Cyberpunk 2077 may cause epileptic seizures

Cyberpunk 2077 may cause epileptic seizures

CD Projekt Red on 8 December confirmed that the team will be adding a warning in Cyberpunk 2077 about the risk of epileptic seizures and will be working on a “permanent solution” to minimise the risk.

Cyberpunk 2077 a potential epilepsy risk

This followed after Game Informer warned those who are prone to epileptic episodes that Cyberpunk 2077 contains several triggers concerns over certain aspects of ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ being a potential epilepsy risk.

Epileptic seizures are often triggered by rapid blinking lights and more so red and white blinking lights. Liana Ruppert says Cyberpunk 2077’s interfacing includes “a lot of red glitching animations throughout the game’s progression”. 

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“Look away from the screen with this happens, turn down the brightness of your screen, play around with the colourblind modes; there are a few workarounds here to use if you insist on playing. […] While I would never recommend someone push past their limits, especially with something as serious as epilepsy, I do know how excitement can push that desire so if it’s going to happen, I want you to be as safe as possible”. 

CD Projekt Red responds

CD Projekt Red responded and said they are “working on adding a separate warning in the game, aside from the one that exists in the EULA (end-user licence agreement)”.

Regarding a permanent solution, CDPR said the developers’ team “is currently exploring that and will be implementing it as soon as possible.” The notice on EULA warns of “flashing lights and images which may induce epileptic seizures.

“If you or anyone in your household has an epileptic condition, please consult your doctor before playing ‘Cyberpunk 2077’. “If you experience dizziness, altered vision, eye or muscle twitches, loss of awareness, disorientation, any involuntary movement, or convulsions while playing, immediately discontinue use and consult your doctor.”

May I just go off-topic here and say all grievances aside, Cyberpunk 2077’s EULA was such a pleasure to read. The notes along the side are super useful in breaking down the legal jargon.

Epilepsy Action responds

While the EULA covers their legal bases, the Epilepsy Action charity called on CD Projekt Red to work on making Cyberpunk 2077 “more accessible”. The organisation’s spokesperson Louise Cousins said:

“These features are unsafe and should have been avoided to make the game more accessible. With huge demand and excitement building for its release, it may pose a serious risk to people with photosensitive epilepsy. The developers’ CD Projekt RED should consider how they can update the game to make it safer. A disclaimer warning at the beginning isn’t enough.”

For more on epilepsy and how to protect yourself, read about epileptic triggers from the Epilepsy Foundation or check out Game Informer’s interview with Microsoft to see how they are dealing with triggers.

Counting down the minutes

For those of us who pre-ordered, Cyberpunk 2077 becomes playable at midnight on 10 December 2020, approximately five hours from the time of publishing.

My copy has downloaded and I’m now sitting here staring the the countdown. Stay tuned, we’ll have a review up in due course.