Hacking turns out to be a pretty useful skill to have in the hyper-connected world of 2077, something the Voodoo Boys happen to be pretty good at. In the world of Cyberpunk 2077, the Voodoo Boys' skill as netrunners is often referred to as "urban myth" rather than an actual gang. As players come into contact with them, V can get into some pretty serious dark web databases, the stuff very few netrunners can get a hold of. The Voodoo Boys specialize in accessing the dark corners of the "Old Net," along with nihilistic tendencies that evolve into unpredictable criminal activity. The Voodoo Boys are easily one of the most dangerous gangs in all of Night City.
In the weeks leading up to Cyberpunk 2077, as well as post-launch, we'll be diving into various aspects of the game's lore and world in-depth. The world and source material of Cyberpunk, as well as what's specifically coming in Cyberpunk 2077, is a diverse neo-futuristic world full of all kinds of interesting characters and locations. The horrific and disturbing capabilities of the Voodoo Boys take the spotlight this time around, something fans have actually seen gameplay of in previous Cyberpunk 2077 deep dives. Here's the background on one of the most menacing and mysterious gangs in all of Night City, and how players will find them in Cyberpunk 2077.
Cyberpunk 2077's Most Mysterious, and Most Dangerous, Gang
Enigmatic is honestly describing the Voodoo Boys lightly, as they're often just as highly unpredictable as they are violent. Those on the short-list of members in the Voodoo Boys gang are basically all of Haitian or Dominican descent, taking up residence in the old Pacifica resort town of Night City. Members of the gang have a distinct aversion to bright colors, largely characterized by dark purple and black as their gang's colors. The gang's defining aesthetic is, of course, imagery based on Louisiana Voodoo/Haitian Vodou religious artifacts. Much of the gang's perception from the outside is rooted in media's portrayal of Voodoo religions as paganist.
It's hard to pinpoint what activities are the specific money-makers for the Voodoo Boys, as they often engage in multiple criminal activities. So long as they can ensure their gang's strict independence and secrecy, the Voodoo Boys are willing and able to engage in any netrunning or physical activities that make them money. Presumably much of their income comes from using the Old Net, a very difficult portion of the Net to hack into through bypassing the Blackwall server protection. Outside of netrunning, the Voodoo Boys have a notorious reputation with the NCPD. They're often linked to multiple violent crimes, characterized by leaving behind mutilated animals or victims to serve as warnings or calling cards.
Shepherds of the Haitian Community in Night City
Much of the Voodoo Boys population, also by and large the Haitian and Dominican population in general, moved into the Pacifica region a decade prior to the events of Cyberpunk 2077. According to the game's lore, Haiti was wiped out after a catastrophic natural disaster that rendered the country inhospitable. Refugees from the disaster ended up in Night City through mass emigration, taking up residence in Pacifica long after the district was abandoned due to the economic collapse. At first, the Voodoo Boys were a tight-knit group of religious acolytes, but the group expanded into the gang as it's known in 2077 out of necessity to protect the Haitian community.
There's a reason why not much is known about the Voodoo Boys, as membership in the gang is almost always through indoctrination. It's pretty widely rumored and accepted that the Voodoo Boys do not let any insiders join or work with the gang. Even the outsiders who do end up in the notoriously dangerous district of Pacifica cannot interact with the gang under normal circumstances. Strict independence is likely enforced to protect their potentially limitless netrunning capabilities, which is often regarded as mythically boundless. Anyone who tries to spy on the Voodoo Boys, infiltrate them, attack them, well... Let's just say they don't exactly wake up in one piece.
A Tenuous at Best Relationship with Players
As for what players can expect from them in Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red has already showcased a deep dive video where V is working with the Voodoo Boys. Apparently, due to circumstances pertaining to Cyberpunk's main quest line, V has to prove themselves and gain the trust of the Voodoo Boys before they can work with them. V is tasked with taking on the rival boostergang known as the Animals, another Night City gang that's taken up residence in Pacifica's Grand Imperial Mall. Outside of that, Cyberpunk has teased more opportunities to work with the Voodoo Boys by entering the Old Net, something players will need to do during the main quest.
Outside of that, considering how tight-knit and independent the Voodoo Boys are, V has no other real connection to the gang. Outside of this main mission, players may not be able to attain anything other than a working relationship with the gang. Even then, it still seems pretty easy to piss them off outside of the main story, so don't expect to be making any good friends in the Voodoo Boys gang any time soon.
Cyberpunk 2077 releases on December 10, 2020, for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.