
- Corporations — The powers behind the Corporate Wars
- Night City History — The city’s transformation
- People — The people who shaped history
(Source: Cyberpunk RED Core Rulebook, pgs. 233-265)