In Underworld: Awakening, the world of 2024 has diverged from its gothic roots into a sterilized, high-tech surveillance dystopia. Following an event known as 'The Purge,' humanity has moved from being oblivious prey to systematic predators. The Earth is depicted as an urban landscape dominated by Antigen, a powerful biotechnology corporation that serves as a shadow government, masking its true agenda behind public health and the eradication of 'non-human' infections.

Societal dynamics are defined by extreme xenophobia and institutionalized biometric control. Urban centers are equipped with thermal scanners and blood-testing checkpoints designed to identify and eliminate Vampires and Lycans. This world reflects a pivot toward corporate-led militarization, where the line between private industry and state security has entirely dissolved, and biological traits are treated as national security threats. The film implies that Earth's remaining human population lives in a state of constant fear-driven compliance, facilitated by the very technology meant to 'protect' them.

Technologically, the film’s depiction of 2024 mirrors real-world advancements in thermal imaging and biometric tracking, which have indeed become staples of modern security infrastructure. While the film’s cryogenic suspension and advanced genetic engineering (specifically the creation of 'Super-Lycans') remain speculative, its focus on DNA-based identification and rapid pathogen testing resonates with the post-2020 global emphasis on bio-surveillance. However, as noted by critics, the film uses these sci-fi tropes primarily as a backdrop for action, resulting in a world where technology serves the singular purpose of warfare and containment rather than broader societal evolution.