It's no secret that Cyberpunk 2077 has had a rough go about it since launch, with the last-gen version of the game running so poorly on base PS4 and Xbox One consoles that refunds were issued and a class-action lawsuit was filed. Recently, a forum post pointed to Cyberpunk 2077 development issues being the root cause of the game's troubles, going into detail about all kinds of problems at CD Projekt Red. However, CD Projekt Red has since denied the claims.
These claims stem from a GameFAQs post that made a variety of claims about Cyberpunk 2077's development and how the game was handled at CD Projekt Red. The post claimed to be quoting a CD Projekt Red employee, but provided no evidence to back up this claim. But with CD Projekt Red employees' unhappiness with management and the game's reception already publicly known, it was easy to believe that one of them would air their grievances online.
The post claimed that CD Projekt Red cut content from Cyberpunk 2077 due to demands from company executives, a claim that has also been refuted by the company. It also described the ongoing Cyberpunk 2077 fixes as an attempt by CD Projekt Red to make the game have a No Man's Sky-style comeback.
One of the more interesting claims from the supposed upset CD Projekt Red employee is that Johnny Silverhand was once much different. The Johnny Silverhand in the finished product is portrayed by Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves, a casting decision that was met with general praise when it was first announced. However, the post claims that the original Johnny Silverhand was instead inspired by David Hayter's portrayal of Solid Snake in the Metal Gear Solid series, as well as actor Cillian Murphy.
Again, no solid evidence was provided to back up these claims, but that didn't stop the rumors from spread. Gaming companies rarely comment on rumors or speculation, and so CD Projekt Red deciding to come out and deny these claims seems like a pretty solid indication that they have indeed been fabricated. Unfortunately for the company, though, CD Projekt Red's reputation has taken a massive hit, including how people perceive its trustworthiness, and so many may not take its word for it.
The premise of the class action lawsuit filed against CD Projekt Red is that the company purposefully misled its investors and consumers, and so it's easy to see why some people may find it hard to believe what it says now. It will be interesting to see if more substantial, verified information about Cyberpunk 2077 and its development comes to light in the months ahead.
Cyberpunk 2077 is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
Source: CD Projekt Red