Cyberpunk Edgerunners is being hailed as a miracle worker. This Netflix-exclusive anime series, made by Trigger Studios, has breathed new life into its source material Cyberpunk 2077. After its release, the game was seeing a player count similar to the first 30 days after the game came out, and it's only set a precedent that anime fans are hoping continues with other game series.
And, while the game did include the Edgerunners update that added some nice gear and nods to the story and characters of the anime, it wasn't a ton of different tie-ins, especially for something that gave the game a whole new chance. So, let's think of some other references that CDProjekt Red could maybe add in future updates for Cyberpunk 2077 that would make fans of David's story cry out in delight.
8 David's Unnamed Military-Model Sandevistan
Ever since enough time had passed for people to realistically binge-watch all of Cyberpunk Edgerunners, there have been different build guides made by fans for how to closely recreate David Martinez's "build" in-game. Almost all of these builds include the QianT Sandevistan Mk. 4, a Legendary version of the spinal modification that can only be obtained from a disgusting story NPC by the name of Finn Gerstatt.
But, CDProjekt could put David's actual Sandevistan in the game if they wanted. They could, for example, have it be found in some defunct Millitech facility and, when equipped, it could create an afterimage and brightly colored visual effect similar to the one seen in Edgerunners.
7 Lucy's Monowire
Similar to David's Sandevistan, CdProjekt could also have players obtain Lucy's weapon of choice, her Monowire, in Cyberpunk 2077. Though, this would be for more of a story reason rather than a weapon one, as the Monowire Lucy uses seems pretty identical to the ones used in-game, Lucy just makes it look extra strong. By the point-in-time (a year after the events in Edgerunners), Lucy should be long off the grid.
But, considering how she also roamed and interacted with Rogue AI outside the Blackwall, she could easily find V (or vice versa) while they're roaming the Net and interact with them that way, starting a side quest for her to tell the player and V more about David and leave her monowire behind for them. Visually, they could even give the monowire that rainbow pastel effect that Lucy's hair strand has.
6 Becca's Unnamed Arms & Hands
Let's be honest, out of all the characters in Cyberpunk Edgerunners, Becca is by far the biggest fan favorite, which is hilarious given how much CDProjekt didn't want her in the show. In any case, every aspect of Rebecca's design is memorable, from her greyish skin, her tattoos, and even her red eyes and yellow irises.
But, after the timeskip in Edgerunners, the most noticeable change to Becca's body has to be the elongated arms and gigantic red and blue hands that are similar (or the exact same) to her brother Pilar's as an homage to him. Now, these Cyberware Arms have never been named, but it would be great to see them implemented in Cyberpunk 2077 since they actually make the character's arms longer. If they were implemented, there could be a fun gimmick where V can actually punch and swing weapons further. Yes, these would be two separate references to Becca alongside her Guts Shotgun already in the game, but she absolutely deserves it, doesn't she?
5 Kiwi's Cybernetic Jaw/Mask
Kiwi is another member of Maine's crew in Edgerunners that just oozes snarky charm. And, the fact that she's managed to figure out how to smoke while having that face mask-like Cyberware is magic in itself.
But, sadly, there's nothing quite like her face mask and/or Cybernetic Jaw in Cyberpunk 2077 currently and fans have had to resort to visual mods in order to live out their Kiwi cosplays and builds. So, why not put it in the game in a future update? There's so much potential for face mask cosmetics after all and they could even have it reduce Poison since it's a mask, though most of the Chemical Damage in the game comes from, well, bullets.
4 Katsuo Tanaka's Kung-Fu Chipware
Katsuo Tanaka is a character in Edgerunners that most fans probably don't know by name. Rather, they know him by his appearance and attitude as the blue-haired bully from the newly canon Arasaka Academy. Katsuo plays the part of the privileged school bully in Edgerunners, but he does have one hilarious moment.
When he picks on David in Episode 2 right before he gets the call that his mom passed away, he shows off his Strong Arms 400 implants and Kung Fu Chipware in a flurry of absurd punches and obnoxious noises while beating David black and blue. Now, imagine if they put these Strong Arms (in-game known as Gorilla Arms) in the game with the Chipware as a package deal. Then players run around as V screaming like Bruce Lee and beating up Tyger Claws with cyber-infused Kung Fu.
3 Gloria Martinez's Urn
This next one might seem insensitive, and it is. But, remember, Night City isn't the most sensitive place, so this would fit right in with its atmosphere. Basically, CDProjekt Red could add Gloria Martinez's Urn or a toy similar to it as a memorabilia reward for V's apartment after an Edgerunners-related mission.
For those who might've forgotten, after Gloria sadly passes away, David has her cremated and is given her urn like one gets a soda from a vending machine. It really plays into the nihilistic atmosphere of Night City. And, if V somehow gets their hands on it, it would kind of fit, as Gloria could be symbolically looking after another delinquent kid trying to make it in Night City.
2 Another Survivor From The Camp Lucy Came From
The few missions in Cyberpunk 2077 relating to Edgerunners are already pretty nice nods, but they aren't exactly expansive quests. So, what if the developers added in a side quest in some future update where V comes in contact with another survivor of Lucy's Arasaka camp when she was a kid?
This would allow for more netrunning sections of the game, expand on Lucy's backstory just a bit more, and even tie V's story into the events of Edgerunners without it feeling too forced. Remember, Lucy talked about running away and making it out, but she didn't look back and she didn't confirm if they all died, so it wouldn't break the canon of the anime either.
1 The Way People Speak Over Text
And finally, let's talk about an aspect of Edgerunners that many fans of Cyberpunk 2077 the game and not the original tabletop game were likely confused by when watching, the odd speaking style of characters when they talked over comms. In the game, the characters actually move their mouths and talk and then their cyberware sends what they're saying as a voice/text message to their intended recipient.
But, in Edgerunners, characters are "thinking" things to each other and communicating that way. This is the reason why the voice calls sound so odd in Edgerunners, as the cyberware translating those thoughts into text seems to be flawed or imperfect. It would be difficult to add this as an option or reference in 2077, but technically they wouldn't have to record any new audio, they could just apply a filter to the audio or assign someone to cut or voice lines together or make certain words repeat in a sentence in the same disjointed way.