2022 has marked a year for one of gaming's great comeback stories, as Cyberpunk 2077 enjoyed huge player count spikes throughout this summer. While CD Projekt Red has put a lot of work into supporting Cyberpunk 2077 post-launch, a lot of its resurgence has been attributed to the success of the anime spin-off Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. While Edgerunners takes place a bit before V's story in Cyberpunk 2077, the time period of the game and anime is similar, meaning gamers can get an introduction to CD Projekt Red's world through the short series.
A lot of Cyberpunk fans fell in love with Edgerunners' tragic story of David Martinez, but plenty of viewers also enjoyed the side characters. The short, shotgun-wielding cyberpunk Rebecca proved to be one of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' most popular characters, and while she gets a decent amount of screen time in the anime, fans want to see more of her. It could make sense, then, for Rebecca to feature in her own Cyberpunk spin-off video game.
What a Rebecca Cyberpunk Game Could Look Like
A Cyberpunk game based around Rebecca would be quite different from the experience that fans got in Cyberpunk 2077. While both titles would likely be set in Night City, this should be one of the few similarities between the two. While some fans would love to roam around as Rebecca in an open-world, shooting and swearing at whoever they please, it would be interesting to see a video game dedicated more to Rebecca's character and how her and her brother end up in the situation they're found in by the time viewers meet them in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
This would mean that the standalone Rebecca title would have a much tighter focus than Cyberpunk 2077, and perhaps benefit from being a more linear experience, too. One of the strengths in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is its concise storytelling. It doesn't waste time with details that don't matter to the wider plot, and so a Rebecca game should follow suit, taking more influence from the anime.
The gameplay of a standalone Rebecca game could also differ from Cyberpunk 2077. Rebecca doesn't make use of hacking or too much chrome, instead opting for her iconic shotguns or pistols as her main weapons. A Cyberpunk spin-off focused around her wouldn't have as many options for those who love taking out enemies from stealth or those who can wipe out a gang base before even walking in with hacking. However, this means that the gunplay of a standalone Rebecca game could shine. Already, players can get their hands on Rebecca's shotguns in Cyberpunk 2077, so these assets could be used for a game centered around the character.
There is plenty to explore in Rebecca's character in a standalone game. While she is a prominent figure in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, she doesn't take center stage in the same way that David and Lucy do. Of course, this makes sense as David is the main protagonist and Lucy acts as the secondary protagonist of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. However, it does leave Rebecca with a sense of mystery around her, something that could be better explored in a standalone game around her.
A standalone Rebecca game might not be at the top of CD Projekt Red's priority list, considering the developer has the Phantom Liberty DLC and a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 lined up, but it could certainly make for a unique experience that departs from what players are used to with the company's first foray into Mike Pondsmith's universe. Also, it would likely prove popular with fans of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, as anime viewers could be more interested in playing the spin-off since it would feature the beloved character of Rebecca.