Jewel Caruso December 10th, 2020 - 8:10 AM
The long awaited Cyberpunk 2077 finally released on December 10 and has already become the fastest-selling PC game of all time. However, the game is also getting some criticism already as the game did not originally have a seizure warning in the game. Epilepsy Action, a charity that helps raise awareness for those with epilepsy, took to Twitter to call out CD Projekt Red for the mistake and how the video game is dangerous for those with this condition. While Cyberpunk 2077 has put in the warning before the release to the rest of the public, Epilepsy Action says there needs to be a more permanent solution.
⚠ The #Cyberpunk2077 story features rapid red and white blinking lights and other animations that could cause seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy ⚠@CDPROJEKTRED @cyberpunkgame these features are unsafe and should have been avoided to make the game more accessible pic.twitter.com/SFExxVEZXn
— Epilepsy Action (@epilepsyaction) December 8, 2020
The cause of concern is the rapid red and white lights (along with other animations) that could cause seizures for photosensitive epilepsy. One reviewer of the game stated how he had a major seizure while playing and felt like he was going to have more throughout the game. The flashing white and red LEDs stimulate a device used by neurologists to trigger a diagnostic seizure. These particular lights in the game come from when the character in the game puts on a headset.
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
While CD Projekt Red never responded to Epilepsy Action, they did respond to the review in Game Informer and promised to add the seizure warning at the beginning of the game. This was included in time for the massive release. CD Projekt Red also promises to work on a more permanent solution with their Dev team; however, no other details have been released about when or exactly what those solutions would be.
