Deus Ex

Lore & Background

Deus Ex is set in 2052, in a dystopian cyberpunk future beset by terrorist acts, economic inequality, and a plague dubbed the Gray Death. The player character, the cybernetically enhanced JC Denton, is an anti-terrorism agent who is deployed when a terrorist group interrupts supplies of a rare Gray Death vaccine. Investigating the incident, Denton ends up involved in a struggle between multiple factions for control of the world. The story is inspired by popular conspiracy theory motifs, incorporating groups including the Illuminati and Majestic 12.

The game takes place across multiple locations including multiple parts of the United States (New York City, California, Nevada), Hong Kong, and Paris. A recurring location is Liberty Island, which houses an operating base for the United Nations Anti-Terrorist Coalition (UNATCO). UNATCO's main conflict is with the National Secessionist Force (NSF), a terrorist group targeting Ambrosia shipments. Another feature of the world is 'augmentations', artificial enhancements using mechanics and nanotechnology.

Reader's Guide

Deus Ex was created by Warren Spector, who acted as director and producer, and put together a design concept during the early 1990s under the title 'Troubleshooter'. After being approached by Ion Storm about creating a project with complete creative freedom, Spector began pre-production in 1997. Staff included lead designer Harvey Smith, lead writer Sheldon Pacotti, and lead composer Alexander Brandon. The game was built using the Unreal Engine, which led to issues with coding and non-playable character behavior.

Due to technical and time limitations, some planned features and areas had to be downscaled or cut entirely. Upon release, Deus Ex was a commercial success, selling one million copies worldwide. It saw critical acclaim from game journalists for its design and freedom of player choice. Its graphics saw more mixed reactions, and the voice acting was faulted.

The PlayStation 2 port saw mixed reactions, but many praised its adaptation of the game's mechanics to console. It won multiple gaming awards, has been ranked among the best video games of all time, and fostered an active fan community. It has also been cited as a prominent example of the 'immersive sim' genre. Deus Ex was expanded into a series of the same name, with a sequel, Deus Ex: Invisible War, releasing in 2003.

Did You Know?

• A post-release patch added deathmatch-style multiplayer, with servers shutting down in April 2014.
• The game was originally conceived under the title 'Troubleshooter' by Paul Neurath in the early 1990s.
• The Gray Death plague was created by Majestic 12/Bob Page as a tool for population control and to facilitate the introduction of the Ambrosia vaccine.