No Law: Cyberpunk FPS from The Ascent Creators
▼ Summary
– Neon Giant, the developer of The Ascent, has announced a new first-person shooter RPG called *No Law*, set in a cyberpunk open world and coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
– Players control ex-military veteran Grey Harker in the city of Port Desire, using his skills and upgrades to pursue a personal story of revenge shaped by their choice of playstyle (stealth, precision, or destruction).
– The developers emphasize deep player agency and environmental storytelling, aiming to create a reactive world where choices and actions have consequences.
– They describe the game’s tone as “cyber-noire,” focusing on a more intimate, personal, and dense world with a lighthearted, spectacle-driven approach to violence, differentiating it from other titles in the genre.
– The studio’s experience from *The Ascent* informs their focus on immersive world-building and a distinct personality, which they aim to carry forward into this new but different project.
The creators of the acclaimed action-RPG The Ascent have officially announced their next major project: a cyberpunk first-person shooter called No Law. Revealed during The Game Awards 2025, this new title from developer Neon Giant is in development for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game promises a deep, player-driven experience set within a sprawling and reactive open world.
Players step into the worn boots of Grey Harker, an ex-military veteran trying to leave a violent past behind in the neon-drenched metropolis of Port Desire. His quest for a quiet life is shattered when trouble from his old days comes hunting, forcing him to rely on his black-ops training and customized cybernetic hardware. His mission is one of personal reclamation and revenge against a city that has betrayed him. The reveal trailer showcases the stunning, Unreal Engine 5-powered cityscape, a port carved into coastal cliffs, teeming with life and sleaze.
Neon Giant describes No Law as a cyber-noire narrative built around significant player agency. The studio emphasizes that your chosen approach, be it precise gunplay, stealthy infiltration, or outright destructive chaos, will fundamentally shape your journey. A press release details a world where players can “master advanced military upgrades, experiment with sci-fi tools and vertical movement, and turn every mission into a personal story of revenge, consequence, and survival.”
Port Desire itself is a central character, described as a hub of illicit import and unchecked excess. Its population is a collection of colorful figures with ambiguous motives, all existing under a perpetually smoggy sky. The developers stress that the environment, from the highest rooftop gardens to the darkest underground alleys, is designed to be alive and reactive to the player’s decisions.
In discussions ahead of the announcement, Neon Giant’s co-founders, creative directors Tor Frick and Arcade Berg, reflected on lessons learned from The Ascent. While the games are distinct, the team’s focus on immersive, environmental storytelling remains a core pillar. “We learned a lot about in-world storytelling that isn’t explicit,” Berg noted. “Not every story has to be told with words, voice, or text.” This philosophy of showing rather than telling is being carried directly into the fabric of Port Desire.
When asked about the studio’s continued attraction to cyberpunk settings, Frick explained that the genre provides a flexible narrative framework that naturally accommodates video game mechanics. It allows the team to craft a world where every action feels fictionally justified. Both directors also highlighted their affinity for the specific, often satirical tone of classics like Judge Dredd and The Running Man, a “lighthearted vibe” they aim to capture.
Berg expanded on this, emphasizing that the violence in No Law is intended as a fun spectacle. “There’s horrible violence and the fun kind. We can’t do dark, sad, and gritty; we want you to have a really good experience playing this game, laughing, at times feeling like a badass,” he said. The world is designed to notice and respond to both the actions you take and those you deliberately avoid.
The “cyber-noire” label, according to the developers, points to a story with deliberate pacing, moments to soak in the atmosphere, and a detective-like element to the narrative. This intimate, personal focus is one way they see No Law distinguishing itself within the genre. Frick clarified that the team is not building a vast, continent-sized world but rather a dense, intricate city with a more human scale. Harker’s tale is not the only story in Port Desire; it is simply one of many unfolding within its borders.
Berg added that this intimate perspective led to bold stylistic choices, further setting their project apart. The duo believes fans of The Ascent will recognize Neon Giant’s unique personality and commitment to crafted detail in this new, first-person venture. “If you’ve played The Ascent, you’ll get a feel that this is the same team,” Berg stated. No Law is being published by Krafton, with a release date to be announced.
(Source: Game Informer)
