Discover the definitive 312-page guide to the “Time of the Red.” Night City 2045 bridges the gap between the 2020 collapse and the world of Cyberpunk 2077 with 600+ new locations, 24 detailed districts, and eerie precursors to iconic characters. Preorder now for the official June 17, 2026 release at Origins Game Fair.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
What: Night City 2045, a 312-page Cyberpunk RED sourcebook, arrives June 17, 2026.
Why: It maps the “Time of the Red,” bridging the history between the 2020 collapse and 2077.
How: New Security Codes and Response Intensity mechanics simulate law enforcement probability across 24 districts.
Beyond Prequel Fatigue: Why 2045 Matters
R. Talsorian Games releases Night City 2045 on June 17, 2026, at the Origins Game Fair. It’s a 312-page “monster sourcebook” that serves as the official prequel to Cyberpunk 2077. You’ll pay $60 for the physical book or $30 for the digital PDF. CD Projekt Red collaborated on this to ensure the “Time of the Red” lore matches the history of the 2020 hit. Forget the idea that prequels offer less—in 2045, survival is the only metric that counts.
The “Security Codes” Mechanic: Quantifying Law Enforcement
The book adds “Security Codes” to the 1D10 system. This mechanic calculates the probability of security crashing your party. Navigating these codes feels like driving through downtown Boston during a major infrastructure project—every aggressive move has a mathematical chance of triggering a response that stalls your progress. If you roll below a district’s code number, you’ve triggered a response. It’s a cold calculation that replaces GM whims with statistical risk.
Response Intensity: Scaling Combat Difficulty
The book categorizes security responses through “Intensity” levels: Light, Medium, or Heavy. “Light” intensity treats your crew as smaller than it is, spawning only a few mooks. “Heavy” intensity removes enemy restrictions and treats your party as if it has additional members to justify dumping mini-bosses into the initiative order. The system integrates with R. Talsorian’s “Hardened” DLC to beef up encounters for veterans.
District Breakdown and the 600+ New Locations
You get 24 districts and over 600 specific locations, including corporate fortresses and gang headquarters. The developers packed this with eerie precursors to 2077 lore. You can visit Edgewood Farm decades before the serial killer “Peter Pan” begins his hunt. Right now, he’s just a kid taking flak from his father, but the book provides the map for his future atrocities. This granular history provides a level of detail standard summaries skip.
The “Time of the Red” vs. 2077: The High-Stakes Reality
Pundits claim fans only want the high-tech polish of 2077, but the hardcore community disagrees. Counter-Intuitive Insight: The “Time of the Red” is actually the franchise’s peak. Without a global internet or corporate monopolies, life becomes a pure hustle. You’re dodging “blood rains” caused by nuclear fallout and sourcing gear from the street instead of buying it from a kiosk. This era offers a high-stakes survival loop that makes the 2077 setting look safe.