Bold claim: the debate over No Law’s resemblance to Cyberpunk 2077 misses the core shifts Neon Giant is pursuing. Since its debut at The Game Awards 2025, No Law has stirred discussion by looking notably similar to CD Projekt’s mega-hit, yet the developers insist there are meaningful differences worth noting.
No Law marks Neon Giant’s next step after The Ascent, a cyberpunk twin-stick shooter released in 2021. This new project pivots to a first-person perspective and a more grounded, city-focused cyberpunk vibe. The trailer clearly channels Cyberpunk 2077 in mood and atmosphere, but the team emphasizes distinct design choices, scope, and tonal direction that set No Law apart.
In conversation with IGN before the formal reveal, co-founders and co-creative directors Tor Frick and Arcade Berg explained why they chose a brand-new title instead of a sequel to The Ascent. They touched on everything from the city’s texture to combat, dialogue-driven consequences, and the game’s flashy kick moves.
Why a shift to first-person and a new project came out of the same creative well
- Frick and Berg, both seasoned with a background in first-person titles, describe The Ascent as a foray into unfamiliar territory. For No Law, they wanted to return to their roots and craft something their team could pour passion into, leveraging their experience with high-fidelity, single-player first-person games. The move is framed as natural progress, a chance to push an ambitious project while staying true to the team’s strengths.
- One major motivator for the perspective choice is narrative intimacy. In first-person, the developers argue, you notice smaller storytelling details and can immerse yourself more deeply in the world. They view this as a chance to expand the world-building and mood beyond what The Ascent offered.
About the world, tone, and design DNA
- The Ascent emphasized expansive world-building and lore; No Law aims for a denser, more intimate experience in a single, grounded city. Although the neon-lit cyberpunk setting remains, the tone shifts toward a grounded realism with life, vegetation, and varied districts that make the city feel lived-in.
- The studio stresses that No Law is not a direct sequel or a re-skinned version of The Ascent. It’s a fresh setting with its own challenges and design constraints, including day-night cycles, weather, and a living world that supports a more personal, reactive experience.
- While some DNA from The Ascent remains apparent—signatures like high attention to detail and a strong visual language—the new game introduces different gameplay levers and environment logic that suit its grounded, ground-level urban playground.
About RPG elements, dialogue, and player agency
- No Law is framed as an RPG rooted in a defined protagonist, Grey Harker. Players allocate experience points to skills, customize gear, and shape their character’s capabilities, with a clear emphasis on personal identity within the game world.
- A core development idea is that every player should end up with a unique playthrough. The narrative accommodates a wide range of actions and choices, creating distinct personal “stories” based on how players invest in skills, approach situations, and engage with dialogue.
- Dialogue choices influence scenes and consequences, but the team is careful to note that dialogue isn’t the game’s sole engine of change. The weight of conversations can range from minor to major, but the broader narrative structure remains a beginning-to-end experience that adapts to player style.
Combat design and player tools
- Combat is conceived as a robust toolbox, not just a gun-centric affair. While firearms will feel satisfying and deliver punchy audio-visuals, players can mix and match weapons, gadgets, and tactical approaches to craft their own methods—gunplay, stealth, gadgets, or explosive setups all contributing to varied outcomes.
- The worldlings within the city react to the player’s approach. Observers offer feedback that reflects the chosen playstyle, reinforcing that there isn’t a single “best” route. Stealth, brute force, or clever gadgetry each shape responses from allies, enemies, and bystanders alike.
- A notable interactive flourish highlighted in previews is the ability to perform dynamic takedowns, such as kicking enemies off ledges. This is treated as one option among many, with emphasis on creative, context-sensitive engagement rather than a rigid combat path.
Contemporary influences and audience expectations
- The developers acknowledge that comparisons to Cyberpunk 2077 are inevitable due to the cyberpunk genre and first-person lens. They stress that No Law’s intimacy, scale, and narrative rhythm diverge from CD Projekt’s sprawling epic, focusing more on a tight, personal experience rather than a grand, city-wide spectacle.
- Inspirations span a broad spectrum of fiction—from eighties and nineties action cinema to Hong Kong action aesthetics, comics, and both American and manga influences. The aim is to fuse those vibes into a cohesive, grounded cyberpunk world that still feels fresh and fun.
- A lighter tonal touch remains important: the team aims for a mood that balances spectacle with enjoyment, ensuring violent action is visually exciting rather than grimly dystopian. The expectation is a game that feels crafted with personality and care rather than a homogenized blockbuster.
Availability and platforms
- No Law is in development for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Would you prefer this to be a more purely speculative trailer-based reveal, or should developers publicly discuss every strategic difference that separates a new IP from a potential sequel? What elements would you want to see more of—world-building details, combat demonstrations, or narrative branching examples—to gauge whether No Law will live up to its promise?
