Cloudbank and the Country are never fully explained. I mean it's pretty clear that the Country is at least in part what they call the 'afterlife', but at the same time it feels like referring to a literal countryside outside of Cloudbank? I mean when the Transistor talks about 'skipping town', I can't imagine he's meaning for him and Red to die in order to reach the Country. So it feels implied that there's more beyond Cloudbank, especially as shit goes down and you read about relocation efforts on the OVC terminals. Although it does seem like by the time it's attempted, it's already too late, as the final report from the reporter states that to the west is 'nothing' and the east is 'nothing' (they were on the east end of Cloudbank iirc so I assume 'nothing' means that the Process has come in from all sides). As a rather morbid side note, when you get to that terminal where you read that report, the info before reading it literally says that the reporter is "In danger", "Being Processed", and then "Deceased" in rapid succession. Really easy to miss but... Jesus.
There's also talk of the bay and the water, which makes me think that Cloudbank is in part next to an ocean or sea. You can also see a sunset as you ascend to the Bracket Towers, seemed to be setting over an ocean but idk for sure.
I've read theories online (you know I'm hooked when I start reading theories online
) stating that Cloudbank is actually a digital city and I think there's a lot of merit to this, especially with the Process and the names for everything, and that when people die they wake up out of the VR (aka going to the Country). But at the same time I prefer to think of it as a whole different universe than ours. Perhaps Cloudbank
is a virtual city, but rather than having been created by people in a 'real' world, perhaps that entire universe in virtual, computerized. Idk, I think trying to explain too much is actually detrimental to the game, rather it's a lot more intriguing to keep my mind unattached to any single theory and let some of it just remain as a mystery.
Not saying I wouldn't like to learn more, but there's beauty in some things remaining a mystery and it's my favorite kind of story.
I think that's why I'm so creatively inspired by it, because while it completes a story and answers some questions, it raises a lot more and makes you wonder so much, making your mind expand and race to try and find answers, even when it can't. So, I'm feeling quite artistic.