Neon Giant, the studio behind 2021's The Ascent, is aiming to redefine the cyberpunk genre with its next title, No Law. A recent preview revealed a game that eschews typical genre tropes for a setting described as "Mediterranean cyberpunk," featuring elements like natural sunlight and overgrown, aggressive plant life.
Instead of the perpetual rain and neon glow often associated with the genre, No Law presents the fictional city of Port Desire. This locale draws inspiration from the winding alleys and piazzas of the European Riviera, overlaid with the familiar neon signs and advertisements. The city is also depicted as remarkably green, with a narrative premise where workers must constantly combat encroaching flora that threatens to reclaim urban spaces.
This commitment to world-building extends to intricate details. Every street is named, and every building is numbered, allowing for a level of environmental navigation that encourages players to use in-game information to find their way, rather than relying solely on waypoints. Even non-player characters (NPCs) have designated homes within the city, returning to them when not engaged in activities or on duty.
The game stars Grey Harker, an ex-military "fixer." A key design philosophy in No Law is its emphasis on emergent gameplay and player consequence, reminiscent of golden-age immersive sims like Dishonored and Deus Ex. For instance, if a player chooses to kill a bodega owner, that business will be permanently closed for the remainder of the game. Conversely, even accidental actions, such as a poorly aimed grenade that damages a bodega owner's apartment, can have the same lasting effect on the in-game economy.
This systemic depth was demonstrated during a mission to locate an informant named Flink. Faced with gang members surrounding the target building, Grey had to utilize stealth and environmental navigation, including crawling through vents. In one playthrough, a drunkard passed out in an apartment provided an indirect route to the objective.
No Law also seeks to address a common issue in immersive sims where stealth gameplay is often implicitly rewarded more than other approaches. In this title, players receive experience points solely for completing objectives, regardless of the method used, whether it be stealth, lockpicking, or direct combat. The shooting mechanics, observed during a nighttime, rain-soaked second playthrough, appeared to function more like a traditional first-person shooter.
During testing, developers discovered unforeseen systemic interactions. In one instance, a grenade blast caused bottles on a shelf to fall, a reaction that the development team had not initially anticipated, showcasing the game's capacity for unpredictable outcomes.
No Law is slated for release in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.