In the neon-soaked metropolis of Night City, a future version of California, dreams frequently meet a violent demise. David Martinez, a teenager residing in the city's slums, is driven by his mother's dying wish for him to join Arasaka, the globe's premier security corporation. Enrolled in the elite Arasaka Academy and sustained by his mother's tireless work, David strives to climb the corporate ranks.
His world is upended when a savage clash with a local gang leaves him devastated. Amidst his despair, David uncovers Sandevistan cyberware, a prosthetic implant that bestows superhuman speed. Fueled by fury, he installs the device and exacts vengeance on one of his assailants, an act that leads to his expulsion from the academy and shatters his chance to fulfill his mother's aspirations.
Possessing these new capabilities, David draws the notice of the mysterious data thief, Lucyna "Lucy" Kushinada, who presents him with a new direction. However, aligning with Lucy plunges David into the realm of Edgerunners—cyborg outlaws who break the law for profit. The Edgerunner lifestyle is perilous, often ending in cyberware malfunctions or mental collapse, yet in his battle against a corrupt system, David is prepared to wager everything.
