PC Gamer outlines the difference between cyberpunk and retrofuturism, and feels we need more of the latter. Here is a snip;
In its recent resurgence, games like The Ascent, Ghostrunner, and Cyberpunk 2077 are still clinging to questions like "What cultural impact would widespread human augmentation have?", mostly with regards to how good it will make them go shooty shooty, bang bang. That and, um, "What if AI?"
With the Torment Nexus growing steadily around us, it's no wonder the general public is nostalgic for somewhat dystopian visions of the future, but therein lies my main issue. The questions cyberpunk focusses on are either too close to reality for comfort, or they're being debated in parliament as we speak. That means cyberpunk has turned from speculative fiction into a political yawnfest, asking the same questions over and over like a broken record.
It's all a bit mainstream, and not very punk at all.