TV – The Ghost in the Shell Episode 9
This week, the penultimate episode of the new animated Ghost in the Shell series released on Prime Video. The new animated series is produced by Science SARU, based on Masamune Shirow’s 1989 manga series. The series began airing on 7th July on a simultaneous global release schedule, with weekly episode drops, giving the worldwide community the chance to discuss the series episode by episode.
In the mid-season episodes, the series had moved away from the Puppet Master arc introduced early on, and we got a string of self-contained episodes, featuring rampant cyborgs, corrupt government officials, and international terrorists. Episode 7 brought us back to the Puppet Master story arc, and episode 8 dealt with some of the fallout.
Episode 9 is Brain Drain part two, and picks up from the end of the last episode, when footage was revealed by the media of The Major executing the youth on the boat. The episode opens with a political assembly, with a number of public figures calling for the Prime Minister to answer for the incident, though he refuses to comment. We then find out that agents working on behalf of the country of Ghorantl have engineered the whole thing, to try to take Section 9 out of the equation. Section 9 are investigating, and Ishikawa is able to get a lead – some phone numbers linked to the group. This leads them to the journalist who reported the footage, and they discover Ghorantl’s involvement.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Justice advises Aramaki to throw The Major to the wolves, so to speak, in order to save section 9, and his position. We see here Aramaki’s affection for The Major – he is unwilling to give up the asset, but also appears to care on a personal level, which shows the development of the relationship between the two characters since the first episode.
The Major is investigating Ghorantl intelligence, along with Togusa, who is tailing her on Aramaki’s orders. When The Major catches him out, she once again calls into question his safety, and needing to be there for his family. The two are led into a trap, and are targeted by an explosion. I REALLY thought all the mentions of Togusa’s family over the course of the series were coming into play here, and he was going to be killed, but instead, we cut to his hospital bed, where he lies very much alive.
Whilst section 9 continue to investigate, Aramaki accompanies The Major to a hearing. In the hearing, she is painted as a cold hearted killer, and she responds with a monologue, wherein she calls into question the humanity of the fallen youth, and declares that he was freed of his programming in death, which throws everyone for a loop. Clearly, her experience with The Puppet Master has caused a fundamental change in her thinking.
Aramaki allows The Major to go on the run, and then seemingly helps to engineer her escape from the authorities when she takes a hostage, and is able to steal a plane in order to make her escape.
This episode harks back to some of the early ones where a little bit too much was happening, with a lot of jumping around between characters and locations, leaving for an unsatisfying episode arc. There was also very little left dangling for the final episode coming next week. The Major is on the run, yes, but we don’t know what exactly her next objectives are, and it is difficult to see from where we are now what a satisfying final episode will look like. There are no real questions to be answered – The Major did execute a suspect, there is no surprise piece of evidence to unearth that will make that go away. It may well have been that The Major could have been exonerated for a justified kill as part of an investigation, but it’s difficult to see how all can be forgiven now that she has gone on the run.
What did you think of episode nine? How do you think they’ll wrap up the series, with a definitive ending for The Major’s situation, or will we get a cliffhanger? Let us know in the comments.
You can watch the new Ghost in the Shell series on Prime Video with a valid subscription, and episodes will be released every Tuesday. You can enjoy the show’s opening sequence below –
Videogame – Gamescom Round-up
Gamescom 2026 took place in Cologne last week, and with several cyberpunk games having a presence there, we thought it might be good to have a round-up of the cyberpunk game trailers released in and around the event.
Neo Berlin 2017
Synopsis –
Uncover the truth as Nolan, a troubled detective chasing a conspiracy shaking the foundation of Neo Berlin: a cyberpunk city split in two by technology, wealth, and class.
The trailer shows us a very atmospheric, traditional dark and gloomy noir cyberpunk setting. It has a very Blade Runner feel to it, and that isn’t a bad thing. In the game, Neo Berlin is a city split in half by a new Berlin Wall, with the rich living inside, and everyone else shut out. After a police chief is murdered, you need to investigate, whilst tracking down his missing daughter. The game features a mix of 1st and 3rd person, allowing you to choose to proceed with stealth, or the more straightforward shoot now, ask questions later.
With a specific story at the heart of the game, but some freedom in how you approach matters, it sounds like the perfect mix of open world and focused gameplay. There will apparently be a wide array of different weaponry available, and the ability to customise your skills to fit your preferred playstyle, so the game generally sounds like a spiritual successor to the fantastic Deus Ex series.
Neo Berlin 2087 is planned for release in 2028 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam.
You can watch the release trailer below –
Sprawl Zero
Synopsis –
SPRAWL zero is a fast-paced shooter inspired by the Golden Age of 2000s FPS. Survive a brutal cyberpunk city collapsing under military rule and cult fanaticism. Use your Gravity-Gloves, augments, and an arsenal of over 40 weapons to crush those who stand in your way.
You play the game as a cybernetically enhanced super soldier, in a game that was apparently inspired by 2000’s console era first person shooters. Your mission is to take out the leader of a radical techno-religious group, and in the process you will take on squads of enemies working in a group dynamic, coordinating their movements and using various tactics to advance on you, or flush you out of cover. The game promises to give you the freedom to approach situations in your favourite playstyle, whether that be stealth, or the more direct, guns blazing approach.
There is a range of different gear to compliment your tactics, and you will be able to use Bullet-Time and gravity-based weapons to innovate your attacks and defeat your foes. There will be multiple paths through levels to compliment your chosen tactical approach, and a wide range of mechanical and organic enemies to take on, all to an early 2000’s inspired soundtrack. If you want to check out the game, you can download a PC demo now on Steam https://store.steampowered.com/app/3748520/SPRAWL_zero/
Sprawl Zero is developed by the independent studio MAETH, and published by Kwalee, and it is scheduled for release on 8th September for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, and PC via Steam. You can watch the release date reveal trailer below.
Barkour
From the publisher –
BARKOUR is a fast-paced action platformer with a stealthy twist, starring Agent T.H.U.N.D.E.R. – a tail-wagging master of parkour, high-tech gadgets and getting into trouble. Jump, sneak and fight your way through a spy adventure packed with action, canine chaos and delightfully absurd surprises.
You play the part of Agent T.H.U.N.D.E.R., a highly trained canine, as you take on a series of evil villains. In order to succeed, you’ll need to use a range of gadgets, a good dose of stealth, along with your, ahem, Barkour skills. There looks to be a wide range of really rather beautiful and atmospheric locations, offering plenty of variety in the wall and roof furniture you’ll have to apply your, ahem, Barkour expertise.
It’s is a parkour game. But is it cyberpunk? Well T.H.U.N.D.E.R. has a range of technological augmentations he can use, there are a number of other high-tech gadgets, and your boss appears to be some kind of cyborg dog. We’re sure they won’t turn out to have been the villain all along…
Barkour is developed and published by VARSAV Game Studios, and is scheduled for release in Q4 2026, for PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
You can watch the trailer below.
Nivalis Nights
Synopsis –
Welcome to the cyberpunk city of Nivalis, where neon dreams become your reality!
In a district pushed to the brink by CorpSec crackdowns and a mysterious serial killer, your ambition is your best weapon. Start humble with a noodle stand, then climb your way up to own the city’s top restaurants and premier nightclubs.
In this slice-of-life simulation, every day is a choice: will you spend it growing your business or forging bonds with the city’s strange inhabitants? From managing bustling ramen bars to navigating complex relationships, your influence grows with every decision. Whether you’re legally growing your own ingredients or illegally sabotaging your rivals under the cover of curfew, this city is yours to conquer.
When the pressure gets too high, retreat to the docks to explore the city by boat, customize your home to perfection, or master a high-stakes cyberpunk chess tournament. With a realistic weather system and a vibrant cast of characters to meet, “Nivalis Nights” offers a unique simulation where your path is entirely up to you.
Nivalis Nights is a slice of life simulation in a rich and vibrant cyberpunk setting. Starting from the bottom with a small noodle stand, you will have full control of how you wish to go about your business in this bustling city. You can manage business, choose to buy or grow the ingredients you use. You can explore the city, meet other citizens, and build relationships. Will you choose to conduct your business peacefully and legally, or will you choose to sabotage rival businesses?
The screenshots look absolutely beautiful, with a highly detailed, classically cyberpunk environment. The trailer shows how atmospheric the setting is, and we can’t wait to see even more. Ion Lands previously developed and published the delightful award winning Cloud Punk, a neo-noir story in a cyberpunk setting, where you work as a delivery driver. Nivalis Nights has a very similar noir cyberpunk aesthetic, and looks to be even bigger and better.
Nivalis Nights is scheduled for release for PC on Steam on 29th September 2026, and Epic Games Store at a later date. You can check out the fantastic trailer below.
No Law
Synopsis –
Welcome to Port Desire, a city that doesn’t belong to anyone, but where everyone wants a piece. You’re Grey Harker, an ex-military attempting to live a quiet life after near fatal injuries in the field. All you want now is peace – but in a city of no laws, what you want isn’t always what you get.
The Ascent is a fantastic solo and co-op twin-stick shooter RPG set in a cyberpunk arcology. With No Law, Neon Giant are upping the cyberpunk ante with a much grander and expansive harbour city in a cyber-noir style. Rather than just a generic neon cyberpunk city, based on the trailer it looks like Port Desire is a vibrant, varied location with visually distinct districts. The setting looks busy and authentically lived-in, with a real sense of scale in terms of height as well as distance. We’re hearing that the game allows you to approach missions in different ways, with variable tactics, and that the decisions you make will have an impact on the narrative of the game.
The massive success of Cyberpunk 2077 is really beginning to manifest now, with a number of story-based first person shooter cyberpunk titles in development, and No Law might just be the most exciting of them in terms of richness of world and story, and in depth of gameplay.
No Law is scheduled for release in 2027 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, and you can Wishlist now on Steam. You can check out the trailer below.
Spine
Synopsis –
SPINE is a single-player action game about close-quarters gunfights with aesthetics of Gun Fu movies. Step into the stunning cyberpunk world with rebellious street artist Redline and her sentient combat implant Spine as they defy the autocratic AI regime in search of Redline’s captured brother.
You control protagonist Red Line, who is equipped with a combat implant known as a Spine, which is apparently sentient. This tech enables you to fight faster and harder than a normal human, as you travel through Tensor City, an AI controlled state, taking on enemies, including a number of Spine-enhanced bosses, searching for your brother.
The mechanics of the game are set around Freeflow Combat – every move feeds into the next, allowing you to chain combinations together, allowing for a very smooth, seamless combat experience. This cinematic, Gun Fu action clearly has a John Wick influence, though when we read ‘Gun Fu’, we can’t help but think about Equilibrium. The success of Cyberpunk 2077 has had a real impact on the cyberpunk games environment, which is great news for us, and in this case, the Spine implant looks a lot like the Sandevistan, so the influence seems more direct. Assuming the gameplay is as smooth as it looks, and the controls are intuitive, this is looking like a great game.
Spine is due for release in summer 2027 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.You can check out the trailer below.
Book – Freerunner
This week saw the release of C.K. Miller’s cyberpunk/biopunk YA thriller, Freerunner. Centering around a young protagonist who competes at futuristic parkour as a ‘natural’, his life takes a turn when the enhancing technology his father created starts to go wrong.
Synopsis –
Freerunning is my edge.
I sprint rooftops, fly gaps, and own drops that make normal people freeze. But no matter how hard I push, there’s always someone better.
Because of the NeoGen bracers—viral tech that rewires your body to move faster, hit harder, see in the dark, even look filter-perfect. Everyone who matters has one.
Except me, Flip Carson.
Here’s the part that makes no sense: my dad invented the bracers… and he refuses to let me anywhere near one.
I guess breaking into his secure lab is easier than trying to convince him.
But the moment I strap it on, I understand why my dad never wanted me near one. I start seeing things no one else reacts to… creatures built from my worst fears, the bring-your-worst-phobia-to-life kind, hunting me.
And the corporation twisting me dad’s arm will do anything to keep the truth buried.
Now I’m not just running to belong.
I’m running to stay free.
Because if the bracers can turn fear into monsters, what happens when the whole world plugs in?
‘Flip’ Carson competes as a freerunner, on a competitive and technologically advanced parkour circuit. The other competitors use genetic enhancers, NeoGen Bracers, to improve their physical prowess, and Flip, competing as the only ‘natural’, without the use of a Bracer, struggles to keep up despite his natural talent. His father is the inventor of the technology, working towards designing a bracer that can enable Flip’s wheelchair-bound sister to live a regular life.
When his father suddenly announces the bracer project is shutting down, however, Flip can’t accept that he is giving up on Flip’s sister, and he breaks into his father’s office to steal the most advanced versions of the devices. It soon becomes apparent, however, that a wider conspiracy is at foot, and Flip uses the devices to enhance his physical abilities in order to escape. Doing so puts him at great physical and psychological risk, but he must put fear aside and unravel the conspiracy.
Freerunner is a very direct, by-the-numbers YA thriller. Flip, the protagonist, must put his skills to use for good, whilst overcoming his own fears. At odds with a powerful corporation intent on his capture, he must keep moving, picking up companions along the way. His best friend assists remotely using a drone, and Flip meets his love interest along the way, who can lead him to the key to fixing the situation. Then comes the ‘mentor’ figure, who is reluctant to help at first, and put themselves in harm’s way, but ultimately is willing to risk their own well-being for the greater good.
The story moves along at a fast clip, has plenty of action, and appropriately for the sport at the centre of Flip’s world, there is constant motion. This means the novel is always entertaining, progresses efficiently, with very little downtime. This was probably a wise move on the part of the author, as if you spend too long thinking about the practicalities of the technology at the heart of the story, it feels almost more like magic than science. No attempt is made to explain how the bracers work, other than the vague notion that it can enhance any aspect of your body and mind. The different options include enhanced speed and strength, intelligence, even thicker skin to withstand damage. It’s a fun idea, one that maybe could have been used to greater effect if it had been used more to show contrasting abilities opposing each other, for example speed versus strength, but ultimately by the story’s finale, the combatants are all just generally ‘enhanced’.
The lack of explanation for how the technology works doesn’t need to be a problem, that’s going to depend on how much science you want in your science fiction. If you’re just looking for a standard, effective YA action romp, with teamwork and morals triumphing over the overtly evil baddie, then the book is perfect. It has everything you’d want from YA dystopia – romance, hero’s journey, overcoming weakness and becoming comfortable in your own shoes. It’s a clean, fairly bloodless teen-friendly story, though it doesn’t shy away from stakes and death completely. If you’re looking for cyberpunk that’s a bit more grey and messy, though, it isn’t going to be for you.
Trailer – Ghost in the Shell 4K Re-release
It was announced this past week that the 1995 Ghost in the Shell movie is receiving a cinematic 4K re-release this month. To mark the movie’s 30th anniversary, Lionsgate are bringing it to over 800 North-American cinema screens on September 18th.
Synopsis –
2029: A female cybernetic government agent, Major Motoko Kusanagi, and the Internal Bureau of Investigations are hot on the trail of “The Puppet Master,” a mysterious and threatening computer virus capable of infiltrating human hosts. Together with her fellow agents from Section 9, Kusanagi embarks on a high-tech race against time to capture the omnipresent entity. Director Mamoru Oshii’s award-winning cyber-tech thriller, based on the comic book by Shirow Masamune, is lauded as one of the leading Japanese animation films of all time.
Whilst the 30 year anniversary was marked in the UK last year, with UK-only 4K Blu-rays and Steelbook, Lionsgate are bringing the 4K edition to the US with Digital and 4K UHD editions, as well as the theatrical release.
With the series set in 2029, they probably had a decision to make over whether releasing it in three year’s time would have a bigger impact, but with the new The Ghost in the Shell series currently airing on Prime Video, the series is already drawing attention, and it will be a good opportunity for younger fans of the show who might not have seen the 1995 movie to check it out.
You can check out the 4K re-release trailer below –
Short Film – LOOP
This past week, Writer Director Brenton Gieser’s short film LOOP was released on YouTube, courtesy of the Dust channel. LOOP follows a woman who has the opportunity to join an exclusive next level virtual reality-type world, where her emotions will no longer rule over her life.
Synopsis –
In a near-future world where technology has rendered most human labor obsolete, Zoe Pearce, a despairing artist, is selected as a finalist for the UNIverse Challenge: humanity’s most coveted prize, and a chance at complete digital immersion where pain and unwanted emotion are engineered away and replaced by perfect peace.
Inside Unimate’s selection process, Zoe and her fellow finalists are asked to prove they deserve to be relieved of their suffering. But Zoe carries something into that room that the company has not accounted for, and the closer she gets to winning, the clearer it becomes that she is not there for the prize.
LOOP asks whether true peace comes from escaping our pain or learning to move through it.
In our current world, whenever we venture onto the internet, our data and personal information is being hoovered up and analysed. LOOP takes that to the next level. Zoe is struggling to get on with her life after a bereavement, and the UNIverse promises to help her move past that, by entering a state where she will no longer feel grief and pain. If your emotions are taken from you, though, can you continue to be yourself, or do you lose some of your humanity?
UNIverse numbs you to the world, but it is not an altruistic endeavour. The system needs data points, it needs human emotional input in order to develop and grow. This is corporate data mining on a revolutionary scale, and if we accede to an escalating demand for personal information, personal experience, we risk becoming purely a resource for the capitalist machine.
LOOP explores all this, and more, in a slow, measured story wherein the ultimate intent is revealed not until the very end. It’s a thought-provoking film, and definitely worth checking out.
LOOP is written and directed by Brenton Gieser, and stars Syra McCarthy, Mitya Savelau, and Nika Burnett. You can watch LOOP on YouTube, for free, below.
Dust is a curated Youtube channel of independent short films, all in the science fiction genre, and they have a wide selection of well produced, thought provoking sci-fi films, all available to watch for free. We highly recommend checking them out.
https://www.youtube.com/@watchdust/featured
Boardgame – Kill Chain
This week, the Kickstarter for cyberpunk deck builder Kill Chain went live. Kill Chain is a cyberpunk deck building game that pits you as a cyberhacker, competing against your rivals. This new deck building and tactical engine building game comes from Fallen Dominion Studios, publishers of Fallen Land, a post-apocalyptic boardgame of deck building and epic strategy.
Kill Chain is a game for 1 to 5 players, offering competitive, solo, and co-op modes. You choose one of the playable syndicates, each with unique strengths and resources, along with different styles of play. Each round, you must build up your deck, upgrade your network, and take job actions in order to add to your resources. You won’t just be focusing on your own game, however, as in order to succeed in Kill Chain, you must negotiate with other players, and you can choose whether to bluff to get ahead, or sabotage your rivals, as you all race to become the ruling syndicate.
Once you have built your rig, it’s time to deploy your threats, targeting the large corporations, and use KILL CHAINS to achieve your goals. Kill Chain is multifaceted; it isn’t enough to just put together the best upgrades. Becoming the best will require a combination of skills, cunning, and the ability to deceive your opponents, hiding your true intentions until the last moment. Kill Chain is a deck building game with meaningful interaction, not just an on-the-rails engine building game.
Kill Chain is a game that is easy to pick up and play, but complex enough to allow numerous different winning strategies to be discovered, and used to conquer your rivals. It comes with four dual-layered boards, beautifully designed acrylic playing pieces, and over 100 playing cards. There are also three planned expansions, so even once you think you’ve mastered the game, there will be more options to add to it.
Kill Chain is truly a game for cyberpunk fans, taking its inspiration from a variety of cyberpunk and dystopian books and movies. Select some rivals… er, friends, and become the corporation battling, cyberpunk hacker you were destined to be.
You can check out the different tiers and pledge for Kill Chain here – https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fallendominionstudio/kll-chain
Film – Ephemera
Friday saw the release of director Bil Richardson’s experimental cyberpunk movie, Ephemera. Using an innovative filmmaking technique, Richardson has put together a movie that makes use of existing stock footage to create a whole new narrative.
Synopsis –
In a strange future, a national security agent with pyrotechnic abilities is horribly burned in battle and develops a fear of fire. She returns to action but cannot shake her fear. She undergoes experimental procedures to gain new powers and sets out to get revenge on those who destroyed her life. This film is reminiscent of such science fiction classics as Blade Runner and Ready Player One.
There’s an interesting story behind Ephemera. Ephemera began life whilst director Richardson was bedridden in hospital undergoing constant medical treatment. Unable to work physically, he began experimenting with stock footage, cutting together short scenes. Soon, he realised he could cut together enough footage to create the skeleton of a movie. Using this as a base, he wrote a narrative over the footage available to him and turned it into a movie.
This obviously is not the traditional route for creating a movie, but it is not unheard of. The recent Mission: Impossible movies, for example, were constructed by designing stunts and scouting locations first, and then the screenplay’s were then written around what the team wanted to do. The production of Ephemera was basically kit-bashing, using parts to create a new and unique whole.
The trailer does not give a lot away narratively speaking, but does give a feel for how the stock footage has been used to create a futuristic cyberpunk setting, with gunplay, tech, and even giant robots. Whether or not the innovative filmmaking technique has allowed a satisfying narrative experience remains to be seen, but director Bil Richardson states that it deals with AI, virtual reality, immersive gaming, biological enhancement and more. His influences include Blade Runner, Ready Player One, and other cyberpunk classics.
Ephemera will be available on Amazon Prime Video from today, and as a digital download from further selected streaming platforms from October 2nd. You can check out the trailer below –
PODCAST – HOSTS IN THE SHELL EPISODE 67: Robocop (the 2014 remake)
The latest episode of Hosts in the Shell is available now. This week, hosts Jon Richter and Matt Adcock take a look at Robocop. No, not that one…
The Hosts in the Shell podcast is a cyberpunk podcast where Jon and Matt discuss the genre’s greatest work, often alongside a notable guest, and they have over 50 episodes available. You can find the Hosts in the Shell podcast at the link below, and all good podcast platforms.
As well as being podcasters, Jon and Matt are also authors with cyberpunk related titles amongst their novels.
You can find out more about Jon’s work here –
You can find out more about Matt’s work here –
www.completedarknessnovel.com/
CYBERSTOPIA – Discord
Cyberstopia now has a Discord server! Please join us and build a community for cyberpunk and dystopia discussion. We have sections for all the latest news, channels for discussion of The Ghost in the Shell series, as well as upcoming shows like Edgrerunners 2, Blade Runner 2099, and Neuromancer, as well as an author section with a number of cyberpunk authors talking about their work, giving updates on your current projects, etc… It’s a great place to hang out.
https://discord.gg/ETgkwzHQ5
For more of the latest news on cyberpunk and dystopia media, stay tuned to Cyberstopia here on the website, and across social media. If you have a Cyberstopian project or release, or there’s something you think we should be covering, please let us know here in the comments, on your social media platform of choice, or on the Contact page at www.cyberstopia.com
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