A Polish player known online as Siriondel opened up about a regrettable episode involving the unauthorized dissemination of others’ data. In 2020, a gamer published photographs that showed cards and postcards included in a physical edition of Cyberpunk 2077, an act that he later admitted he had paid for, trying to highlight what he believed was material worth sharing with the gaming community.
According to Siriondel, prior to the leak he had been employed by a printing company responsible for producing game-related materials. At the time, he did not anticipate that his reveal would harm CD Projekt, and his intent was simply to contribute information to fellow players and enthusiasts.
The insider’s post was removed about ninety minutes after it went live. The next day, he was summoned to a conference room where he faced police officials. CD Projekt had established a special unit to detect leaks, which allowed authorities to pinpoint the responsible individual swiftly. Law enforcement searched his home, seized a smartphone and a computer, and transported him to the appropriate department for handling the case.
The company acted quickly, dismissing the employee on the spot and cautioning that the breach could threaten the studio’s finances and potentially lead to legal penalties amounting to millions of dollars. In the end, CD Projekt chose not to pursue action against business partners involved in the leak, but the insider faced consequences. He received an eight-month sentence of restricted liberty and was assigned community service. His duties included cleaning duties at a local cultural center, clearing snow from streets, and other mundane tasks rather than engaging with the game that had sparked the controversy. He did not play Cyberpunk 2077 again until December 2023.
In reflection, the player offered practical lessons learned from the incident. The leak had cost him a stable job, yet it also taught him a surprising skill set. He quips that his own home became exceptionally clean as a result of his assigned tasks, a humorous memory that underscored the personal cost of the mistake.
- Don’t repeat the kind of mistake that hurt others;
- If you believe your role is irreplaceable, remember that no position is truly indispensable;
- Avoid actions that could damage colleagues or partners;
- Unless one is the owner, director, or founder, refrain from assuming authority over others;
- Reaffirm the lesson: stay away from reckless posts;
- Be mindful of what is shared online and how it affects real people and businesses;
- To restore clarity and order, one might adopt careful, routine habits and maintain a disciplined environment, metaphorically keeping the mirrors clean and the space in order.
Now playable – the fan PC port of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has been refined to a higher standard.
Source: VG Times