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Some gamers have posted videos of buggy graphics on Twitter, and others have matched screenshots from much older games.
TOKYO – Sony is pulling the highly publicized Cyberpunk 2077 out of PlayStation stores around the world, the firm said on Friday, following a spate of complaints and ridicule about bugs, compatibility issues and even health risks.
The dystopian-themed title is reportedly one of the most expensive video games ever made, and its release on December 10 was highly anticipated, but the launch hasn’t been easy at all.
Some gamers have posted videos of faulty graphics on Twitter, while others combine screenshots of much older games with sarcastic comments like, “I’m in awe of the graphics and environment of Cyberpunk on PS4!”
Sony’s games division SIE said it “strives to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction, so we will begin offering a full refund for all players who have purchased Cyberpunk 2077 through the PlayStation Store.”
“SIE will also remove Cyberpunk 2077 from the PlayStation Store until further notice,” he said.
The game’s maker, Warsaw-based CD Projekt RED, had issued an apology this week and promised to fix the bugs with patches in January and February, while offering refunds to players who weren’t willing to wait.
In a note to investors on Friday, the Polish company confirmed the “temporary suspension” of digital sales of the PlayStation version and said it had discussed the redemption decision with Sony.
Cyberpunk 2077’s release had been delayed twice this year and CD Projekt RED was forced to add health warnings after a critic complained that it had caused an epileptic fit.
Last week, the developer said it was looking for a “more permanent solution” to address the health risk “as soon as possible.”
The delays, which the firm attributed to the coronavirus pandemic and the complexity of creating such a vast world for nine different platforms, including Xbox and PC consoles, prompted a strong backlash and even death threats.
‘NIGHT CITY’
Despite the problems, the entertainment ranking website Metacritic has given Cyberpunk 2077 a score of 87 out of 100, based on 69 reviews.
But player ratings on the same site were somewhat less optimistic, with more than 20,500 users giving the game an average score of 7 out of 10.
The main character is “V” armed with weapons, who makes his way through Night City, an American megacity plagued with conflicts.
The game also features the face and voice of Hollywood star Keanu Reeves, best known for the “Matrix” trilogy and the “John Wick” movies.
Metacritic describes the game as “an open-world action-adventure story set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamor, and body modification.”
CD Projekt RED spent approximately 1.2 billion zloty ($ 330 million) to make Cyberpunk 2077, according to analysts at Polish bank BOS, making it one of the most expensive games ever made.
The company rose to world fame five years ago thanks to its huge hit “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,” a grim fantasy whose monster-slaying hero is endowed with superhuman powers.
But it has lost billions in value since the launch of Cyberpunk 2077 last week, stock market figures showed Monday.
“Cyberpunk 2077 was expected to become a seller of more than 30 million before its launch. It could have been delayed another year and it still sold more easily,” said Daniel Ahmad, video game industry analyst at Niko Partners.
“I don’t think we’ve seen anything like this in the industry before … This is the headline for the platform that removes the game,” he said on Twitter.
“It turns out that cracking non-stop for months does not make a game good. It negatively impacts not only the health of the developers, but also the game,” Ahmad added.
Delays are becoming more frequent in the gaming industry as games get bigger, more expensive, and with more people involved.
This year, the coronavirus pandemic has made things even more complicated, with many studios forced to operate with developers working from home.
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