Neo Berlin 2087: a 10-person Berlin studio takes on Cyberpunk 2077 with a 2028 release
A tiny Berlin studio is making one of the most ambitious bets in indie gaming right now. Elysium Game Studio — roughly ten people — has released a new gameplay trailer for its cyberpunk detective action-RPG Neo Berlin 2087 ahead of Gamescom 2026, targeting a 2028 launch on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam. The game draws immediate comparisons to Cyberpunk 2077 and the modern Deus Ex titles, and the studio has German federal government funding to show it means business.
The pitch
Neo Berlin 2087 casts you as Nolan, a private detective investigating the murder of a police department chief. His only lead is the chief's daughter Natalie, who holds crucial information about the case. The game blends first-person and third-person perspectives on the fly, mixing stealth, firefights, and detective work in a dystopian future Berlin — armed patrols on every corner, gleaming tech sitting alongside grinding poverty.
The new trailer is a noticeable step up from previous showings. The world feels more cohesive: the cyberpunk atmosphere is consistent, the gunplay looks kinetic, and the cinematic camera-switching between perspectives appears deliberate rather than disorienting. It is built in Unreal Engine 5, and the visual ambition is clear for a team of this size.
The controversy
Earlier trailers sparked accusations on forums like ResetEra that the studio had leaned heavily on AI-generated assets — a serious credibility issue for any game positioning itself as a premium narrative experience. Elysium has pushed back, pointing to its German federal government grant as evidence of a legitimate, human-led development team.
One detail lending real credibility: Elias Toufexis — the voice of Adam Jensen from Deus Ex, a role that gave the gaming world the iconic line "I never asked for this" — is confirmed to voice protagonist Nolan. Toufexis announced the role himself in 2024, and his involvement signals at least some confidence in the project from a performer with a track record in the genre.
The wait
Gamescom 2026 in Cologne will be the first chance for journalists and players to go hands-on with a playable demo, which should answer the bigger question: can a team this small actually deliver on visuals and gameplay that rival AAA productions? The 2028 window is a long runway, and the genre has a well-documented history of delays — Cyberpunk 2077 and Starfield both stretched well beyond early estimates.
No pricing or pre-order details have been confirmed for any market. Distribution will be through Steam and console storefronts per Gematsu.
