Update: CD Projekt Red has issued a response saying that it is “working on adding a separate warning in the game, aside from the one that exists in the EULA,” to better warn vulnerable players of Cyberpunk 2077’s potential to trigger epileptic seizures.
The developer is also looking for a “more permanent solution” and “will be implementing it as soon as possible.”
Thank you for bringing this up. We’re working on adding a separate warning in the game, aside from the one that exists in the EULA (https://t.co/eXpPn73VSK). Regarding a more permanent solution, Dev team is currently exploring that and will be implementing it as soon as possible. https://t.co/lXFypnSit2
— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) December 8, 2020
Original: UK national charity Epilepsy Action has called for “urgent updates” to Cyberpunk 2077 after a reviewer reported having a seizure while playing through CD Projekt Red’s highly anticipated RPG.
Game Informer Associate Editor Liana Ruppert reported suffering “one major seizure” and being “close to another one” during several moments of her time with Cyberpunk 2077.
Ruppert goes on saying that, sometimes, “walking into clubs and bars that were immediate ‘danger zones’ for epileptics.”
UK Epilepsy Charity Calls for "urgent updates" to Cyberpunk 2077
She also points at the “pale blue glitch effect” that precedes interactions with Johnny Silverhand as a potential trigger for people suffering from certain forms of epilepsy.
Another element of Cyberpunk 2077’s that could cause seizures is its Braindance feature that enables players to delve into certain characters’ memories.
“When ‘suiting up’ for a BD, especially with Judy, V will be given a headset that is meant to onset the instance. The headset fits over both eyes and features a rapid onslaught of white and red blinking LEDs, much like the actual device neurologists use in real life to trigger a seizure when they need to trigger one for diagnosis purposes. If not modeled off of the IRL design, it’s a very spot-on coincidence, and because of that this is one aspect that I would personally advise you to avoid altogether.” Ruppert wrote in her article warning against potential epileptic seizure triggers in Cyberpunk 2077.
UK national charity Epilepsy Action also drew attention towards the issue after the news broke out.
“We are alarmed and saddened that a game reviewer had a seizure triggered by Cyperpunk 2077, before it was even launched. The game features rapidly blinking lights and other animations that could cause seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. These features are unsafe and should have been avoided to make the game more accessible.” Epilepsy Action Director of External Affairs Louise Cousins said.
“With huge demand and excitement building for its release, it may pose a serious risk to people with photosensitive epilepsy. The developers CD Projekt RED should consider how they can update the game to make it safer. A disclaimer warning at the beginning isn’t enough.”
The anticipation for CD Projekt Red’s RPG is immense, so if you or someone you know are ready to take the plunge into Night City and also susceptible to having epileptic seizures, reading the article linked above helps with being aware of gameplay elements you might want to avoid, at least until a patch sorts them out.
Cyberpunk 2077 is set to release on December 10.
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