Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Reveals a New Vision of Cyberpunk Japan - IGN Fan Fest 2025

The Blade Runner universe expands its reach with Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus, the first installment in the franchise set in Japan. This IGN Fan Fest 2025 exclusive reveals insights from writers Kianna Shore and Mellow Brown on crafting this unique cyberpunk vision.

Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Behind-the-Scenes Art Gallery

6 Images

Unlike the familiar rain-soaked Los Angeles of previous iterations, Tokyo Nexus presents a contrasting, "hopepunk" Tokyo in 2015. Shore, drawing from personal experience and contemporary Japanese media, aimed for a distinct aesthetic, reflecting Japan's unique history and socioeconomics. Brown describes this Tokyo as a seemingly utopian façade concealing a brutal underbelly; a "paradise" with swift and severe consequences for disobedience.

Rather than directly referencing classic cyberpunk anime like Akira and Ghost in the Shell, the writers drew inspiration from post-3.11 Tohoku Disaster anime (Your Name, Japan Sinks 2020, Bubble) and contemporary Japanese societal anxieties and aspirations. This approach reflects the writers' desire to create a future reflecting Japan's current realities and potential trajectories.

Set in 2015, Tokyo Nexus stands as a standalone story within the larger Blade Runner timeline. While subtle nods and easter eggs connect it to the franchise, it's accessible to newcomers. The narrative expands upon previously established lore, addressing questions about the Kalanthia War and Tyrell Corporation's replicant monopoly, building towards a larger inter-organizational conflict.

Central to the narrative is the partnership between Mead, a human, and Stix, a replicant. Their bond, described as a "platonic life-partnership," forms the emotional core of the story, showcasing their shared trauma and codependency in a harsh environment. This dynamic explores the "more human than human" theme, contrasting Mead's pragmatic nature with Stix's unyielding thirst for life.

The story unfolds amidst a conflict involving Tyrell Corp, the Yakuza, and Cheshire, a new player aiming to disrupt Tyrell's replicant market with its advanced military models. Cheshire's actions and acquisition of escaped Tyrell scientists hint at significant developments within the Blade Runner universe.

Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Vol. 1 - Die in Peace is available now in comic shops and bookstores, and can be ordered on Amazon. IGN Fan Fest 2025 also featured previews of IDW's Godzilla shared universe and an upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog story.