Cyberpunk 2077's Lack Of Pets Makes Sense, But It's More Complicated Than You Think

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There aren't many animals around in , but there's a perfectly good reason for that. Compared to the average open-world RPG, there's relatively little wildlife in and around Night City. 's urban environment is partially to blame, but even then, there's almost none of the animal life that's commonly seen in American cities. There are no pigeons perched on buildings, rats digging through trash, or squirrels climbing up trees. Outside the city, in the wide open space of the Badlands, there aren't really any animals to be seen, either.

And even then, there's very little domesticated animal life in. No cats roaming the alleys, fish tanks in corporate waiting rooms, or dogs out on a walk. Even in major cities, it's impossible to separate people from their pets. For thousands of years of human society, people have kept animals in their homes, either for practical purposes or unconditional companionship. So why has that practice seemingly stopped by 2077? Was it a cultural shift, or something a little deeper?

Although there are many factors involved, the primary cause for the lack of animal life in is habitat destruction. An ever-increasing population requires urban expansion, which means development of former wildlife areas outside major cities. But it also requires more resources, which means habitat destruction even away from cities. The wood, stone, and clay on which Night City is built has to come from somewhere, and that often means chipping away at vital animal habitats.

In addition to the direct impact of Night City's construction on animal life, the burning of combustible fuel has contributed to climate change throughout the world of . More extreme temperatures harm animal life, either by making the regions they're