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The full episode, in writing.
Alright, this is “Rank the Most Controversial,” and I’m going out on a limb with this one: no recent video game launch has divided fans, critics, and the industry itself like the rollout of Cyberpunk 2077. If you think you’ve got the definitive list of what went wrong, I’m betting my ranking will have at least one pick you’ll want to argue.
Number 5: The Review Embargo and PC-Only Review Copies
Cyberpunk 2077 was one of the most hyped titles ever, winning over 100 awards at E3 2018, including Best Game and Best RPG. But as the release date loomed in December 2020, the developer imposed strict review embargoes. Reviewers were required to sign NDAs that, according to Wired, threatened potential fines of around $27,000 per violation. Even more eyebrow-raising: CD Projekt Red gave out review copies only for the PC version, and not for the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. That meant all early reviews focused on a version of the game that ran far better than what most players would actually experience at launch.
People argue about this because it created a trust gap. Many fans and journalists felt misled, suspecting that the company was hiding the true state of the game on consoles. The decision fueled accusations of a lack of transparency, and it’s still cited as a textbook example of how not to manage expectations for a blockbuster release.
Number 4: The Strict Delay Announcements and Developer Crunch
Cyberpunk 2077’s release date was originally set for April 16, 2020. Then it moved to September, then November, and finally landed on December 10. The last delay happened so suddenly that, due to Polish law and the size of the development team, around 90% of staff weren’t informed until the final hour. Tension was running so high that some developers received death threats after the last delay was announced.
Why is this so controversial? On one hand, fans were desperate for the game, but on the other, the repeated delays and lack of communication with the team shone a spotlight on industry crunch. It raised big questions about how studios balance ambitious visions with realistic development timelines, and how much pressure is put on teams behind the scenes. While delays are common, the way CD Projekt Red communicated—or failed to communicate—left scars across the community and the company itself.
Number 3: The State of the Console Versions at Launch
When Cyberpunk 2077 finally arrived for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on December 10, 2020, reports of bugs, crashes, and graphical failures flooded in. Metacritic scores illustrate the gap: the PC version landed at 86/100, while the PlayStation 4 version scored just 57/100, and Xbox One trailed at 61/100. Players posted countless videos showing missing textures, characters T-posing, physics glitches, and game-breaking crashes. Fans and critics still argue about whether the old consoles should have received the game at all, or if the developer should have delayed again to avoid what became one of gaming’s most infamous launches. This decision sparked calls for better quality assurance, more honest communication, and even regulatory changes for how digital storefronts handle refunds.
Number 2: Sony’s Removal of Cyberpunk 2077 from the PlayStation Store and the Aftermath
The technical problems were so severe at launch that Sony—normally slow to remove even broken games—took the unprecedented step of delisting Cyberpunk 2077 from the PlayStation Store. The game was unavailable for purchase digitally on PlayStation platforms for six months, not returning until June 2021. The move forced CD Projekt Red to offer refunds and set a precedent for how platforms and publishers might handle future disasters. The fallout led to lawsuits and regulatory investigations, not to mention a $1.85 million settlement over claims that CD Projekt misled investors about the game’s state.
Why does this rank so high? It’s almost unheard of for a major release to be pulled from a major storefront. The PlayStation Store removal became a symbol of the industry’s struggle with quality control and accountability, and it continues to be a reference point in debates about consumer protection in digital gaming.
Number 1: The Perceived Downplaying of Technical Issues and Class-Action Fallout
This is where opinions get fiercest. As technical issues became impossible to ignore, accusations grew that CD Projekt Red had actively downplayed the scale of the game’s problems before launch. While the game had been in development since at least 2016, with a final team of around 500 using the brand new REDengine 4, the studio faced new technical hurdles—especially with first-person gameplay and open-world systems. Still, investors and buyers alleged that the company misrepresented the game’s readiness, leading to multiple class-action lawsuits and investigations. The lawsuits were ultimately settled for $1.85 million, but the damage to the company’s reputation was huge.
People argue about where the blame lies. Was it unchecked ambition, technical overreach, or the pressure to meet financial projections after spending between $436 million and $440 million on development and marketing—the cost of a major Hollywood film? Did the company’s leadership ignore warnings from QA and engineers, or was it simply a case of hype outpacing reality? Even after dozens of patches and updates—culminating in the positive reception for the Phantom Liberty expansion in 2023 and the 2022 anime tie-in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners—the launch controversy remains a focal point for debates about honesty in marketing, investor relations, and the limits of what’s possible in AAA game development.
The lawsuits over Cyberpunk 2077’s launch included a class-action complaint filed in December 2020 by investors alleging that CD Projekt misled them about the state of the game and the likelihood of technical problems. The company agreed to a $1.85 million settlement in December 2021, but did not admit wrongdoing. The fallout also included investigations by Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, which monitored CD Projekt Red’s efforts to patch and improve the game in response to consumer complaints.