Hold onto your eddies, folks! Get ready for some virtual real estate drama. If you are a fan of Cyberpunk 2077, a fascinating new element is coming to the game via a player-created modification (mod): the joys (and pains) of renting!
Dubbed “Eviction Notice,” this mod significantly changes how housing operates in the futuristic RPG. Say goodbye to the days of squatting rent-free in Megabuilding H10 or snagging an apartment with a single, one-time payment, like those added in the 1.5 update. It seems even in Night City, nothing is free, and your chrome-plated mercenary will now face their toughest challenge yet: managing finances!
This “story-driven rent system,” conceived by modder DarkFortuneTeller, introduces recurring rent payments for the five main apartments throughout Night City. Miss a payment, and you risk getting kicked to the curb. Communication and management of this system are handled by a colorful cast of virtual landlords and chatbot real estate agents via a series of over 450 new text messages.
When you secure an apartment with a security deposit (the initial payment), expect a message from your digital or human landlord. DarkFortuneTeller describes these characters, who can feel like final bosses in a game, each having “a unique personality (and a few surprises).”
One landlord even offers a loyalty quest! Completing it could earn you a rent discount or even the opportunity to purchase your Glen apartment. DarkFortuneTeller has plans to add more quests in future updates, as well as special requests similar to hotel room service for the fancier properties. Corpo Plaza residents can even order flower deliveries to their apartments.
“The intention was to introduce additional storytelling and complexity without overwhelming the core gameplay loop,” DarkFortuneTeller explained. “Early on, players should feel the financial pressure of making rent. This may even cause players to downgrade from Megabuilding H10 to save money. Players may also need to make decisions about how many apartments you should rent at once.”
To ease players in, rent isn’t required during the game’s initial act. However, after V gains a certain cybernetic companion, they’ll be contacted by Bob, a real estate agent. Bob can assist with moving between apartments, and you won’t have to pay rent for apartments you vacate. Players can customize rent frequency and other aspects of the mod via an in-game menu utilizing Mod Settings.
While I’m not always sold on highly detailed realism mods, this one has caught my attention. I’m able to comfortably afford all of Night City’s flats by Act 2 in my current game in the post-2.3 update. This mod will add weight to completing gigs. If you’re interested, be sure to install the standard Cyberpunk mod dependencies: ArchiveXL, Codeware, RED4ext, redscript, and TweakXL.