In less than a week, 'Cyberpunk 2077' went from the most anticipated video game in years to being pulled from the PlayStation 4. Here's how one of the game industry's biggest scandals was years in the making.

Ben GilbertDec 19, 2020, 00:21 IST

One last look at Night City before driving off into the cyber sunset.CD Projekt Red

The most hyped game of the year, "Cyberpunk 2077," finally launched on December 10 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.
By just one week later the game was pulled from the PlayStation digital store, and both Sony and Microsoft said they're offering full refunds to anyone who bought the game on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
The game is being removed because it doesn't reach the "high level of customer satisfaction" the company intends to achieve from all games on its digital storefront, Sony said.
"Cyberpunk 2077" players have reported a range of bugs in the game, from characters appearing to float through space to being suddenly teleported, among a variety of other issues. Technical issues are especially prominent on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game.
Since the game's launch, CD Projekt, the company behind "Cyberpunk 2077," has seen its stock price plummet from about $27 per share to about $20 per share, hitting a new low on Friday.

After years of anticipation, and a gaggle of delays, "Cyberpunk 2077" finally launched last week for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Just one week later, Sony outright pulled the game from its PlayStation digital storefront. Moreover, full discounts are available to anyone who purchased "Cyberpunk 2077" through the PlayStation Store or the Xbox Store. The game's developer, CD Projekt Red, has seen its stock value plummet as gamers report that the game is rife with bugs.

So, what went wrong? Here's everything we know so far.

"Cyberpunk 2077" was in development for a very long time - its first teaser trailer premiered in early 2013, before the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 launched.

A screenshot from the first trailer for "Cyberpunk 2077," which teased the futuristic setting of Night City and the type of cybernetics its citizens have. CD Projekt Red

The game's first launch date, in April, got pushed back to November. Then that got pushed back to December. Looking back, the delays were likely the first sign of problems to come.

"You're breathtaking! You're all breathtaking!" Microsoft

The game's first launch date, in April, got pushed back to November. Then that got pushed back to December. Looking back, the delays were likely the first sign of problems to come.

When game reviewers got "Cyberpunk 2077," they were only able to play it on PC - the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions weren't available until the last minute.

Physical copies of "Cyberpunk 2077" are still available at retail, for both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Alexander Sayganov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

When people finally got to play "Cyberpunk 2077" on December 10, they encountered wild bugs - missions that couldn't be completed, enemies that floated across the ground, and guns that floated in mid-air being held by no one, among many other things. Worse: the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions run terribly.

Part of this wrecked car is floating above the ground - one of the many weird issues I encountered while playing "Cyberpunk 2077." CD Projekt Red

When people finally got to play "Cyberpunk 2077" on December 10, they encountered wild bugs - missions that couldn't be completed, enemies that floated across the ground, and guns that floated in mid-air being held by no one, among many other things. Worse: the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions run terribly.

As backlash to the game has built across the last week, CD Projekt Red apologized and even offered refunds. The studio said that major patches for the game are coming in January and February.

Keanu Reeves plays Johnny Silverhand in "Cyberpunk 2077." CD Projekt Red

As backlash to the game has built across the last week, CD Projekt Red apologized and even offered refunds. The studio said that major patches for the game are coming in January and February.

Then, on December 17, Sony announced it was pulling "Cyberpunk 2077" from the PlayStation Store and anyone who wanted a refund could have one. Refunds are also available to Xbox One players.

One last look at Night City before driving off into the cyber sunset. CD Projekt Red

Then, on December 17, Sony announced it was pulling "Cyberpunk 2077" from the PlayStation Store and anyone who wanted a refund could have one. Refunds are also available to Xbox One players.

Due to the messy launch, "Cyberpunk 2077" developer CD Projekt Red has lost billions in stock value across the last week.

Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt Red

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In less than a week, 'Cyberpunk 2077' went from the most anticipated video game in years to being pulled from the PlayStation 4. Here's how one of the game industry's biggest scandals was years in the making.

"Cyberpunk 2077" was in development for a very long time - its first teaser trailer premiered in early 2013, before the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 launched.

The game's first launch date, in April, got pushed back to November. Then that got pushed back to December. Looking back, the delays were likely the first sign of problems to come.

When game reviewers got "Cyberpunk 2077," they were only able to play it on PC - the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions weren't available until the last minute.

As backlash to the game has built across the last week, CD Projekt Red apologized and even offered refunds. The studio said that major patches for the game are coming in January and February.

Then, on December 17, Sony announced it was pulling "Cyberpunk 2077" from the PlayStation Store and anyone who wanted a refund could have one. Refunds are also available to Xbox One players.

Due to the messy launch, "Cyberpunk 2077" developer CD Projekt Red has lost billions in stock value across the last week.