Image source: CD Projekt Red
CD Projekt Red has issued a formal apology to the Russian community for the inclusion of offensive content in the Ukrainian localization of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. The studio expressed regret for the presence of offensive lines of dialogue and graffiti that reference Russians, causing distress among players.
CDPR Apologizes to Russian Players For Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Content
The apology was communicated via the studio’s official Russian Telegram channel and translated into English. In the statement, CD Projekt Red acknowledged the presence of offensive content and expressed its commitment to rectify the situation. The studio assured players that the offensive elements were not created by their employees and did not reflect their views. They also pledged to address the issue promptly in an upcoming game update.
“The Ukrainian localization of Cyberpunk 2077 contains several remarks that could offend some Russian players. These remarks were not written by CD PROJEKT RED employees and do not represent our views. We are working to fix them and replace them in the next update. We apologize for this situation and are taking steps to ensure it does not happen again.”
The offensive content in question includes derogatory terms like ‘rusnia,’ a Ukrainian term used pejoratively to refer to Russians. Furthermore, graffiti in the game depicts the Ukrainian coat of arms and the symbol of the Crimean Tatars overlaid on an outline of Crimea, alluding to Russia’s occupation of the region in 2014. Additionally, a photo mode pose in the Ukrainian localization is named “Like a Russian.”
UNLOCTEAM, the studio responsible for the Ukrainian localization, took to Twitter to clarify their role in the matter. They emphasized that every term in the game’s Ukrainian version was directly approved by CD Projekt Red, leaving no room for independent additions. UNLOCTEAM also assured players that a fix for the offensive content was in the works, acknowledging that while several quality assurance checks were conducted, errors can still occur.
Despite the apology on Telegram and UNLOCTEAM’s Twitter clarification, no official statement beyond these channels has been made by CD Projekt Red regarding the offensive content. However, given the sensitivity of the matter and the studio’s commitment to addressing it, players can expect a resolution in the near future through a game update.
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The incident highlights the challenges faced by game developers in ensuring culturally sensitive and inclusive content, especially in complex and highly detailed open-world games like Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. CD Projekt Red’s swift response and commitment to addressing the issue demonstrate their dedication to maintaining a respectful and enjoyable gaming experience for all players.
