Although most games include a loading screen warning about epileptic seizures, those same games very seldom include content that can actually cause one. Cyberpunk 2077, however, can actually cause one. The more you know.
That’s according to Game Informer editor Liana Ruppert, who suffered a grand mal seizure playing the game for review and subsequently published a PSA about it. Besides some potentially problematic glitch animations, she explains, it’s Cyberpunk 2077’s “Braindance” feature that’s the real worry for gamers with epilepsy – because the sequence introduces an almost exact replica of the device used by neurologists to trigger a seizure. It’s not even subtle.
“When ‘suiting up’ for a BD, especially with Judy, V will be given a headset that is meant to onset the instance. The headset fits over both eyes and features a rapid onslaught of white and red blinking LEDs, much like the actual device neurologists use in real life to trigger a seizure when they need to trigger one for diagnosis purposes. If not modeled off of the IRL design, it’s a very spot-on coincidence, and because of that this is one aspect that I would personally advise you to avoid altogether. When you notice the headset come into play, look away completely or close your eyes. This is a pattern of lights designed to trigger an epileptic episode and it very much did that in my own personal playthrough.”
Even worse, this isn’t a feature you can skip over because it’s necessary to complete the game. And even worse…er, people are being assholes about it on the internet, presumably because criticising a CD Projekt Red game for a legit medical concern is, like, WRONG.
Warning: I’ve been sent hundreds of videos disguised as support that are deliberate flashing to induce photosensitive triggers. If you’re sharing this saying you’re epileptic and receive a video, don’t press play. I’m back to being on my ass.
Be better, please.
— Liana Ruppert (@DirtyEffinHippy) December 8, 2020
I expect the studio will fix this with an update, but probably not in time for launch this week.