Cyberpunk 2077: The summit of a sad development in the AAA area - opinion

The new year is finally here, but with "cyberpunk 2077" is still a topic of 2020. Although the publication of the millions of players hot RPGs was at least a commercial view of a complete success, developer studio CD project red but with all sorts of problems Confront. Previously, we already led that this launch debacle destroys confidence in the entire industry. However, it is also the highlight of a sad development that had the last few years in the AAA area.

The hype is followed by the damage limitation

There were scenes that many players already knew from the previous years to meet. For example, if we remember the launch of Bethesdas "Fallout 76", which was thrown on the market in a disastrous state and rather recalled a playable beta because a fully developed game. Even before Bethesda, various studios did not necessarily have fame, if it was about the release of new games to big brands, but rarely it was so bad.

However, something changed in comparison to the last few years, because for the first time, Sony saw drastic measures prompted and pulled this rigorous: with "Cyberpunk 2077" removed the PlayStation manufacturer for the first time a title from his online store - one of the Meisterwarten AAA productions of recent years. Certainly, Sony also acted with a certain calculus, and after all, the company should have been trying to do not scrape his own image from the failed "cyberpunk 2077" slun.

In general, the most recent work of the Polish Developer Studio could criticize a lot and beyond the technical state of the game we've already acted as an unacceptably titled technical condition on the load gene consoles. There would be the communication problems between studio and games shank, enormous burden on developers through massive crunch and death threats against the makers. Although all this would be worth being treated, this is not the time we want to do that. Instead, it should go back to the actual topic, a disturbing trend of recent years.

Publish first and then patching

Here we mean that in the recent past increasingly large game productions were thrown into a more unsightly technical condition on the market. "Cyberpunk 2077" only forms the tip of the iceberg, because already previously disappointed other large titles such as "Fallout 76", "Mass Effect Andromeda", "Anthem" or "Assassin's Creed Valhalla". It was more and more fashionable to publish large games in an obviously unfinished version to complete the game after playing players already paid 60 or 70 euros by means of patches.

CD Project Red also played a certain prehistory with bulging, finally, for the launch also "The Witcher 3" at that time was by no means in a technically proper condition. As bad as in some other cases or the recent work of the makers, however, it was not. We do not want to blame for these publications not to develop developers who have tried under part of enormous efforts and violent crunch, creating the best possible product for us players. Much more lies responsibility for such releases in the managing directors of the studios that must have known in the aforementioned cases that the games were not ready for their release at that time.

A crucial role plays again and again the handling of the players, the communication between the creators and we are waiting for us. This is mainly about the game with our expectations, ie the generation of a certain hypes. The fact that developers and publishers aim at this is not reprehensible, but comprehensible, finally there are good reasons why a great hype should be generated as early as possible. Of course, this requires the relevant PR teams and in the case of "Cyberpunk 2077" is definitely for the marketing department, over 8 million pre-orders generated.

But of course, other facets are added, for example, the familiarity of the players with the previous work of a developer team or a special brand. For these reasons alone, great AAA productions such as "Assassin's Creed", "Cyberpunk 2077" or a "Marvel's Spider-Man" enjoy a non-insignificant confidence bonus of the fans. The heavier it weighs when the previously shouted hype in such cases, for example at that time "Mass Effect Andromeda", can not be met. In his core, it was still a good action RPG, but in its sum, the many little mistakes made it many players Madig.

Great studios need to recover confidence of players

Of course, in recent years, there was always some positive examples, which we do not want to drop under the table at this point. After a massive shitstorm because of many unauthorized promises, the responsible developers of "No Man's Sky" did not speak for a long time. Instead, they were followed by action in the form of various free DLCs and comprehensive patches, which brought the game closer to the vision that had been promised to players in advance. Square Enix 'Online RPG "Final Fantasy XIV" has been massively redesigned for the series of DESOLATE LAUNCH and thus recovered the trust of many players. Projects in which more studios should take an example.

Let's take a look at all developments around the launch of "Cyberpunk 2077", so it's not to float many last gene players that they may even feel cheated by the creators. The previously close trust relationship between CDPR has finally got cracks that are not likely to hurry too fast. That Sony was ultimately forced to pull the emergency brake and remove the RPG from the PlayStation Store speaks volumes. The game is actually retracted into the younger video game history, probably not as many players and developers themselves wanted.

It is positive that CD project red the situation is aware and already stressed, the costs for patching the title are absolutely "irrelevant" for the company. Already in the past, the Studio supported his games over longer periods of time to improve them. This also makes hope that the technical shortcomings can be eliminated so that the good game can be better in its core. However, it also shows an impressive way, which has been wrong for a long time in the industry, because games should not be completed after their release and many great developers and publishers have to prove that they want to recover the confidence of their fans and customers.

Are you turning now: What is your opinion on this development that many great games are completed after their release with patches?

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