Some 'Cyberpunk 2077' Players Are Getting Refunds But Can Still Keep The Game

A cluster of Cyberpunk 2077 players are actually able to keep their copy of the game even though they requested a full refund, owing to tiny loopholes in the system.

Let's cut to the chase. The launch of Cyberpunk 2077 was a shambles. The game, which had suffered three delays through the final year of its development to ensure that it would be the "crowning achievement" for CD Projekt Red, did not run well on last-gen consoles at all. Cars constantly exploded and catapulted themselves into the sky, not that it mattered much to the NPCs of Night City, who were T-posing with no trousers on for the majority of the time. Another glitch sprouted little trees all over the map, like someone had dropped a bag of frozen vegetables onto the world, and others saw characters' faces melt off in an unnecessary and unexpected homage to Raiders of the Lost Ark. That's not even mentioning the crashes, corrupting saves whenever the player crafted too many items.

It's not a very good look, then, to discover that the developers at CD Projekt Red were aware that the game was not ready when its launch rolled around. "Everyone at the studio knew the game was in rough shape and needed more time," read a report from Bloomberg, which also delves into mismanagement, crunch, low pay, and the fact that a lot of the game got scrapped in 2016. CD Projekt Red has denied these claims, yet it is still grappling withtwo class-action lawsuits and an investigation from Poland's consumer protection agency. One of its first steps to put this palaver behind it was to allow refunds to all players on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One who were unhappy with Cyberpunk 2077, and that included those who had opted for a physical pre-order.

So, how does one return a physical copy of a game to the retailer or developer they purchased it from, refunding their money but rescinding all access to the product? Well... it goes a little something like this. Speaking to Vice Games, Steve was refunded almost $300 by CD Projekt Red, as he ordered the Collector's Edition of Cyberpunk 2077. As well as the game, this comes with a steelbook, a statue of V, an art book, embroidered patches, a map of Night City and more. "I was surprised I didn't need to [send it back]," said Steve. "So I still have everything. As a customer, I feel they 'made good' on it. Just show proof and we'll return your money."

Ben, on the other hand, redeemed a digital code from a retailer for Cyberpunk 2077, but requested a refund when CD Projekt Red made the announcement. "Upon further review, we have decided to honor your request for a refund for your digital copy, which you bought outside of the PlayStation Network or Microsoft store," read an email from the studio's customer support to them. "Strangely, [I] have still got access to the game via my Xbox, it doesn't show as being revoked, even though I sent them the code," explained Ben. "No idea how that will pan out in the long run!"

This is odd. Vice Games also notes that as well as offering refunds through PayPal, CD Projekt Red were willing to swap console copies for a PC copy, as the game is much more stable on that platform. Lastly, those who opted for a refund but haven't heard from the company yet should keep across their communications "throughout February and March 2021."

Featured Image Credit: CD Projekt Red

Topics: News, Cyberpunk 2077