In my earlier post, Cyberpunk Is an Optimistic Depiction of a Capitalist Future, I explored how modern cyberpunk narratives often cling to outdated dystopian models that no longer align with our present socio-economic situation. This follow-up was sparked by a wonderful article written by a friend. In We Are Not Scared of AI, We Are Scared of Capitalism, he addresses the hotly debated topic of artificial intelligence, but examines it within our capitalist framework.

After reading it, I expressed my admiration and joked that I wished I had penned those insights myself. Sharing my own earlier works with him, including the previous post on cyberpunk and my Isaac Asimov-inspired short story, An Interesting Solution to an Interesting Problem, I felt compelled to revisit the topic of cyberpunk's evolution, or lack thereof.

The Economic Foundations

But where to begin? Allow me a moment of being extremely self-referential to prevent the repetition of previously mentioned points. Although several of these might require an update, my main aim is to address the key point.

First of all, the underlying economic structures of our society play a crucial role in shaping the narratives we write about the future. Drawing from The Foundations of Value, Price, and Profit, we see that modern capitalism operates through mechanisms that deepen inequality. Traditional cyberpunk often oversimplifies this nuance, overlooking how profit motives drive technological innovation and societal divisions. To revitalise cyberpunk, we could explore how value creation and profit extraction sustain systemic inequalities, reflecting the economic structures of the real world rather than relying on a vague depiction of the "high tech, low life" aesthetic.

Consider the prioritisation of material excess and consumption over human well-being that I touched upon in earlier posts such as Beyond the Singing Skeleton: Embracing Conscious Living in a World of Marketing. Society frequently reduces individuals to mere consumers and workers, tools to maximise profit and efficiency. Strangely enough, our roles as consumers are more critical to the economy than our contributions as employees. In a healthy economic system, capital needs to circulate to prevent wealth from accumulating among a select few. Yet, when faced with the scarcity of meaningful jobs alongside the overwhelming abundance of unnecessary products marketed to us, the reality becomes saddening.

The persistent economic struggles faced by younger generations—a topic I explored in Many Millennials Still Live with Parents: Continues to Baffle Experts—could be incorporated into the cyberpunk subgenre. We could depict how advanced technologies and capitalist structures trap individuals in cycles of dependency and limited upward mobility. By foregrounding the struggle rather than allowing characters to overcome systemic obstacles, we can make this flavour of dystopian future more relatable.

Tax policies also play a critical role in exacerbating wealth inequality. In Taxing Inequality: The Wealthy's Advantage Over the Average Person's Hustle, I discussed how current tax systems often favour the wealthy, enabling them to consolidate power and resources. Cyberpunk narratives could enrich their political critique by illustrating how tax evasion, corporate loopholes, and regulatory capture empower the elite while the average citizen struggles. This shift emphasises the necessity for systemic change, moving the subgenre beyond the notion that societal decay is the result of a few malevolent individuals or entities. (Related: From Spectacle to Substance: Reframing Political Discourse)

Regarding the dominance of corporations, I previously stated that in these settings, national governments often find themselves powerless to regulate vast multinational conglomerates, which evolve into entities rivaling states. In a recent conversation with my partner, we contemplated how cyberpunk frequently depicts this idea of corporations supplanting nations as primary power structures. However, we remain skeptical that such a transformation will happen in the coming decades. Proponents of capitalism, along with those invested in corporate interests, often blame government for the failures of private enterprise, perpetuating the myth that we don't have "true capitalism" at present. Paradoxically, it's often governmental subsidies that bolster these corporate giants. Corporations, therefore, find governments too advantageous to want to replace them, suggesting this symbiotic relationship will persist for now.

Lastly, in Future Consumerist Nomad: Tied to Nothing, Everything in Time, I explored growing consumerism and the potential rise of nomadic lifestyles—a somewhat extreme but not at all impossible scenario. Modern cyberpunk settings could reflect this shift by portraying societies where consumerist impulses lead to transient communities and fragmented identities. This would add depth to the dystopian critique, highlighting not only corporate dominance but also the erosion of stable social structures and the commodification of every aspect of life.

Moving Forward: The Challenge

The power of cyberpunk has always resided in its ability to critique and challenge oppressive systems, serving as a mirror reflecting contemporary societal issues. Yet, many modern iterations of the subgenre have drifted from this revolutionary spirit, often prioritising individual triumphs over collective struggles. To reinvent cyberpunk for the current era, we should pivot toward narratives that illuminate systemic inequalities and cultivate a sense of communal resistance, rather than fixating solely on personal advancement.

The challenge is even greater when it comes to gaming, particularly in genres where the player embodies a singular protagonist—such as role-playing games and action-adventure games. Game designers frequently empower players to overcome obstacles that would typically be insurmountable, facilitating continual progression and a sense of achievement. This design philosophy has established industry norms where mechanics like leveling up and skill acquisition are deemed indispensable for an engaging experience. These elements, coupled with narratives that demand constant progression, have proven highly effective in captivating players and fostering engagement, making them unlikely to be given up by developers anytime soon.

This predicament prompts a crucial question, though: Is it even feasible to create a cyberpunk game that remains authentic to the subgenre's ethos while centreing on a single character? Or are such narratives too depressing for the average audience, thereby discouraging developers from pursuing them? Arguably not, but I will get to that in a moment.

Perhaps the solution doesn't lie in abandoning single-character stories but in reimagining how these stories are told. For example, one way forward could be to draw inspiration from strategy games that redefine success as endurance amidst catastrophic events, whether human-made or natural. Titles like Frostpunk and its sequel exemplify this approach by focusing on community survival under extreme conditions. Alternatively, success could be reinterpreted as dismantling the very economic systems that create the dystopian elements of a cyberpunk setting. While this concept may seem straightforward, it carries profound implications by suggesting that a better world is attainable—a radical notion in a society that often struggles to envision alternatives to its current state. As the late cultural theorist Mark Fisher observed:

"It is easier to imagine an end to the world than an end to capitalism."

In other media forms—films, television series, literature—the challenge of reinventing cyberpunk is less constrained by gameplay mechanics. These mediums aren't bound to providing the audience with an escalating sense of personal power, allowing for narratives that probe deeper into societal critiques without necessitating constant character empowerment. The success of shows like Game of Thrones' first few seasons, which captivated audiences with its unflinching portrayal of power dynamics, demonstrates an appetite for complex, introspective storytelling. (On the flip side, these narratives are not dependent on the viewer's personal skills, and there is a significant difference in audience expectations when it comes to movies and series compared to games.)

However, there's a risk that such portrayals, if not handled with nuance, become counterproductive by offering escapism that diminishes the urgency of our current struggles. Even more concerning is the potential for them to depict a mere rotation of those in power, where successors replicate the failings of their predecessors and neglect to implement meaningful change. (Think of it as old money versus new money.)

Especially because of these risks, reimagining cyberpunk requires a nuanced approach. It should present a future that's an extension of our current socio-economic situation and transcend depictions of a world that's merely "worse" than our own, instead reflecting the consequences of capitalism.

A Call for Evolution

Despite the risks, the steps we can take to make improvements are simple enough. For example, shifting away from the trope of the solitary protagonist overcoming insurmountable odds through personal prowess. Doing this could allow narratives to centre on collective action and community resilience. Characters might be embedded within grassroots movements, hacker collectives, or marginalised communities united in resistance against systemic oppression. This shift emphasises the power of solidarity and shared struggle, depicting that meaningful change often arises from collaborative efforts rather than individual exploits.

We can also develop game mechanics that encourage cooperation and communal problem-solving. Such games could place greater emphasis on building alliances, supporting communities, or contributing to causes that affect the game world on a larger scale. Progression systems might focus less on enhancing individual abilities and more on strengthening community resources or undermining oppressive infrastructures. By doing so, players experience empowerment not just personally but as integral participants in a broader movement.

Incorporating contemporary themes such as data privacy breaches, environmental crises, AI ethics, and the precarity of the gig economy, give cyberpunk narratives the potential to extrapolate from our current conditions and envision the societies that could emerge from these struggles. They can also present characters and players with complex ethical dilemmas that bear significant consequences. These dilemmas might revolve around sacrificing personal gain for the greater good, exposing truths that could destabilise societal structures, or navigating the conflicting interests of different marginalised groups.

Technological innovations also offer new frontiers for storytelling. Interactive media, virtual reality, and augmented reality experiences can immerse audiences in cyberpunk worlds that convey the impacts of systemic oppression. These technologies can render abstract concepts tangible, enhancing emotional engagement and understanding. For example, a virtual reality experience could simulate the claustrophobic reality of living under constant surveillance, or an augmented reality application could overlay digital artifacts onto real-world environments, highlighting the intrusion of corporate interests into public spaces.

Ultimately, to ensure that cyberpunk remains a powerful tool for social critique, it needs to evolve and confront and dissect the ramifications of modern capitalism. The failure to update the subgenre to include these concepts neglects its original intent—to serve as a speculative lens through which we examine and critique our world. By grounding stories in issues that audiences recognise and grapple with, the subgenre attains a heightened immediacy and impact, provoking deeper reflection and discourse. This can inspire audiences to question and challenge real-world systems, fostering a collective consciousness geared toward change.

On a personal note, I hope to contribute to this evolution by creating fiction within this updated cyberpunk paradigm. My aim is to eventually develop games that embody these principles, encouraging audiences to critically engage with the systems shaping our world and to envision possibilities for a more equal future. Whether I will succeed in this endeavour is uncertain, but the necessity of the attempt will help motivate me.