Cyberpunk 2077’s 2.0 update includes a Ukrainian localization of the game’s script, but it also includes references to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. These references were added without the knowledge of developer CD Projekt Red and include several nods to Ukrainian slogans, derogatory terms for Russians, and key phrases used during the invasion.
The Ukrainian localization changes certain lines of dialogue to reflect the conflict, such as changing “We’re fucking through” to “Go fuck yourself in the same direction as the ship did,” likely referencing a Ukrainian border guard’s response to a Russian missile cruiser.
Additionally, there are new graffiti designs in the game that represent the outlines of Crimea, the peninsula that was annexed from Ukraine by Russia in 2014, juxtaposed with the Ukrainian coat of arms and the symbol of Crimean Tatars. The Scavengers faction also has altered dialogue in the Ukrainian localization, replacing the word “assholes” with “rusnia,” a derogatory term for Russians.
The UI changes in the Ukrainian localization include inventory screens referencing Ukrainian state messages, such as “є перевага” meaning “there is an advantage,” “єПідтримка” translating to “there is support” for COVID-19 relief payouts, “єРакета” meaning “there is a missile,” and “єВідновлення” meaning “there is renovation.” The photo mode also includes a crouching character pose labeled as “like a Russian” in the Ukrainian localization.
While CD Projekt Red has been critical of Russia’s invasion and supportive of Ukraine, it has announced that all of the anti-Russian imagery and dialogue in Cyberpunk 2077 will be removed. The Ukrainian localization of the game contains remarks that could offend some Russian players, but CD Projekt Red has stated that these remarks were not written by their employees and do not represent their views. They are working to fix and replace these remarks in the next update and apologize for the situation, taking steps to ensure it does not happen again.
