So the PS4 version of Cyberpunk 2077 is so busted that Sony has had Cyberpunk 2077 removed from PlayStation Store listings. On top of that, they’re offering full refunds on their own dime to any unsatisfied customers. Hey Microsoft, are you listening?
Sony’s official statement explains, “SIE strives to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction; therefore we will begin to offer a full refund for all gamers who have purchased Cyberpunk 2077 via PlayStation Store”. Adding that “SIE will also be removing Cyberpunk 2077 from PlayStation Store until further notice”.
CD PROJEKT RED has responded, offering a little bit in recompense, and taking no real blame. In fact, their statement could even be read as trying to guilt-trip those wanting refunds. There was already a refund process in place that CDPR touted, so why make things weirder like this?
CDPRs response is trying to offer the weak apology that anyone “who is not willing to wait for updates” can get a full refund. That’s the kind of weasel language that feels designed to try and make people feel bad for getting their money back. Sony seems to understand that the concept of a minimum viable product is important. The console ports of Cyberpunk 2077 should not have been released, period, if they did not function well on the current hardware. CDPR should not have said things like this.
The message from CDPR is that the development team is “working hard to bring Cyberpunk 2077 back to the PlayStation Store as soon as possible”. But when that will be is unknown.
There are a ton of lessons that can be learned here, and the chief one is that things need to change. Management and executive decision-making must be less influenced by investors and the marketing department, that’s how feature creep and rushed releases happen. And crunch needs to end. Secondly, there needs to be more pushback from games media, this is not a 10/10 game, and the culture around it doesn’t deserve to be rewarded. Any outlet that refuses to reckon with their review process after this is doing their fans and readers a disservice.
