reason why V changed their name ?

[Elzam]

from Vincent / Valerie

has it ever explained in game
or i just missed it

[Foster]

Every lifepath has some implication or outright statement of V's merc life being a complete upheaval and fresh start from their original life, with V being a nickname they picked up in some way shape or form some time before their actual intro begins.
After they become a merc they keep their true name hidden and only available to those closest to them, V is their name to anyone they don't trust to an extreme extent which happens to be pretty much everyone and even the people they care about are used to calling them by their nickname by the time they become a loved one or true brother/sister in arms.

[Silverbane7]

Also, many characters in cyberpunk use an alias.
Its a nickname or 'handle'
A 'use name' in case things go bad. A 'stage name' if they are a Rockerboy/girl

It depends on your characters background.
My main V was always just 'V' to everyone simp!y because she never liked being called by the name on the legal documentation. Plus, its easier to shout V than her full name.

I have an old paper n pencil tabletop character called 'Silver'
First cyberware she ever got was a pair of eyes that had silver irises. The ripperdoc said 'hey, wake up, silver' and it stuck. She used that as her 'handle' after that

[Ishan451]

If my parents punished me by calling me Vincent, i'd also go by V.

There is no way in hell i'd want to suffer being "Vince" like some 2bit mafiosi my enter life.

Val isn't so bad... i think i could life with Val... but Vince? No way, i'd ever want to be a Vince.

[Coldflame]

just a nickname, it's not really that deep. plenty of people go by them


the actual reason is that shortening the names to V means the name is gender neutral which is good for marketing and saves on the number of lines VAs need to record

[Zero McDol]

Well, it's a fictional character who's name will depend on the player's choice. Same goes for Revan and any other character where a choice is given to the player.


edit:
In short, unknown gender so as to be approachable.

[Silverbane7]

Plus....
Have you seen how many steam photo/screenshots use other v-based names?

I have 9 separate versions of V at the moment.

6 femV characters. 2 of each lifepath.
There is Valerie, my main V. A streetkid who mains sneak and pistol+throwing knives with a bit of Netrunning.
Vikki my Mox based V. Another streetrat who was sold to the TygerClaws young, but saved by a Mox. She uses blunt and blades.

Veronica is my murderhobo Corpo. Her mind is somewhat broken after the heist, so her attitude is "kill them ALL, let the archeologists sort them out!"
Violet is my pure Netrunner corpo (reformed) she tries never to kill corpos since most of them are just doing their jobs. She's been there so she knows how they feel.

Valkyrie is a 'Nomad with a Shotgun' build. Pistols and Shotguns to the face kinda girl. While she may spare the odd corpo or two, Arasaka folks get lo mercy, as she is very upset by what happened to Jackie.
Verity is a nomad who prefers rifles and sniper tactics. Stealth but from a distance if possible.

My three guys are
Vinnie the angry ginger boi. Streetkid who grew up punching the everlovin out of anyone and anything that made him mad. Gorilla arms user. Think a pasty little chihuahua who thinks he's the Hulk.
Victor is the corpo. He has a goatee beard and wants to eventually be top dog in a corp. He's bad. Nasty and vicious (so I can use all those sarcastic nasty corpo lines XD)
And Vincent is Valerie's twin brother. He's a nomad tho.

[Toaster Maximus]

V is a good nickname and call sign for those two names, has nothing to do with a name change that is still their name

[TH3R4BB!T]

Besides, the Valentino's like it too, they spray V everywhere! With roses too, they really do love V

[Just Chill]

Escrito originalmente por Toaster Maximus:

V is a good nickname and call sign for those two names, has nothing to do with a name change that is still their name

Agreed. It makes the voice over also a lot simpler.
While there are some phrases where he / she or him, his / her, hers are used, by using just "V" it's easier to refer to the player without fully pronouncing the whole name.

So while saving a little money on the Voice Over in that regard, it also sounds quite sleek.

[kripcision]

because its easier for the devs if they only have to worry about making lines referencing V instead of 2 seperate lines for Vincent and Valerie

[Cruddy]

Some people just don't like their given name, I don't use my first name unless it's with family.

There doesn't have to be some super secret lore reason for mundane things like this.

[egg fu]

bruh id wanna be called V if my name was vincent, on god

[Mander]

My headcanon is that the full name is something overflowing with Vs.
Like... Valerie/Vincent Vinkovsky.
Therefore V.
Simpler.

[EricHVela]

Escrito originalmente por Mander:

My headcanon is that the full name is something overflowing with Vs.
Like... Valerie/Vincent Vinkovsky.
Therefore V.
Simpler.

Valerie/Vincent VanVinkovsky

[Hidden Gunman]

It's a gender neutral design element.