Beacon City, was named shortly after NEXUS took over and instituted their laws and shutting out the outsiders.  Nexus was originally a corporation - a tech and pharmaceutical mega conglomerate in the vein of Apple meets Phizer - it has now become the sole governing entity of Beacon City, and rules with complete autonomy.

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Nexus believes that they are the future of mankind and use technology to rule over the people, rather than force. Citizens are monitored twenty-four seven; much like those today living in China where cameras equipped with facial recognition can catch a person jaywalking and immediately be shamed on a nearby moving billboard or bus stop sign. Where misbehavior is punished by lowering of one’s credit score, affecting every aspect of your life from jobs to financial credit.

The government understands that it’s necessary to keep their citizens from falling into despair and devised the “Redux” – a vaccine composed of nanobots that are inhaled into their bloodstream that keep their host healthy by eliminating viruses, removing cholesterol, as well as giving them the ability to have blocks of time of happy dreams – a means of escape. However, to access those blocks of fantasy and entertainment cost credit (like OTT subscriptions).

While the vast majority of Beacon’s citizens abide by the strict rules of their government, and rely on Nexus for everything (including the most basic necessities like food and housing), there are some groups, or “Factions” that do not. Those that make up the factions are dissociated with Nexus and the general populace, and therefore do not have access to Redux nor any of the other benefits provided by the government. Most factions have no choice but to steal supplies from Nexus Facilities in order to survive. This is also why Factions must remain off the grid as many are hunted by the NPF (Nexus Police Force).