CD Projekt Red is looking into the possibility of removing epilepsy triggers from Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt Red's new open-world game has been one of the most anticipated titles in the industry for a good eight years now, and after numerous delays, fans are finally ready for its December 10th release later this week. Reviews of the game are coming in, and critics seem to have largely deemed it to be worth the wait.
Unfortunately, when the game hits shelves on December 10th, not everyone will be able to fully enjoy the bright lights of Night City. Liana Ruppert, a journalist for Game Informer, issued a PSA yesterday warning epileptic fans of an overabundance of flashing lights in the game which could potentially trigger seizures. Given the high-tech nature of the game's setting, this is perhaps understandable, but that doesn't make it any less dangerous. Among the many potential triggers Ruppert outlined were decorative lights pulsing in multiple bars and nightclubs, as well as a glitchy visual effect which appeared every time Keanu Reeves' character Johnny Silverhand appeared onscreen. She also identified the game's braindance mechanic as a major threat; the headset that protagonist V uses to engage with this mechanic in-game bears an unfortunate resemblance to a medical device used specifically to trigger epileptic episodes, and is roughly as effective.
CD Projekt Red has responded well to Ruppert's warning. On Twitter the developer replied directly to Game Informer's message and declared its intention to add a new warning to the game aside from the one included in the EULA. It also mentioned that the dev team is already looking into the specific triggers listed by Ruppert, and will be implementing "a more permanent solution" as soon as possible. Whether this solution consists of a blanket overhaul to the game's lighting or a discrete mode that epileptic fans can toggle on remains to be seen. There is as of yet no time frame for this solution either; in the meantime, epileptic fans who want to play the game should take extreme care to avoid them.
The question of accessibility in video games is a long process, and an important one. No one deserves to threaten their health and safety to play a video game because of forces outside their own control. Unfortunately, advocates for safer and better options have an uphill battle ahead of them, due not only to the complex nature of the issue but to blatant insensitivity. For instance, after her epilepsy PSA was published, Ruppert began receiving videos designed to trigger her epilepsy from trolls masquerading as sympathetic fellow sufferers. This kind of behavior is abhorrent and, tragically, it's all too common in the video game community.
CD Projekt Red's commitment to addressing this issue is promising, though. It's always good to see developers recognizing their faults and making their games more accessible to all. One can only hope that CD Projekt Red's promised solution will come soon, and that Cyberpunk 2077 will be worth the wait for all gamers, regardless of what conditions they might have.
Source: Cyberpunk 2077