The hidden details behind V and David’s very different downfalls in Cyberpunk 2077 and Edgerunners

by

I’m a huge fan of the Cyberpunk world, and I’m so excited they’re making a trading card game! What really draws me in is all the cool cyberware – those Mantis Blades are iconic, right? But it’s also a really dark world because using too much cyberware can lead to something called cyberpsychosis. It’s a fascinating and scary concept, and it’s actually led to a lot of debate among fans about why David Martinez met his end, but V managed to survive. It’s still not totally clear what causes it, which makes it even more interesting!

The hidden details behind V and David’s very different downfalls

In the world of Cyberpunk, cyberpsychosis is a significant threat. It happens when someone installs too many cybernetic implants and starts to lose control of their mind and actions. According to Mike Pondsmith, the creator of the Cyberpunk tabletop RPG, the point at which this happens isn’t the same for everyone – each person has a different breaking point. He’s also shared his thoughts on how the characters V and David Martinez differ from each other.

David Martinez road to cyberpsychosis

The anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners tells the story of David Martinez, a teenager from Santo Domingo who attends Arasaka Academy. He faces bullying because of his family’s financial struggles, making him a relatable character with everyday problems. According to creator Mike Pondsmith, David started the series with a strong sense of humanity, which sets him apart from the protagonist V, who frequently had to be tough and uncompromising, no matter their background.

David Martinez’s life quickly spirals out of control, and things get incredibly complex. While his natural empathy initially protected him, it began to diminish as he installed more and more cyberware. This, combined with experiencing significant traumas like the loss of his mother and mentor, had a major impact on him. It’s easy to focus on the Sandevistan, but it’s important to remember that’s just one piece of the puzzle. The anime shows his body undergoing drastic changes as he pushes the limits of cybernetic enhancement, exceeding what most people realize.

Considering the events of Edgerunners unfold over roughly a year – a longer timeframe than in the main Cyberpunk 2077 game – it’s understandable why the character develops cyberpsychosis. He simply has more time for it to manifest.

Why isn’t V a cyberpsycho?

Many players believe the main character in Cyberpunk 2077, V, is nearly invincible. While V is powerful, they do have limits. With the 2.0 update, a “Cyberware capacity” stat now restricts how much cyberware V can install. This wasn’t a factor in earlier versions of the game, but even without that restriction, it’s debatable whether V would ever become fully cyberpsychotic.

Cyberpunk 2077, developer: CD Project RED

First, V dies during the Konpeki Plaza heist – everyone involved is killed. A relic in V’s head briefly revives him, but this is only a temporary fix. Johnny Silverhand’s engram is taking over, meaning V doesn’t have the full year originally thought. V’s story is significantly shorter than David Martinez’s, and he doesn’t experience the effects of cyberpsychosis.

Johnny Silverhand essentially lives inside V’s mind. Mike Pondsmith, the creator of Cyberpunk, explained that Johnny’s anger actually helps V cope with the intense psychological trauma they’re experiencing.

Read More

2025-12-25 19:02