Keanu Reeves made a surprise appearance at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), one of the biggest annual events of the gaming industry. Fans roared and shouted as the John Wick star suddenly appeared behind a veil of lights and smoke to announce the release date of one of the most anticipated video games of the coming years: Cyberpunk 2077.
But why Keanu? Well, much to the delight of fans, it was also revealed that Reeves will star in the video game himself—having secretly become involved in the project a while ago.
Check out the trailer reveal:
Keanu Reeves: a “breathtaking” star
As Keanu stormed the stage to the excitement of the crowds, he showed us a brief compilation of gameplay footage followed by the game’s release date.
“I gotta talk to you about something,” the star said as the crowd cheered:
“All right, a while back, the guys from CD Projekt Red approached me and asked me to be a part of their new project: Cyberpunk 2077. They were going on and on about how they created this vast open world with a branching storyline; how you’d be able to customize your character through in-game choices. And it’s not something I knew before, but I was excited by [it]. And I’m always drawn to fascinating stories.”
As Reeves was talking about the game and why we should be excited, a hilarious exchange took place. “Let me tell you,” the The Matrix star said, “the feeling of being there, of walking the streets of the future, is really going to be breathtaking.” To the amusement of the whole crowd and of Keanu himself, a fan immediately responded: “You’re breathtaking!”
Microsoft
The moment was so priceless that CD Projekt, the company behind Cyberpunk 2077, said on Twitter that the exchange got the fan in question a free copy of the game. How nice of them.
Take a look at the presentation in all its glory below:
So, what exactly is Cyberpunk 2077?
Cyberpunk 2077 is a role-playing video game (or “RPG”) that will feature a first-person perspective and tons of customizable options in terms of abilities, gameplay, style, and aesthetics. You’ll play as V, a mercenary you can tailor to your specific tastes and needs as you navigate a complex web of urban dynamics, featuring greed, crime, politics, and love. You’ll be able to customize everything about V, from their sex, hairstyles, face, and body type, to their body modifications!
That’s right, as a proper instance of the cyberpunk genre (think Matrix, Blade Runner, Deus Ex, or Ghost in the Shell), in the futuristic universe of Cyberpunk 2077 technology has allowed us to modify human beings with inorganic implantations, called “cyberware implants,” ranging from fancy prosthetics to hyper-tech chips. These implants give their hosts heightened abilities both mental and physical. You’ll be able to change your particular implants to upgrade your character by interacting with other non-playable characters (NPCs) and purchasing upgrades with in-game currency in the game’s black market.
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Where is it set?
Cyberpunk 2077 promises a vast open world set in the American megacity of Night City, within the fictional Free State of California—a huge urban center controlled by corporations where corruption and crime run rampant. Night City will consist of six regions: the corporate-based City Center, the immigrant-haven Watson, the luxurious Westbrook, the gang-riddled Pacifica, the industrial-based Santo Domingo, and suburban Heywood. You’ll be able to traverse each of these unique regions on foot or vehicle (which will also feature a self-driving option in case you’re too busy shooting your pursuers).
Who is Keanu Reeves playing?
Shortly after the presentation, an official press release announced more details about Keanu’s role in the game. He will be playing Johnny Silverhand, for whom the actor not only gave his likeness, but performed voice acting and full-body motion capture as well. So, for all effects and purposes, we will be seeing Reeves himself in the game: it is him making the movements and expressions and delivering his lines.
Fans of the Cyberpunk video game series will immediately know who that character is. For those who don’t, Silverhand is a legendary figure in Cyberpunk lore: a rebellious musician who uses music to revolt and fight against authority.
The minds behind the game
The game will be published by CD Projekt, an acclaimed Polish company with other best-selling video games under its belt, most notably the The Witcher series. CD Projekt’s game-development division, CD Projekt Red, is in charge of developing Cyberpunk 2077. This incredibly talented team rose to international fame mostly thanks to their work on The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt, arguably one of the best RPGs in recent memory. Universally acclaimed by fans and critics alike, The Witcher 3 helped reshape the way we think about the artistic value of video games and their unique story-telling ability.
On top of their incredibly high-quality and engrossing games, CD Projekt has set new standards for the gaming industry as a whole for their ability to give fans what they want: great stories and characters, polished gameplay, attention to detail, immersive dialogue, vast open worlds, awesome graphics, and unprecedented DLC with tons of content.
When will I be able to play Cyberpunk 2077?
Microsoft
The game is set to come out on April 16, 2020. So, yeah, you’re less than a year away from delving into the world of Cyberpunk and play alongside one of the most beloved celebrities of our generation. Keanu Reeves will be waiting for you.
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