Badlands

These vast plains outside of Night City make the metropolis look more glamorous in comparison. However, there's still life and golden opportunities out there.
Unchecked resource extraction and derelict oil fields dominate in the north. Wastelands full of chemicals and landfills reign supreme in the east. Acid rains are a result from the massive pollution, this guarantees nothing will ever grow there anytime soon, perhaps ever, while the winds carry the unbearable stench that makes sure Night City doesn't forget this place exists. The south side is comprised of mostly desert. Due to Biotechnica's many protein farms, as well as the Jackson Plains power plant, this part of the Badlands is less apocalyptic than the rest. Some even think it's safe around here, but let your guard down for a second and it'll eat you up alive.
There are a lot of sites of interest in this area. One key tip: Check the roads. There are quite a number of dead-ends to the roads, and virtually every one of them has a mission site, shop, or loot to be picked up.
Unlike the city, the Badlands are so large and points of interest are so spread out it is definitely recommended to own and use a Vehicle to help explore them.

History

The Badlands, stretching beyond the outskirts of Night City, are a harsh and unforgiving region defined by dry scrubland, abandoned settlements, and cracked earth. This expanse was once part of Northern California's more habitable terrain, but during the 2020s, a prolonged drought transformed the land into a desert. Over time, as the climate crisis worsened, the area outside Night City withered, leaving behind a desolate wilderness with only scattered traces of the past—empty towns, dried-up lakes, and roads long forgotten by most urban citizens.
For decades, the Badlands remained a place most Night City residents avoided unless absolutely necessary. Yet, for some, it became a home. Nomadic clans—like the Aldecaldos—have long claimed the region, their rugged convoys and caravans cutting across the dust-choked highways. These nomads survived through tight-knit communities, self-reliance, and a deep familiarity with the unforgiving terrain. During the Time of the Red, the Aldecaldos established a camp near Santo Domingo, using it as a base for trade, transport, and freelance security services. They often served as guides and couriers, helping people navigate the Badlands and connecting distant settlements and trade routes.
As the fallout from the Fourth Corporate War displaced thousands, many refugees turned to the Badlands, reclaiming deserted towns on the edge of Night City’s reach. Though life remained hard, these communities held on, patching together an existence in the ruins left by war and climate catastrophe.
However, the Badlands weren’t solely occupied by nomads and settlers. Over time, more dangerous elements took root in the open wastes. By 2077, the Wraiths—a brutal gang made up largely of outcasts and exiles from nomad tribes—became infamous in the region. They roamed the desert, preying on unwary travelers and striking fear into corporate transport lines. Few who crossed into their territory without serious protection made it out alive.
In this same year, Saul Bright led a faction of the Aldecaldos to the edge of Night City in search of work. Their presence marked a continuation of nomad traditions—staying mobile, forming strong bonds of loyalty, and adapting to whatever the world threw at them. The Badlands, while dangerous and desolate, remained a symbol of resistance and independence, a place for those who lived outside corporate control to forge their own path in a fractured world.

Type

District