I think there’s a way to add it that stays flexible, non-offensive, and easy to integrate into the current system you already have. One option would be to keep the labels neutral and non-ethnic so players can self-identify without locking NPCs into fixed real-world racial categories. Something like “Very fair, fair, light tan, medium, deep tan, brown, dark brown, very dark” would give a wide range of tones without any loaded terminology. You could phrase the choice simply as: “Choose the general tone of your skin (purely cosmetic).” This lets players express themselves while maintaining the freedom you prefer when keeping NPC descriptions open to interpretation.
If you wanted to expand beyond tone alone, you could also offer some optional cosmetic traits that don’t imply ethnicity, such as freckles, moles, vitiligo patterns, scars, cybernetic skin plating, metallic sheen, or synthetic/augmented skin texture. These would be purely visual and would fit nicely with Cyberpolice’s cyberpunk aesthetic. If you want to go one level deeper without causing sensitivity issues, you could include complexion or texture options such as smooth, rough, glossy, matte, scarred, or cyber-smooth. None of these would impact the plot; they would just give players more ways to imagine their character.
As for how NPCs acknowledge these features, you wouldn’t need to change the story at all. You could simply add small, optional flavor lines. Characters focused on appearance might occasionally make a small compliment, romantic characters might remark on it in private moments, and someone PR-minded like Mari might briefly consider how the MC’s appearance plays in media optics. If you ever wanted to show bias or discomfort in the setting, it could be handled subtly and in a cyberpunk-specific way. For example, reactions could be tied to corporate beauty standards, cybernetic purity, Designer Soldier aesthetics, or class-based prejudices rather than real-world racial issues. Street gangs or certain NPCs might fetishize some looks or mock others, but this could remain tied to worldbuilding rather than real-world commentary. A single line from a prejudiced NPC can contribute to the dystopian atmosphere without making it a major theme.
To keep things flexible for players who prefer ambiguity, you could also make skin customization completely optional by including a simple skip choice like: “If you prefer not to specify, your appearance will not be described.” That way everyone gets the level of detail they want.
Overall, this approach keeps the wording neutral, gives players more expressive freedom, doesn’t force you to define NPC ethnicities, and stays consistent with the cosmetic nature of the current hair, eye, and cybernetic options. It also provides room for small reactive flavor text without pulling narrative focus away from the story. It fits especially well with your existing design principle that the only characters with “fixed” appearance are the Designer Soldiers.
