Someone tried to extort money from CD Projekt with stolen Cyberpunk 2077 files

CD Projekt has released a statement revealing that "an unidentified individual or individuals" has somehow come into possession of some of the company's internal files, including early design documents related to the upcoming RPG Cyberpunk 2077, and is threatening to release them to the public unless a ransom is paid. CD Projekt's response is, to paraphrase, 'get bent.' 

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CD Projekt will not be paying the ransom, clearly, which may result in the documents being distributed. But it says that the stolen information is "old and largely unrepresentative" of Cyberpunk 2077 as it exists now, and recommends steering clear.

It's a believable claim, especially after this week's Kotaku report which states that early versions of Mass Effect: Andromeda involved hundreds of procedurally-generated planets. The stolen design documents may in fact be very different from what CD Projekt is actually building.

Andy Chalk

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.