Players react to Cyberpunk 2077 getting kicked off the PlayStation Store

News by Patrick Dane Contributor

Published on Dec. 18, 2020

The industry reaction to the Cyberpunk 2077's debacle ran from analytical to inspired mockery.

Sony taking down Cyberpunk 2077 from the PlayStation Store is huge news. It's an unprecedented move at a scale like this, and one that would have seemed impossible just a week ago. One of the most anticipated video games ever made has been pulled from a major store for running terribly on last-gen consoles. That doesn't happen every day.

As you can imagine, this has social media buzzing as everyone tries to get in their two cents. Be it from a place of trying to analyse the situation, or simply looking to farm likes with jokes at the expense of CD Projekt.

Many in the industry, rightfully, took a moment to acknowledge the developers caught in the middle of this situation who have come under fire because of bad managerial decisions. Here a couple:

Garry Whitta (screenwriter, Star Wars: Rogue One, The Book of Eli)

I feel terrible for the Cyberpunk devs, working their hearts out for a decade only to have ashes as their reward. This is on corporate, who knew the game wasn’t shippable but shipped it anyway. This will go down as one of the great unforced errors in video game history. Alas.

— Merry Whitta (@garywhitta) December 18, 2020

Rami Ismail (indie developer)

100% kudos for Sony offering these refunds, refunds that they don't have to give, refunds that include their own cut despite services fully rendered to the publisher, a publisher which threw them under the bus with a broken game and a sudden demand for refunds. Stellar move.

— Rami Ismail (رامي) (@tha_rami) December 18, 2020

Kallie Plagge (Gamespot)

It probably goes without saying but the Cyberpunk 2077 situation is such a bummer. It's not my job to defend a company (nor would I) but I really feel for the individuals who worked unbelievably hard and certainly never wanted this outcome. It just sucks!

— Kallie Plagge (@inkydojikko) December 18, 2020

Parris Lilly (Gamertag Radio)

speechless at how unprecedented all of this is and all of it falls on leadership

the devs/PR teams who have given years of hard work and passion to Cyberpunk 2077 deserved better

2020 sucks https://t.co/hiToQ4zoj6

— Parris (@vicious696) December 18, 2020

Daniel Ahmad (senior analyst at Niko Partners)

Cyberpunk 2077 was expected to become a 30m+ seller prior to launch. It could have been delayed another year and still sold more than that easily.

This situation could have been avoided. But the state of the game + CDPR's handling of the situation post launch has led to this. https://t.co/2NW3VRs3iK

— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) December 18, 2020

Blessing Adeoye Jr. (Kinda Funny Games)

There are plenty of broken games on PSN. So I have to assume this is due to the whole refund statement CDPR put out. I bet that spiked calls to PlayStation regarding refunds (and p**sed off Sony) to the extent where they're like "enough of this" and pulled the plug.

WILD.

— Blessing Adeoye Jr. (@BlessingJr) December 18, 2020

Of course, not everyone was so serious about the situation. There were also some incredible jokes made at the expense of Cyberpunk 2077 and especially the board at CD Projekt.

Jason Schreier (Bloomberg)

Pretty stoked for Cyberpunk 2077: A Realm Reborn

— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) December 18, 2020

Imran Khan (Kinda Funny and freelance journalist)

Well

Microsoft won the console wars

Cyberpunk 2077 is currently a timed Xbox exclusive

— Imran Khan (@imranzomg) December 18, 2020

Jeff Grubb (VentureBeat)

Selling my PS4 with Cyberpunk and P.T. for $80,000. https://t.co/4aotR5SOwb

— Jeff Grubb (@JeffGrubb) December 18, 2020

Brian Altano (IGN)

Cyberpunk 2077 had to come out this month. Have you ever tried to buy a yacht in March? It’s impossible. You gotta buy one in December. That’s when you get the best yachts. You can’t just have your Investors Holiday Party on a small boat. Gotta be a yacht. Put that game out now!

— Brian Altano (@agentbizzle) December 18, 2020

However, perhaps the undisputed winner of the night went to the legendary fake Kaz Hirai account. In reference to the situation of CD Projekt's GOG going back on selling Devotion earlier this week, he simply tweeted:

Earlier this month, Cyberpunk 2077 was released on the PlayStation 4. After receiving many messages from gamers, we have decided not to list the game in our store. https://t.co/Kx7rctpJn9

— Ex-CEO Kaz Hirai (@KazHiraiCEO) December 18, 2020

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