Cyberpunk 2077 publisher says there was a ‘wrong approach’ on PS4, Xbox One

Top managers at Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red spoke with investors on Tuesday to discuss the game’s recent rocky release. Adam Kiciński, co-CEO of CD Projekt, told the group that the company’s board of directors was “too focused on getting the game out” and underestimated the size of the game. Cyberpunk 2077‘s problems, according to a transcript of the call.

“We ignored signs that more time was needed to refine the game on the latest generation of consoles,” said Kiciński. “It was the wrong approach and went against our corporate philosophy.”

Cyberpunk 2077 was released on December 10. Reviewers, including Polygon, were given early release codes before launch – but only on Windows PC, where the game works best. Reviews were mixed, but many cited a myriad of bugs, even on Windows PCs. Those bugs were few, however, compared to how the game ran on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Problems range from unplayable game-breaking problems to silly bugs.

Michał Nowakowski, CD Projekt’s senior vice president of business development, reiterated that the management team has not addressed the console problems of the last generation well enough. When asked how Cyberpunk 2077 Nowakowski, who has passed Microsoft and Sony’s console certification process, said he assumed the two companies trusted on CD Projekt Red would fix the game before launch.

“Obviously, that didn’t come together exactly as he planned,” he added. Nowakowski said updates will come in December, January and February – with the “bigger improvements” planned for the last two months. However, players shouldn’t expect the console versions to look or run like the Windows PC version: “That’s definitely not going to happen,” Nowakowski said.

‘I’m not saying it’s going to be a bad game, but if it is [sic] Expectations regarding, for example, visuals or some other performance angle, are as follows, then we openly state that it won’t be, ”he said. “However, it will be a good, playable, stable game, without glitches and crashes. That’s the purpose. “

Co-CEO Marcin Iwiński added that he hopes players can enjoy the experience on consoles “by Christmas,” noting that the major updates will come afterwards.

On Monday, CD Projekt Red apologized to players for not showing last-generation console images – “do not allow [players] to make a more informed decision about [their] purchase. “In that note, published on Twitter, CD Projekt Red said players can get a refund for their game by contacting Microsoft or Sony. Some players have reported that the console makers are refusing refunds. Some believed CD’s message Projekt Red implied that refunds would be guaranteed, but the developer clarified during Tuesday’s conference call that it has no special arrangement with Microsoft or Sony regarding refunds. To receive a refund for a purchase, it must comply with the requirements set through the respective store. For example, Sony’s policy is that players can get a refund for purchases made within 14 days, as the software has not been downloaded. Valve’s Steam store is similar – refunds are available for games purchased within the 14-day time frame, although it allows two hours of playtime.

During the call, CD Projekt Red did not address criticisms of the developer’s mandatory ‘crunch’ period, nor the ongoing allegations of transphobia. The full transcript of the call is available online.

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