The launch of Cyberpunk 2077 has just gone from bad to worse — much worse. Tonight Sony announced it would be pulling the title from its PlayStation Store, as well as offer full refunds to those who already bought the video game, following widespread frustration over the game's unacceptable performance issues.
The message from Sony Interactive Entertainment reads as follows:
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. SIE will also be removing Cyberpunk 2077 from PlayStation Store until further notice.
Once we have confirmed that you purchased Cyberpunk 2077 via PlayStation Store, we will begin processing your refund. Please note that completion of the refund may vary based on your payment method and financial institution.
Exclaim! can confirm that if you now search for Cyberpunk 2077 on the PlayStation Store in Canada, it is nowhere to be found.
The truly unprecedented move comes just days after developers CD Projekt Red were forced to issue an apology and promise refunds after buyers — and especially console owners — vented growing frustrations over the Keanu Reeves-starring game's serious performance issues.
In the message issued Monday (December 14), CD Projekt Red apologized to fans "for not showing the game on base last-gen consoles before it premiered and, in consequence, not allowing you to make a more informed decision about your purchase."
However, while CD Projekt Red promised refunds, the move was soon seen simply as a PR tactic by many, as gamers seeking refunds quickly learned that the developer actually has no real control over retailers' specific return policies, including those of Sony and its PlayStation Store.
This quickly led many to criticize Sony itself when reports began to emerge online that unsatisfied PS4 and PS5 owners were refused refunds for Cyberpunk due to Sony's typically very strict refund policy when it comes to digital game purchases.
Even though Cyberpunk 2077 was delayed multiple times, gamers complained of repeated crashes and immersion-destroying bugs on PC and especially console. Among the bugs were embarrassingly low frame rates and graphics that were on par with last-last gen consoles, especially on PS4 and Xbox One.
It should be noted that Cyberpunk 2077 has not yet been properly released on PS5 and Xbox Series X, with both systems currently only having access to the last-gen console versions through backward compatibility.
Cyberpunk 2077 had promised that refunds would be available until December 21 — though to get one through some retailers, especially physical stores, this still seems to be a difficult thing to achieve.
Earlier this week, the stock value of CD Projekt Red took a massive plunge after the game's seriously rocky launch, with its stock value plummeting by nearly a third since the game's December 10 launch — going from about $27 per share last Wednesday (December 9) to about $20 per share as of Monday afternoon (December 14).
We can't help but think that this move by Sony could spell even more market trouble for CD Projekt Red in the coming days.
UPDATE (12/18, 12 p.m. ET): CD Projekt Red has now responded to Sony's takedown. Here's what the company had to say via a new statement:
The message from Sony Interactive Entertainment reads as follows:
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. SIE will also be removing Cyberpunk 2077 from PlayStation Store until further notice.
Once we have confirmed that you purchased Cyberpunk 2077 via PlayStation Store, we will begin processing your refund. Please note that completion of the refund may vary based on your payment method and financial institution.
Exclaim! can confirm that if you now search for Cyberpunk 2077 on the PlayStation Store in Canada, it is nowhere to be found.
The truly unprecedented move comes just days after developers CD Projekt Red were forced to issue an apology and promise refunds after buyers — and especially console owners — vented growing frustrations over the Keanu Reeves-starring game's serious performance issues.
In the message issued Monday (December 14), CD Projekt Red apologized to fans "for not showing the game on base last-gen consoles before it premiered and, in consequence, not allowing you to make a more informed decision about your purchase."
However, while CD Projekt Red promised refunds, the move was soon seen simply as a PR tactic by many, as gamers seeking refunds quickly learned that the developer actually has no real control over retailers' specific return policies, including those of Sony and its PlayStation Store.
This quickly led many to criticize Sony itself when reports began to emerge online that unsatisfied PS4 and PS5 owners were refused refunds for Cyberpunk due to Sony's typically very strict refund policy when it comes to digital game purchases.
Even though Cyberpunk 2077 was delayed multiple times, gamers complained of repeated crashes and immersion-destroying bugs on PC and especially console. Among the bugs were embarrassingly low frame rates and graphics that were on par with last-last gen consoles, especially on PS4 and Xbox One.
It should be noted that Cyberpunk 2077 has not yet been properly released on PS5 and Xbox Series X, with both systems currently only having access to the last-gen console versions through backward compatibility.
Cyberpunk 2077 had promised that refunds would be available until December 21 — though to get one through some retailers, especially physical stores, this still seems to be a difficult thing to achieve.
Earlier this week, the stock value of CD Projekt Red took a massive plunge after the game's seriously rocky launch, with its stock value plummeting by nearly a third since the game's December 10 launch — going from about $27 per share last Wednesday (December 9) to about $20 per share as of Monday afternoon (December 14).
We can't help but think that this move by Sony could spell even more market trouble for CD Projekt Red in the coming days.
UPDATE (12/18, 12 p.m. ET): CD Projekt Red has now responded to Sony's takedown. Here's what the company had to say via a new statement: