Former Fallout and Skyrim artist claims GTA offers a more immersive experience than Cyberpunk 2077, stating that Night City lacks a genuine sense of place.

Nate Purkeypile, the former lead artist for Fallout, has shared his thoughts on why he feels Cyberpunk 2077 falls short in creating a believable city environment.

In the realm of open-world games, some prioritize the sheer size of their maps, while others focus on intricate world-building. Take Breath of the Wild, for instance; while much of its landscape is open, stepping into any of its villages immerses you in the unique cultures and vibes of each area. A few titles, like the Grand Theft Auto series and Fallout: New Vegas, manage to excel in both aspects. However, despite Cyberpunk 2077 being a highly regarded open-world experience, Purkeypile remains skeptical about its portrayal of a vibrant city.

In a conversation with an outlet, he discussed the challenges of crafting a city that feels alive without compromising gameplay. He noted, “You have to test things more, dramatically so, but it does make it a lot more interesting,” adding, “Playing a GTA game versus Cyberpunk, one feels like an actual city, and one doesn’t. I love Cyberpunk and had a great time with the game, but that aspect of it doesn’t hit you on the same level at all. It doesn’t feel like a real place, really.”

While I see where he’s coming from, I personally found Night City to be a more captivating environment than Los Santos, even if the NPCs are less numerous. The sci-fi backdrop of Night City presents a different challenge in terms of realism compared to GTA’s modern setting. Both games struggle with giving NPCs meaningful interactions, but I’d prefer a world filled with engaging events that breathe life into the environment, much like Rockstar achieved in Red Dead Redemption 2.

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