CD Projekt Red’s Adam Kiciński’s and Adam Badowski had a recent interview with Rzeczpospolita where they spoke out about mutual respect and tolerance, and their fundamental influence on creative work and business activities. Among other things, CDPR pointed out how issues of tolerance will be treated in its upcoming game Cyberpunk 2077.
On asked about it, Badowski started by giving the example of The Witcher series. “In his literature, Andrzej Sapkowski has dealt with racism in a fairly harsh manner,” he said. “Much like his books, the video games acknowledge the antagonism between humans and “non-humans”, i.e. elves, dwarves, etc. Our games depict the consequences of stigmatizing otherness, reveal the link between social inequality and xenophobic sentiment, and show what humans are capable of when they believe they can act with impunity.?
Such similar vibes are present in Cyberpunk 2077 as well. Badowski said, “For example, Mike Pondsmith’s manual, published in the 1980s and providing the source of inspiration for our game, is quite liberal when it comes to gender modification. The whole issue is regarded as relatively minor compared to the need to express one’s personal style — and this provides for much greater fluidity. I truly hope that, much like in the case of The Witcher games, Cyberpunk 2077 will surprise everyone with how many bold, mature, and astute narratives can be conveyed by the video game medium. I will gladly come back to this issue after the November release once I’m at liberty to share more information.”
Kiciński also mentioned why CDPR decided to speak out and delay the Night City Wire event following the social unrest in the USA, when most Polish companies remained quiet.
“Because these are important matters,” Kiciński said. “People come to CD PROJEKT not just to earn a living. Our business has always been rooted in a specific system of values. In a small company, business activities often reflect the owners’ personal beliefs. As the company grows larger, such beliefs morph into a foundation upon which the team spirit and work ethos are based. The founders of CD PROJEKT, Marcin Iwiński, and my brother Michał respected the differences between their personalities and focused on what brought them together: a passion for video games. 26 years on we are incalculably larger and all the more cognizant of the importance of mutual respect, tolerance, and — to put it simply — fair play. Our team comprises all sorts of people, leaning left or right on legal, economic, and worldview issues — not to mention several dozen nationalities, multiple ethnic groups, and many LGBT individuals. We pride ourselves on our diversity, but we also realize that efficient operation requires active measures promoting mutual respect and tolerance.”
Cyberpunk 2077 arrives on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Stadia on 19th November 2020.
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