CDPR Clarifies Controversial Cyberpunk 2077 Religion Statement

CD Projekt Red has addressed the confusion and backlash that resulted from mistranslated statements regarding religion in Cyberpunk 2077.

Earlier this week, reports spread about an interview between CDPR and Polish website Gry WP, in which quest director Meteusz Tomaskiewicz allegedly said the company "will not avoid any subject, even if they may offend the sensitivity of some." 

The original interview appeared in Polish, with this statement stemming from English translations shared by users on video game message board NeoGAF. The translation also claimed that Cyberpunk 2077 would incorporate real-world religions, including a Christian faction.

IGN reached out to CD Projekt Red to confirm the accuracy of these claims. CDPR provided their own translation of the interview, revealing that the information and views referenced in the NeoGAF thread were incorrectly reported. IGN completed an independent translation of the article which supported CDPR's version:

Gry WP: You mentioned religion. Does it still exist in the Cyberpunk world? 

Tomaskiewicz: Yes, and in many forms. As I mentioned, our vision is somehow based on the real world. And religion is a very important part of the latter, society-wise. In our game we're going to see for example Christianity and its different branches, or religions from the East. 

Gry WP: Sounds controversial. Someone will enter a church to cause havoc.

Tomaskiewicz: We do not want to avoid religion as a topic, authenticity of the world is what counts for us. Technically, the situation you mentioned is possible, but this is all about the choices made by the player. We won't encourage the player to do so. In our quests which involve religious themes, we make sure there's no disrespect.

Tomaskiewicz does not mention a religious faction of any kind, let alone one centered on Christianity. The statement about offending people is also absent. Instead, the developer says the opposite, revealing that religion will exist in Cyberpunk 2077 as it does in the real-world but that they've designed their quests and religious themes to avoid disrespect. While you're free to determine your actions in the game, CDPR will not include story elements intended to offend religious groups.

This situation provides a poignant reminder that fan and even media-supported translations are sometimes inaccurate. To avoid unnecessary conflict and confusion, it's best to view such claims with skepticism until confirmed by the original company or publication.