Abstract

Los Angeles, as a birthplace of science fiction culture, has long been the subject of scholarly explorations that examine the connections between its science fiction films, literature, and the city itself. This article explores why Los Angeles has arguably become a cultural hub for science fiction (sci-fi) in video games and examines how these games use the city’s unique geography, aesthetics, and cultural elements to construct futuristic and dystopian narratives. By analyzing the symbolic role of Los Angeles in sci-fi culture, this article highlights the city’s dual identity: a highly globalized and developed urban center marked by cultural diversity, yet often portrayed as cold and extreme in speculative narratives. Through case studies of Neo Cab and Cyberpunk 2077, the article investigates how these games incorporate elements of Los Angeles—whether directly or indirectly—into their world-building. The author concludes that the interplay between technology and society, the representation of multiculturalism, and the ways in which video games serve as cultural artifacts to explore urban identity and transformation, shedding light on how real-world urban dynamics influence the conceptualization of futuristic cities in video games.

Keywords: Los Angeles, sci-fi games, urban futures, multiculturalism, dystopian narratives