Cyberpunk Game Maker Faces Hostile Staff After Failed Launch

Rebellion is in the air at Polish video game publisher CD Projekt SA after the company’s highly anticipated, and thrice-delayed, latest title was released to scathing reviews about glitches.

[RaidenBlack]

"Many industry observers have wondered why Cyberpunk 2077, which was first announced in 2012 and was delayed three times in 2020, still appears to be unfinished. Several current and former staff who worked on Cyberpunk 2077 have all said the same thing: The game’s deadlines, set by the board of directors, were always unrealistic. It was clear to many of the developers that they needed more time."

[badz149]

You will be surprised at how many out there that believes the last gen consoles are the ones at fault for all these mess, not CDPR. Many even go the extra mile by saying PS4 and xbone players should be thankful that they even got the game at all as this should be a "next gen only" game.

That's how disgusting these so called PCMR elitist which are now suddenly fine with the game running at 45-60fps on ultra setting even with the 3080.

[bouzebbal]

Down the drain CDPR.

[thorstein]

I would add that it isn't even "next gen" only. I play on PS5 and I still have major gamebreaking glitches and crashes that are unrelated to performance.

The game isn't finished whether you play on PS4, PS5, XBOSX, or an $8000 gaming PC.

[Father__Merrin]

I know just check out pc gameplay footage it still runs poor. This is sign of a poor developer that has lead developed on wrong system and has now backfired badly.

I don't think this will be fixed your better off with another title. Sony nor Microsoft or even Nintendo as a lesser company would never release a AAA in such a torrid state the game is broken on all formats

[bouzebbal]

This game should have been pushed to 2077

I'm out

[spektical]

for the record i have a 3080 and the game struggling to play well with ultra is blasphemous. This game is an unpolished gem. Its rough all over the place. Glitches galore, random crashes, game breaking bugs (i've been stuck several times in the scan mode when exiting a camera), missing features you see in other open world games like gta (tires flattened, AI isnt only a hands up, etc.)

In short this game needed possible another half year to get to the point of good enough to release on PC. I have no idea how management thought they could let consoles slide without revolt.

I also bought the game on console to play on my ps5 since I scored a a8h from costco. But have returned it (thank god i never opened it).

[WelkinCole]

I kinda got that from some of reds interviews. Overly ambitious and were dismissive of devs who couldnt hack it in their view when in fact they were being unresonable

[franwex]

Eight years was an unrealistic expectation?

[Rocketisleague]

Probably has more.to.do.with individual.features and sprints causing shitty code.to.go.into.the 'final build again.and again causing a crappy dev cycle with a never ending shitstorm of broken half finished features

I've experienced this first hand

[shuvam09]

Witcher 3 released in 2015, so probably around 2016 is when development would've really begun

[SinisterKieran]

Lol people seem to think companies only work on one game at a time. Probably worked on cyberpunk while making Witcher.

[NotoriousWhiz]

It's probably time for developers to stop announcing games years early (or at a minimum to stop announcing release dates) until the product is done and then they can say: "hey guys, we got this great game coming out next month"

[Knightofelemia]

If I put blood sweat and tears and long hours into a game I would also demand answers especially if I am thinking to myself I am making a game I think people are going to like and enjoy. Refunds left right and center, buggy game, Sony taking it down is like a massive kick to the balls for the developer who actually gave a shit when he/she built the game. The higher ups should have listened to the staff pushed the game back worked out the bugs skip the holiday sales and launch the game when it was ready. I hate higher ups who only see sales rush it out the door patch it as we go call it a game just to get those holiday sales.

[monkey602]

Not to mention I'm sure that just like any other studio. Bonuses and rewards are paid based on reviews and sales data. Something I'm sure developers dont appreciate losing when they were forced to work nearly 2 months worth of 6 day weeks on mandatory overtime at last minute

[RuloR_666]

In other cases you are right but CPR already stated that the developers will get full bonus despite the problems and trouiblesome launch

[monkey602]

Oh I hadn't read that. That's a good thing at least.

[DragonWarrior19]

Yup, bonuses are typically based on Metacritic scores and when CP launched it was VERY clear the outlets that were going to give the game a 9/10 no matter what purely based on hype. Cyberpunk really exposed corruption all throughout the industry from board of directors and shareholders forcing deadlines, lazy developers who clearly bit off more than they could chew, Sony and MS certifying and allowing the game to be released on their platforms knowing full well the game's state, reviewers clearly being hype-biased and giving amazing scores. Now all of the people from news outlets are claiming they saw this trainwreck coming after years of hyping this game up saying it was going to be the best game of all time. Hopefully this sets a new standard for game development in the future, but we all know that won't happen.

[BlackIceJoe]

With everything that is happening at CD Project Red I'm curious if there will be a mass walkout of developers and then go work at a different studio or create their own company.

It definitely will be interesting to see what comes next for all the workers.

[Nerdmaster]

Why? They know every other company will have the same problems, if not even worse.

[ocelot07]

Not every company rushes games to release. Look at Sony. They delayed Last of us 2 twice I think and sure they had some crunch periods. But look at the game once it released has won GOTY and praised by reviews.

Look at Gran Turismo. They take years to come out because they take there time. You don't see Sony pushing polyphony digital to fart one out every year.

[AuraAbjure]

It doesn't have to be that way. If it is that way they start their own game development studio. I've said it before and I'll say it again. The technology that's out now is curtailed to the small team. Just look at No Man's Sky or Bright Memory: Infinite. A small team designed NMS ONLY on PC (which is arguably how 2077 should have been) and they put out a great game. BMI is literally made by one dude and was honored with gameplay reveal for the Series X.

[Ninver]

Things must be in shambles at CD's studio right now. I anticipate several key employees walking out early to avoid any association with the studio. Dark times ahead.

[Eamon]

I remember the hostile reaction to the reports of crunch at the studio. I was telling people it's not a healthy work environment and there shouldn't be strong-arming of people to work in such conditions.

Working longer hours doesn't necessarily increase productivity. It definitely doesn't improve creativity. All you're doing is trying to reach deadlines as quickly as possible so naturally you're going to cut corners and compromise quality as much as possible since the ultimate goal has changed from trying to create great finished product to just finish the product. Even the latter could not be accomplished in this case.

There should never have been a crunch. The game is still 1 year away from being complete. I can understand people who were defending CDPR last few months now excusing their defense on a lack of transparency - that they only defended it because it was based on the assumption the game was nearing true completion.

Well, here's the thing. The fact crunch was planned at the last minute after delaying the game from an initial April release shows that there was a lot of uncertainty about the state of the game. The devs didn't need to be put through insane work shifts to deliver a faulty final product. This has undoubtedly massively impacted morale at CDPR.

[kneon]

Crunch time is normal in the software industry, I've done my fair share of 16+ hour days. The problem is that it happens too often and for too long in the games industry. It's a result of poor management and planning, and it seems in this case, interference from further up the food chain.

[Eamon]

Yeh I understand what you're saying. It's not that I am hellbent against the concept of crunch. I get that there are some situations where it is unavoidable. The problem is crunch turning into regular work culture. I've also worked 16+ hour days too and they aren't pleasant.

I'm also specifically referring to CDPR's case where instead of giving the game the necessary delay it needs to get it done, they resorted to crunch.

The execs and upper management must have been fully aware the game was far from ready but instead gambled on a crunch period to try and get it launch-ready. From the look of things, it seems that it was a mega gamble and hasn't worked out as much as they had hoped.

[CS7]

On reddit they said this was one of the earlier meetings! I laughed my ass off! 😂

https://youtu.be/2WeWKrdoKz...

[SullysCigar]

I'm always apprehensive when people share links, but that was worth it lmao!

[CS7]

Ikr!

[RedDevils]

Haha 8 millions pre-ordered. Thank god I'm not one of them.

[BrainSyphoned]

That clip was made for this

[victorMaje]

🤣🤣🤣

[Thatgrammar]

After reading the article, it sounds like the staff members are frustrated. They are just looking for answers and are bluntly asking the higher ups. I don’t understand how thats hostile?

[SullysCigar]

Can you imagine working your arse off for years, only for the execs to decide to release it unfinished and have everyone slate your efforts? The money men threw the real workers under the bus - they've every right to be pissed. So have the gamers.

[gold_drake]

i wouldnt call it a "failed launch", it still sold millions.
the game is just a trainwreck

[ManMarmalade]

It's not a trainwreck for everyone. I'm enjoying the game and having fun driving and looking at new areas. Game is gorgeous. I don't have many issues besides a few small bugs here and there and very minor frame dips. Im playing on an ASUS RoG laptop on ultra settings and it seems to be running very well with the 10 hours I have put into it.

[RedDevils]

are you running on 120fps?

[gold_drake]

ah sorry, should have said "on consoles"

[cartman313]

I've been lucky with my play through as well. I'm playing at 1800p with mostly high/ultra settings getting stable 60fps. 73.2 hours so far and only issues I have had are people standing in the middle of benches or popping in and out of things.

[Father__Merrin]

CDPR needs to choose wisely either pc only developer or console only developer. If multiplat then careful consecration needs to be given to lead development. If this happens again they are finished.

Imo consoles should be lead then pc port later with extra scaling depending on spec.

The only reason this has happened is because they lead developed on pc and not only that they targeted a spec that most people don't have. The minimum and recommended specs are laughable for this game it just doesn't work....

[Bladesfist]

They should just release on PC first as it was ready and works very well there and then spent more time optimising before releasing the console versions, like they did with the WItcher 2.

[Father__Merrin]

I don't think anyone will have a problem with that release pc first then at a later date release on consoles. I can bet we'd get a much much better game out of it or even if it was consoles first and and pc after

[Whitey2k]

Sony should be buy them out with great talented teams behind sony we make these devs from a AAA to a AAAA team

[SullysCigar]

The way their share price is going, you and I could club together for a buy out.

[Whitey2k]

That will be something got a million or 2?

[badz149]

AAAA is a MS exclusive

[SullysCigar]

Lmao!

[SpineSaw]

Yes! crackdown 3 was the best AAAA game ever.

[cooperdnizzle]

M$ hasn’t even made at good new triple a game in 10, 15 years and than have the nerve to build a team and call it AAAA! I think you have to master AAA first but with the way the world is these days you can just say and do whatever ya want. Hahah

[anast]

"Multiple 6 day weeks" Most people have to work 10 hrs a day, 6 days a week, just to get by. Anyway, the devs didn't look too upset when they posted on twit with them holding up a PS4 version of the game.

[SpineSaw]

Too many Developers and Publishers releases games in a unplayable state or with more issues than it should have been released with. Bethesda with Fallout 76, Microsoft with Sea of Thieves and The Halo MCC, Bungie with Destiny 2 to name a few in a ocean of games like Cyberpunk that should never have been released in the state it was in on its release day. All these games and many, many more have been sold in a knowingly terrible state, this should never happen and WE GAMERS should not allow this to happen. To be fair all games I called out are all in a much better place today but that does not change the fact that these games like Cyberpunk should have never been released in the state they released in. Never! I have no doubt that in a year Cyberpunk will be like Fallout76, Halo MCC and Sea of Thieves and pull itself out of this mess and be a great game. To me Cyberpunk looks like it needed NO LESS than another year or more in the oven.
I know some have issues with the $70 price of some games and that's a different topic but if a game needs more time for the love of "insert your God" give it the time it needs before release and if it cost more I and others willing to pay more for a great game.

[cell989]

Mismanagement of time and resources seems to be the culprit here. Who ever was at the helm is the one to be questioned

[franwex]

This game is an engineering failure. I get that management is to blame here, but how can 8 years not be enough to engineer the game? Did they start programming the game this year and all they did was make art assets, sound, and writing for 8 years?

It honestly does not make logical sense. Eight years is enough time-specially with a team of 400 people. It wasn’t made by a small team. This was made by an experienced and large studio for 8 years. When other publishers like EA rush a game they they usually give them about a year or two to complete a game. This doesn’t make any sense. This isn’t a 8 year product-this is a 1 and 1/2 year product.

[arkard]

I think the game was only in full development for like 4 years or something, until Witcher was completed.

https://www.ign.com/article...

[Weapon_of_choice]

Okay!! Enough articles on Cyber Punk already. The game bombed, badly. Let's have some new articles..

[franwex]

Clicks bro. also, not much news around this time.

[cooperdnizzle]

I say there haven’t been held accountable enough but that’s just me. Maybe some shovel wear lawsuit will set a good example. That’s just me though.

[SonyPS360]

Imagine putting your blood, sweat, and tears into making something, only for some corporate fatcat to make you release it early, and then a bunch of idiots blame you for it.

We see this with every great studio once they start to get big. Greedy execs fucking it all up.

[GamerBeast1982]

I download it again on ps5 as I heard there was a massive 15 gig patch . It is a hell of a lot better . Game is a great game only probs I have now on ps5 are crashes and no other cars while driving . But it’s defo a big step up from last week . And I will be finishing the main game . But outside of night city the game is amazing and near perfect.

[esherwood]

Need to fire everyone complaining a about paid overtime. Might not be the industry for you

[got_dam]

It runs (mostly) well for me, but im not deluded enough to say that this wasn't a total shit show. I love the game and wish everyone was having the same experience i am, but this is a bad look for CDPR. I feel absolutely terrible for the dev team. They worked their asses off to make something truly special, and it was all for nothing because of the higher ups who were more worried about the short term return on investment than they were about the long term ramifications to the future and the massive loss of consumer goodwill. This is a major bummer. Still, kudos to the dev team. It was obvious that this would have been spectacular in another 6 months or so.

[Rainbowcookie]

Along swoop micro$oft to pick the spoils.

[savedsynner]

Honestly, this it their first FPS hybrid...and it shows. It's a very good game, but it lacks some of the refinement found in other FPS games. I suspect the next big game out of them will be a witcher game focused on Ciri, but if they do make a sequel(whcih I think they will), it will likely be alot more refined.

People forget that though The Witcher 3 was amazing, The Witcher 1 had alot of rough edges. It was basically saved by it's story. Witcher 2 improve on the gameplay alot, but it still felt a little behind the times in terms of gameplay.