The creators of Cyberpunk 2077 explained who V's main enemy really is

Cyberpunk 2077's story centers on the protagonist's struggle for survival in a world where danger lurks at every turn. As the player progresses, they encounter corporations, mercenaries, and cult-like enemies, but the key threat to V, as it turns out, lies far beyond these specific characters.

The game's lead writer, Thomas Marchewka, explained that the central antagonist of the story wasn't originally intended to be Adam Smasher or the Arasaka Corporation. The main adversary was Night City itself—a city that mercilessly crushes everyone without exception, regardless of status, power, or reputation. The developers envisioned the metropolis as a living organism, hostile to all who inhabit it.

This idea emerged during the project's pre-production stage, and, as the writer notes, some players quickly grasped the narrative's meaning. Despite the presence of clearly defined villains and conflicts, the plot revolves around the confrontation between man and city, where even the most dangerous and influential figures remain mere pawns in the overall system.

While the brutality of Night City is present in the game itself, this motif can easily slip under the radar amidst the main plot events. This concept was explored much more directly in the animated series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, where the city is depicted as a soulless environment that destroys lives. Fans will be able to return to this universe and revisit the merciless world of Cyberpunk in the future—in December, the Cyberpunk TCG collectible card game was announced, expanding the franchise's universe.