CD Projekt has been embroiled in controversies since well before the launch of Cyberpunk 2077. Cyberpunk 2077's delays, as well as questions regarding transphobia, have kept the game in the media even between new trailers and announcements. But Cyberpunk 2077's rocky launch, as well as Sony's new move to delist the game from PlayStation platforms, is easily the worst event for CD Projekt, yet. The company's stock price has plummeted 22% in just a day, from an already disastrous point.
As reported by Business Insider, CD Projekt's 22% drop has brought its stock price to a nine-month low, sloughing off nearly $1.8 billion. The recent drop is due to a decision from Sony to remove Cyberpunk 2077 from its PS4 and PS5 storefronts due to player disappointment in the quality of the game on consoles. Sony's also opening refunds up for those who previously purchased Cyberpunk 2077 and would like their money back.
The latest drop was not even the largest for CD Projekt, however. CD Projekt's stock has been dropping since December 4, with the largest drop coming between December 9 and December 14 following the game's official launch. At its peak on December 4, CD Projekt's stock was valued at 443 PLN, approximately $121. It's now dropped to 271.40 PLN, or about $74. It's unclear how much more the stock will drop before things turn around for CD Projekt.
CD Projekt has spent the time since launch working towards improvements for the game, while also publicly apologizing. The company's statement issued Monday states that developer CD Projekt Red should have focused more on the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game, which are said to have the worst issues. The statement also encouraged unsatisfied buyers to seek refunds through PSN or Xbox, which likely played a role in PlayStation pulling the game from its platform.
There's no easy answer for where things went wrong for Cyberpunk 2077's development. Clearly, the game should have been delayed further so that it might have a more polished launch. Even without a delay, however, CD Projekt could have had a more honest and transparent conversation with players so that they knew what to expect at launch. Instead, many Cyberpunk 2077 buyers feel like they were tricked. It won't be easy rebuilding a relationship with players.
That said, many games that have had disastrous launches have been rehabilitated in recent years. The Final Fantasy 14 MMO is perhaps the best example, though No Man's Sky has also had a dramatic turnaround. CD Projekt Red should be able to improve Cyberpunk 2077 in time. Hopefully, they're given enough of it.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available now on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X versions also in development.
Source: Business Insider