While Cyberpunk 2077 won't be censored in many countries including Australia as many had previously feared, CD Projekt Red has confirmed that it will be heavily censored in Japan and players should expect the game to look slightly different.
Japan has a long history of censoring its video games on its content that pushes the limit on what it deems acceptable for its citizens. The country itself is more conservative in its views when compared to the United States, so it doesn't surprise many to see that Japan's version of Cyberpunk 2077 will have some hefty changes in order to be cleared for release.
Content revolving around nudity will be one of the major changes seen in Japan's Cyberpunk. As seen in some released gameplay, Cyberpunk won't be shying away from nudity. In one mission, V can be seen carrying a person who is fully nude for several minutes. In Japan, players should expect this person to be wearing a bra or other clothing material.
Unfortunately for some overseas players, this means that genital customization will also be cut. Any sexually explicit content will also be revised or completely removed from the game, as well as some select content regarding gore. CD Projekt Red has confirmed that some severing of human limbs and exposed guts will be changed for the Japanese version of the game. Some graffiti shaped as genitals will need to be censored or changed as well. What this means for the story, however, currently remains unclear and players will likely have to wait until the title's full release to see all of what's changed.
What is surprising to some fans looking forward to the highly-anticipated open-world title is the lack of mentioning of censoring drugs and drug usage. Japan is very strict about drug usage in its country. Popular Yakuza series spin-off was pulled from Japanese stores for this very reason. It looks like Cyberpunk 2077 isn't shying away from this subject either, so it's shocking to see no announcement of drug usage censorship for the Japanese version.
After a series of delays, fans can only hope the game will in fact be released in November. But, if the game does premiere in 2020, gamers can expect the title to be in competition for Game of the Year.
Cyberpunk 2077Â will be available November 19, 2020, on PS4, Windows, and Xbox One and will release on next-gen consoles come 2021.
