CYBERPUNK 2077 SUBSCRIBER COVER COLLECTION

If you subscribe to OPM then one of these special subscriber covers will have popped into your post box this month, but we thought you’d appreciate seeing the ones you didn’t get. Meet the artists who made them, and don’t worry, if you want all four cover

_COVER_# 1 by Kat Tsai

“I wanted to go for a dark and moody illustration as a homage to the cyberpunk aesthetic of the Blade Runner films, but with bright pops of neon pink and blue in fitting with that bright neon yellow that I associate with Cyberpunk 2077,” says illustrator Kat Tsai as she reveals the plan behind her OPM cover.

She explains how good art direction can enhance a game and improve the overall experience of playing it, and even become noticeable to the player without jarring with the experience.

“I think the attention to detail in the environmental worldbuilding is absolutely stunning,” she says of Cyberpunk 2077. “Every street corner, every storefront, every inch of the game feels like it was meticulously planned and designed and the result is a world that feels like it’s actually alive.”

And what will she do first when she plays Cyberpunk 2077? “I’m gonna want some cool hair. Hopefully getting a cool hairstyle in-game will quell the urge to cut my real-life hair in quarantine.”

Kat Tsai created her illustration in Photoshop, building out the background to create an “atmospheric, moody, colourful,” feel.

_COVER_# 2 by Natalie Dombois

Falling in love with Night City, artist Natalie Dombois imagined life in Cyberpunk 2077’s urban sprawl for inspiration for her cover.

“It’s such a diverse city and I imagined what it would be like living there, walking through the streets doing your everyday stuff. Even though Cyberpunk’s neon lights are especially striking at a night setting in a thrilling or sketchy situation I immediately was sure that I wanted to display a sunbathed, almost peaceful, scenario showing the other side of the coin.”

After playing the game the artist is a fan, saying: “Cyberpunk 2077 feels endless and is overwhelming and spectacular at the same time. This is a world I really want to spend time in. I believe there actually are so many opportunities through side-quests and such a lush amount of details in this city that you always have a unique game experience.”

What will she do in the game? “I think I’d start as a Street Kid and a genderfluid body would be neat,” she says. “I’d like to have a short [hair] cut and white light tattoos. I’d give my character blue eyes. The Netrunner gameplay looks interesting and fits my playing style but I’m also interested in the Flathead.”

Natalie Dombois flipped Cyberpunk 2077 on its head and imagined a quieter life in Night City, grabbing a bite to eat rather than butchering gang members.

_COVER_# 3 by Airi Pan

So far the game totally astounds me in terms of how much detail there is.” says Airi Pan, artist behind Cover #3. “I had to scour […] gameplay for reference and the amount of information and world just in those same 50 minutes is so incredible.” For her cover the concept artist took inspiration from “pastel city photography,” because she loves “photos that look pink and blue”.

Game art direction is vital to success, says the artist. “Without art direction, the game has nothing recognisable to pull it together. Even hyper-realism needs thought-out art direction so they stand out from each other in similar genres.”

Will she be playing at launch? “I love CD Projekt’s games so heck yes! I will play as an avatar that resembles myself for the first playthrough, then I usually like to make all the stupid or ‘wrong’ choices in later rounds as someone with a rainbow mohawk or something just to see what happens.”

Airi Pan uses Photoshop but starts with stick man doodles “that I would never show anyone I’m trying to impress (well I guess you guys get to see it now).”

_COVER_# 4 by Kazuhisa Uragami

Being a Japanese artist, Kazuhisa Uragami has a unique take on the world of Cyberpunk 2077, telling us: “I can sense Japanese elements here and there, and the cityscape leaves an impression. Even though it is a futuristic world view, I feel a sense of nostalgia. It is a strange feeling but it is easy to be familiar with.”

This jumble of Japanese influences in the game, however inaccurate, inspired the artist’s cover illustration. “I drew it as a parody of the cityscape of modern Japan drawn in overseas movies,” he explains. “From a Japanese perspective, there are some inaccurate depictions, but I feel it is interesting, even including the mistakes.”

Taking influence from the Tokyo districts of Shinjuku, Shibuya and Akihabara for the cityscape, he was keen to blend modern and traditional Japanese motifs. “I expressed how things that change with time and things that remain universally unchanged blend together to

shape the way of living,” he says.

“Cyberpunk 2077 is very appealing […] There are both days with battles and casual days where nothing happens,” says Kazuhisa Uragami.