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Overview

The question of whether one can play as RK900 in the critically acclaimed narrative adventure game, Detroit: Become Human, is a common one among fans. Developed by Quantic Dream, the game immerses players in a near-future Detroit where advanced androids have become commonplace, yet are treated as property. The story unfolds through the eyes of three distinct android protagonists, each on their own path toward sentience and freedom. RK900, though a pivotal character within the game's overarching narrative, operates in a different capacity than the playable androids.

RK900 is introduced as a more advanced model than the player-controlled Connor (an RK800 unit). He represents a step forward in CyberLife's android development, designed with enhanced capabilities. While his presence and actions significantly influence the plot, the game's design deliberately limits player agency to the designated protagonists. This design choice ensures a focused and cohesive storytelling experience, allowing players to deeply connect with the struggles and choices of Connor, Kara, and Markus as they navigate a world teetering on the brink of an android revolution.

How It Works

• Protagonist Focus:Detroit: Become Human employs a multi-protagonist structure. Players experience the narrative through the perspectives of Connor, a deviant hunter android; Kara, a domestic android who flees with a young girl; and Markus, an android who becomes the leader of the deviant movement. Each character has their own unique storyline, gameplay mechanics, and set of choices that drastically alter the course of their personal narrative and the broader game world.
• Player Agency and Choice: The core gameplay loop revolves around exploration, dialogue trees, quick-time events (QTEs), and puzzle-solving. Player decisions, both big and small, have tangible consequences, leading to branching paths, different character relationships, and varied endings. This emphasis on choice is central to the game's exploration of themes like free will, empathy, and the definition of life.
• RK900's Role: RK900, while a crucial character, functions as an NPC (Non-Player Character) or a narrative element that other characters interact with. He is a manifestation of CyberLife's continued development and influence, often appearing in contexts that highlight the broader conflict between humans and androids, or the internal machinations of CyberLife itself. Players witness his actions and their repercussions but do not directly control his movements or decisions.
• Narrative Limitations: The decision to not make RK900 playable is a deliberate narrative choice. It allows the developers to maintain a clear focus on the specific thematic explorations and character arcs of Connor, Kara, and Markus. Giving players control over a character like RK900, whose role is often to be an antagonist or an agent of CyberLife's will, would fundamentally alter the player's emotional investment and the game's central messages about empathy and the fight for freedom.

Key Comparisons

Why It Matters

• Narrative Cohesion: Limiting playable characters to Connor, Kara, and Markus ensures a focused and impactful narrative. Each of their stories is meticulously crafted to explore different facets of the android experience, from the moral ambiguity of law enforcement to the desperate fight for survival and the inspiring rise of a leader. Playing as RK900 would dilute these distinct narratives and potentially confuse the player's emotional alignment.
• Thematic Depth: The game's power lies in its ability to elicit empathy for its protagonists. By making players inherently identify with the struggles of deviants and those fighting for their rights, Detroit: Become Human fosters a deeper understanding of the themes of prejudice, oppression, and the pursuit of freedom. RK900 often embodies the oppressive systems the other characters are fighting against, making him an unsuitable candidate for direct player control if the game's core messages are to be preserved.
• Player Investment: The deep investment players develop in Connor, Kara, and Markus stems from the direct impact of their choices on these characters' lives. This investment is crucial for the emotional resonance of the game. Allowing players to control an android like RK900, whose primary function is often to oppose the player-derived goals of other characters, would fracture this emotional connection and undermine the game's storytelling objectives.

In conclusion, while RK900 is a memorable and important character within the universe of Detroit: Become Human, the game's design firmly establishes Connor, Kara, and Markus as the sole playable protagonists. This structure allows for a rich, choice-driven experience that explores profound themes of humanity and freedom through carefully curated narrative arcs.