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The creator of “Cyberpunk 2077,” one of this year’s most anticipated video games, told gamers they could seek refunds because the initial release included bugs, a rare move for a major publisher, and the latest brand on a beleaguered project. due to delays in the launch.
Warsaw-based CD Projekt SA said in a tweet on Monday that the $ 60 game, which features Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves and came out last week, does not work properly on Sony Corp.’s PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Microsoft Corp. The company has apologized and said it has addressed some issues with recent updates and is planning more in the coming weeks.
“We would appreciate it if you would give us a chance, but if you are not satisfied with the game on your console and do not want to wait for updates, you can choose to refund your copy,” the company said.
Analysts had predicted that “Cyberpunk” would sell between 18 and 25 million copies in its first month. On the day it came out, CD Projekt said the game had eight million pre-orders, of which about 59%, or 4.7 million copies, were for PC.
A spokeswoman for CD Projekt declined to comment further. Shares of CD Projekt have fallen about 25% since Wednesday’s close in Warsaw trading, losing more than $ 2 billion in market value.
“Cyberpunk” is the largest and most expensive project yet for the video game company in more than two decades. CD Projekt’s co-CEOs told The Wall Street Journal earlier this month that they miscalculated how long it would take to complete “Cyberpunk” and that the coronavirus pandemic hampered the final stages of four years of development, which followed pre-production work. which started around 2012.
Executives also said the company was overwhelmed by efforts to make “Cyberpunk” playable on nine platforms at launch. He previously developed games for three platforms at the same time.
It’s unusual for game publishers to suggest players seek refunds for their big-budget releases. Companies typically delay problem-ridden games to correct them before releasing them. One or two delays are relatively common, but not more. Still, gamers in recent years have come to expect games to debut with a few flaws and that developers will fix those issues through post-launch online updates.
“It’s a major flaw,” Jefferies analyst Ken Rumph said of CD Projekt’s “Cyberpunk” release.
The game has received mixed reactions from both professional critics and everyday gamers, with some aggressively complaining on social media. Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted a response to CD Projekt’s tweet with a screenshot of a message expressing disappointment with a copy of “Cyberpunk” for PlayStation 4 from an unidentified writer.
“I took a week off to play this game and quickly realized that it is not the game I have been thinking about every day for eight years,” the message read.
Several other prominent developers postponed the games this year, citing the work-from-home challenges caused by the health crisis as a key factor. For example, Microsoft delayed the launch of a new installment of its Halo shooter franchise in August for next year.
It is important that “Cyberpunk” is a success for CD Projekt. The company only has one other major franchise, The Witcher, and its last major release is now five years old.
The bug could create headaches for CD Projekt as it looks to develop other games in the future, including the online multiplayer version of “Cyberpunk” that it has promised, Bernstein analyst Matti Littunen said.
“The players have great memories,” he said.
Write Sarah E. Needleman at [email protected]
