NCIS Meets Mass Effect In New Cyberpunk Sci-Fi Thriller

Published Sep 18, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT Nicholas Becher is a gaming journalist with an MFA in Creative Writing from FAU. With extensive experience playing video games, he covers all forms of gaming content at Screen Rant, from breaking news to the latest fan theories. Most-played games range from Clair Obscur to Civ to Elden Ring to Halo 2 and beyond. Cyberpunk has always thrived on the complicated relationship between technological progress and the people forced to live with the consequences. From the neon-soaked streets of Blade Runner to the sprawling dystopian worlds of Cyberpunk 2077, the genre has evolved far beyond its early roots in stories like Neuromancer. Some of the greatest cyberpunk adventures nowadays aren't even renowned for their futuristic settings or themes about technological progress as much as they are for the mystery and crime-based storylines that hook audiences and keep them engaged. That makes the genre an especially natural fit for stories that blend high-tech world-building with procedural investigations and dangerous conspiracies you might find in popular crime shows such as NCIS. This upcoming cyberpunk thriller is poised to take audiences on an exciting adventure into a sci-fi dystopia, with a Mass Effect-meets-NCIS style premise that's sure to deliver a novel experience when it launches in 2027 (via Steam). This Upcoming Cyberpunk Thriller Is Mass Effect Meets NCIS Precinct IX is an upcoming cyberpunk police management RPG from ZataForge Studio that combines investigative casework, squad management, character-driven storytelling, and turn-based tactical combat. Set in a troubled futuristic city, players take command of a precinct staffed by cybernetically enhanced officers, handling everything from routine visitors and informants to hacker attacks, street riots, rogue cybernetics, and cases involving memory contamination. Much of the game revolves around deciding how each case should be handled, with players negotiating with visitors, allocating limited resources, interrogating suspects, dispatching specific officers, and making choices that can dramatically change an investigation's outcome. Budget, manpower, weapons, cybernetic components, and medical support are all finite resources, so there's a unique management layer alongside the more traditional RPG systems at play in Precinct IX. When situations escalate in the field, cases can transition into turn-based battles where officer selection and equipment become increasingly important. Precinct IX Officially Arrives In 2027 Precinct IX is currently targeting a 2027 release, although that appears to be an updated window from earlier plans. As recently as August 2026, the game was still listed for sometime in 2026, while its current storefront information has since shifted to 2027 without a more specific date. The game is currently slated to release for PC through Steam, with no PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch versions confirmed at this time. The project is particularly notable for being the debut release from ZataForge Studio, an indie developer based in Lyon, France, which is also self-publishing the game rather than working with an outside company. Despite being from a new studio, Precinct IX has already attracted some early attention, passing 10,000 Steam wishlists by late July 2026. ZataForge has also offered a little more insight into the intended atmosphere and influences of the game. In a developer post, the studio described its central loop as receiving visitors, deciding how to handle problems, dispatching cybernetic officers, and then dealing with field decisions or turn-based combat when situations deteriorate. Between shifts, players can build relationships with their officers and uncover their histories, stress, and secrets. The overall goal is a grim, neon-lit police-station atmosphere built around night shifts, dangerous streets, limited resources, and a squad dealing with problems of its own. Be sure to wishlist Precinct IX on Steam now if you're a fan of crime thrillers, cyberpunk, NCIS, Mass Effect, Cyberpunk 2077, or any and all of the above. Brand Valve Original Release Date September 12, 2003