Earlier today, Game Informer published an article titled “Cyberpunk 2077 Epileptic PSA.” The author, Liana Ruppert, reports that she suffered one major seizure and came close to one several times while playing. She notes that one of the game’s main features is “braindancing,” which allows the player character to cybernetically interface with and experience memories. To do this, your character uses a headset that includes flashing LEDs similar to real-life devices used to trigger seizures for medical purposes. Says Ruppert: Developers CD Projekt Red responded that there was a seizure warning in the End User License Agreement, but that it planned to add a separate warning to the game itself. That would be helpful since, well, when was the last time you read an EULA? It also says its dev team is looking into a solution to fix the in-game triggers.
— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) December 8, 2020 I’m a little concerned by the fact that Ruppert claims to have been sent triggering videos in response to the article’s publication (and anyone who’s doing such a terrible thing: stop that). Similarly, some of the responses on Twitter can charitably be called “defensive,” claiming that Ruppert should just accept that seizures might happen when she plays a video game. Ruppert herself noted that she understands how the desire to play can override everything, and that she continued to play the game after having the seizure.
— Liana Ruppert (@DirtyEffinHippy) December 7, 2020 That said, she notes that it’s a win for accessibility to have the developers address the issue. While we don’t yet know what the solution will entail, it’d be great for anyone with photosensitive epilepsy to have the ability to turn off the in-game strobing effects.
