Night City Holocaust

The Night City Holocaust was a nuclear disaster that occured prior to the events in Cyberpunk Red.

Background
On August 20, 2023, an incursion team led by Solo Morgan Blackhand and Rockerboy Johnny Silverhand attempt to steal/destroy the Arasaka Secure Database in the Arasaka Towers facility. During the assault, an area denial nuclear device is detonated, which destroys much of central Night City. Over a half million people are killed. Another quarter million die in the resulting aftermath.

In the public's eyes, the reasoning for the nuclear detonation is never uncovered. Some believe it was Militech's overzealous desire to crush Arasaka, while others believe it was an area denial weapon meant to protect the Arasaka Towers.

Within hours, then–US President Elizabeth Kress nationalized Militech, placing it thoroughly under the control of the still sizable United States military, and banished all Arasaka forces from the continental US under the threat of a retaliatory strike on Arasaka’s Tokyo headquarters. Other nations swiftly followed the US’s lead, nationalizing and/or interdicting assets of both participants of the War.