Dreams in Night City, a futuristic metropolis in California, are fated to fail. David Martinez, a teen living in its slums, strives to achieve his mother's lifelong goal for him to rise to the top of Arasaka, the world's leading security corporation. While his mom struggles to keep their family afloat, he attends the renowned Arasaka Academy. However, a clash with a street gang causes David's world to crumble. In a fit of rage, he stumbles upon Sandevistan cyberware, a prosthetic that grants its wearer incredible speed, and implants it into his back to take revenge on one of his attackers. This leads to his expulsion from the academy, crushing his dreams of pleasing his mother. Enter Lucyna Kushinada, a gorgeous data thief who invites David to join forces and provides him with the means to save himself. But their bond exposes him to the realm of Edgerunners, cybernetic criminals who break the law for cash, often sacrificing their lives or sanity to the whims of their cyberware. Nevertheless, in his quest to survive in an unscrupulous system, David is ready to risk it all.