Taking up residence in the Heywood district, the Valentinos are one of the largest and ever-enduring gangs in Night City. Bound by Hispanic traditions of honor and morality that have stood the test of time, the Valentinos live and work under the watchful eye of Santa Muerte in Cyberpunk 2077. Righteousness and camaraderie are key pillars of the gang’s moral code, and betraying that trust of the Valentinos is usually remedied “with deadly seriousness.” Gold, roses, and religious motifs are their aesthetic, and despite their over-the-top taste in lowriders and gold-plated guns, the Valentinos can still bite just as hard as they bark.
In the weeks leading up to Cyberpunk 2077, as well as post-launch, we’ll be diving into various aspects of the game’s lore and world in-depth. The world and source material of Cyberpunk, as well as what’s specifically coming in Cyberpunk 2077, is a diverse neo-futuristic world full of all kinds of interesting characters and locations. This week, the Valentinos take the spotlight as one of the biggest gangs throughout Night City. They’re extensive territorial instincts are in constant flux with the neighboring 6th Street gang, and will almost certainly come into contact with V in Cyberpunk, thanks to a close friend who’s got a past with the Valentinos.
Representing Chicano culture in Cyberpunk 2077, the Valentinos take up the Heywood, The Glen, and Vista Del Rey areas of Night City. Much of the local culture is based on Valentino values, and each community is rooted in the gang’s influence. They’re a tight knit group of loyalists, and thus can sniff out narcs or undercover operatives instantly because of how interconnected the Valentinos are in their communities. That being said, when they’re not engaged in criminal activity, Valentinos are known for drinking too much and partying too hard. Comparatively speaking, the Valentino gang’s image from outsiders is far less imposing compared to that of the Maelstrom, or their territorial rivals in the 6th Street gang. Despite the gang’s image, the Valentinos are still a very capable criminal organization.
The Valentinos in Night City function very similarly to a Mafia-style approach: Despite using several different local businesses as fronts for criminal activity, the Valentinos also own several legitimate non-criminal enterprises as well. Restaurants, auto shops, nightclubs, and various other businesses comprise their legal businesses. However, it’s important to keep in mind that any number of these businesses could be used as a front for money laundering, chop shops and car theft, drug and firearms trafficking, and prostitution. Valentino members themselves are known for boosting/carjacking, robbery, assault, and even assassination missions as part of their gang occupation.
Though there’s no specific origin story for the Valentinos, it’s clear the gang stems from centuries of Hispanic heritage and religion. Valentino culture celebrates various Mexican holidays like Día de los Muertos, quinceañeras, and everything in between. Members of the Valentinos are not required to be of Hispanic descent to join the gang, but a majority of the members are Hispanic, or more specifically Chicano. Regardless, all members of the gang abide by the rules and principles of family, brothers and sisters both inside and outside of the gang. Even if someone living in the Heywood neighborhood isn’t specifically a gang member, the Valentinos culture and faith is so ingrained in the community that non-members are just as loyal to them.
Trust is essential to becoming a member of the Valentinos. Members and the community they preside over are bound for life, even if they’re an ex-gang member themselves or just law-abiding civilians. Which, of course, means if someone double-crosses or betrays the Valentino “family” in any way, they’re usually punished severely. By severely, 90 percent of the time that means a gruesome death. Regardless of how much communal love the gang shares around it, they’re fully capable of boundless violence. On the flip side, those who’ve passed away and/or made an indelible impact on the Valentinos are usually immortalized with graffiti/street art. Murals of dead members paint the streets of Heywood, immortalizing glorious deeds with Valentino art that’s often compared to religious iconography.
For V (and the player), it’s either going to be very easy or incredibly difficult for them to ally with the Valentinos, if they so choose. V’s partner, Jackie Welles, is an ex-member of the Valentinos and seemingly has a neutral relationship with them. Supposedly, Jackie left the Valentinos because his mother had found out, and that he also wanted to be an independent mercenary. Based on the footage in the Cyberpunk 2077 Night City Wire episode, Jackie never makes it clear what his relationship is with the Valentinos now that he’s no longer a member, so the possibility of allying with the Valentinos may not be as clear-cut as Jackie bringing players to them.
That being said, assuming players end up in the Heywood neighborhood, they’ll undoubtedly run into one of the biggest gangs in Night City. Unlike Maelstrom or Scavengers, they’re not going to be targeted on sight. That is, assuming Jackie didn’t leave the gang on bad terms. Regardless, the Valentinos will almost certainly be a valuable resource for getting new weapons, new vehicles, or really just indulging in a night of too much partying.
Cyberpunk 2077 releases on December 10, 2020, for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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