Cyberpunk Prusa 3D Printer Celebrates Release of Cyberpunk 2077

Love it or loathe it, one of the most talked about games to come out this holiday season is Cyberpunk 2077, a much anticipated open-world game that takes place in a dystopian future. To celebrate the release, Prusa Research has released a 3D printable cyberpunk mod for the Prusa i3 MK3S+ 3D printer.

Prusa most certainly needs no introduction to our readers, as the Czech 3D printer manufacturer that grew out of the open-source RepRap movement is now one of the most widely respected companies in the space. Its Prusa i3 and variations are among the least expensive, more reliable extrusion systems on the market. It has even expanded from desktop extrusion 3D printing to stereolithography, all while continuing to maintain the open-source philosophy that allowed it and the larger desktop 3D printing industry to flourish.

Non-gaming readers may or may not need an introduction to Cyberpunk 2077, from studio CD Projekt Red, as it has made its way out of gaming circles for a variety of reasons, good and bad. On the seemingly positive side, the game is a follow-up to the popular and award winning Witcher 3; Keanu Reeves plays a starring role, and the world is meant to be complex and interweaving. Players can not only choose several paths through the game, but can completely modify their characters, down to their genitalia.

On the seemingly negative side, the game seems to have been in development hell for seven years, facing significant delays even as the Polish government poured $7 million into the project. In order to meet deadlines, the developers had to drop multiplayer gameplay, aiming to launch this functionality after 2021. In the process, staff at CD Projekt Red was made to work grueling overtime hours to make April and September deadlines that it ultimately missed. When it was finally rushed out the door for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Stadia, and Xbox One on December 10, 2020, it came with numerous glitches, from endless vehicle loops to unintentionally exposed character genitalia.

Now that it’s out, 3D printing enthusiasts can celebrate in their own way by modifying their Prusa Mk3s. Part of the fun is dismantling the printer in order to spray paint the metal frame in fluorescent colors. Then, you can 3D print all of the various add-ons.

This includes pieces to transform the LCD display into a pseudo-futuristic device, as well as parts to make the X-axis motor look like a mini rail gun. A dismembered cyborg can be mounted to the extruder, two large fans and some piping can be added to the Z-axis, and the spool holder can get its own cyberpunk treatment with some fake vents. To polish it all off, LED lights provide a neon glow. Altogether, the Prusa does look like a bit of cyberpunk tech. The STLs can be found here, along with instructions to complete the project.

In some ways, the troubled history of Cyberpunk 2077 may play to its ultimate popularity, either as a mainstream game or a cult classic because what is more cyberpunk than workers doing overtime to create a neon garbage dump? Having not played it, this author cannot attest to its gameplay, but it has already won awards and critical acclaim.

Regardless, the Prusa project fits nicely with the story of Cyberpunk 2077, as desktop 3D printing arrived on the scene with its own mix of hype, practical applications and disappointment. It’s a cool mod even if you don’t like the game, but just like the aesthetic of the genre, as this author does.

All images courtesy of Prusa Research.