Controversial Content in Ukrainian Version of Cyberpunk 2077 Sparks CD Projekt Red's Response

CD Projekt Red has addressed concerns raised by players of Cyberpunk 2077 regarding the presence of anti-Russian content in the Ukrainian version of the game. The company recently released a statement to provide clarification on the matter.

In an effort to support Ukraine, CD Projekt Red included Ukrainian localization in the game's 2.0 update, which was released earlier this month. The company has shown solidarity with Ukraine by offering financial assistance to organizations aiding civilians affected by the ongoing conflict and temporarily halting game sales in Russia and Belarus.

CD Projekt Red has released a statement apologizing for the presence of anti-Russian dialogue and graffiti within Cyberpunk 2077's Ukrainian localization following the 2.0 update. Zone of Games shared a comparison of the game's files, revealing that this particular localization not only introduced a new language option but also incorporated specific commentary on the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Disturbingly, new terms like "rusnia" were introduced and utilized in a derogatory manner towards Russians.

During a recent interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, Arsenii Tarasov, one of the organizers of Indie Cup, a game festival in Ukraine, confirmed that a graffiti featured in the game displayed the Ukrainian coat of arms along with a symbol representing the Crimean Tatars, overlaid on a rough map of Crimea. These elements, which were seen as anti-Russian, aligned with CD Projekt's support for Ukraine. However, the studio denied responsibility for these changes and pledged to remove them.

Following accusations of "Russophobia" on Steam and the CD Projekt forums, among other platforms, CD Projekt Red issued an apology. They acknowledged that the Ukrainian translation company SBT Localization had introduced these new features and translations into Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt assured that they are actively working on fixing and replacing these elements in the next update. They expressed regret for the situation and have taken measures to prevent its recurrence.

Addressing political and social issues within video game content, especially in relation to sensitive real-world events, is a complex task. CD Projekt Red's response reflects the challenges developers face in ensuring that localized versions of their games are mindful of global issues. The impact of this conflict on the reception of the new DLC, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, in different countries remains uncertain. Available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Sources: Zone of Games, Rock Paper Shotgun, PC Gamer