Cyberpunk 2077 devs hit back at death threats over delay
CD Projekt RedAs anyone following the gaming scene knows, Cyberpunk 2077 has become 2020’s most talked-about title. There are several reasons for this: the game’s beautifully crafted dystopian world, the cast of Hollywood stars like Keanu Reeves, but mainly discussion centers around the fact that the game is constantly being delayed.
The most recent delay is officially the fourth in the game’s development, with CD Projekt Red pushing the release back until December 10.
While the hype around the game is still there, this announcement has become one step too many for a lot of Cyberpunk fans, and has unleashed a wealth of backlash upon the game’s developers: including death threats.
CDPR dev calls out death threats
While a vast majority of fans simply vented their disappointment and anger on Twitter in response to the announcement, some fans were so upset to even send the developers death threats.
Senior developer Andrzej Zawadzki released a plea on Twitter which asked fans to remember that the death threats they are sending are being received by real people behind the computer screens.
“I understand you’re feeling angry… However, sending death threats to developers is absolutely unacceptable and just wrong,” the senior game designer wrote.
I want to address one thing in regards of the @CyberpunkGame delay.
I understand you're feeling angry, disappointed and want to voice your opinion about it.
However, sending death threats to the developers is absolutely unacceptable and just wrong. We are people, just like you.— Andrzej Zawadzki (@ZawAndy) October 27, 2020
On October 28, the developer tweeted out again, this time sharing a screenshot with an example of a message he’d received from a tilted fan over the game’s delay.
“This is one of the mildest messages some of us got. There were far, FAR worse. Every single one is being reported. We will not let it go through,” he said. “Do not treat it lightly. Do not ignore it. It is serious.”
The messages he shared claimed the user knew where he lived, and that he would be “finished” if they didn’t release Cyberpunk on time. Zawadzki’s family were also threatened.
This is one of the mildest messages some of us got. There were far, FAR worse. Every single one is being reported. We will not let it go through.
Do not treat it lightly. Do not ignore it. It is serious.
That said, I'm off TT for couple of days. Take care.#Cyberpunk2077 pic.twitter.com/Z80HHWADqU— Andrzej Zawadzki (@ZawAndy) October 28, 2020
The response from fans was generally receptive, as while many acknowledged that the game’s delay caused irritation, death threats are a step in the completely wrong direction.
Fans are already holding CD Projekt Red accountable, but sending such vitriol to the developers is never acceptable. Death threats are never the answer to problems – in reality, they just create more. So while anger over the game’s delay is understandable, it’s likely also out of the control of individual developers.
All that’s left to do is hold our breaths that we see Cyberpunk 2077 sometime in 2020.