Open-world sci-fi RPG, Cyberpunk 2077, has found itself at the center of a controversy as players and moderators on its biggest subreddit engage in a protest against Reddit. The subreddit recently made the switch to NSFW (not safe for work), citing the mature nature of the game, which includes nudity and gore.
However, Reddit allegedly demanded that the moderators quickly reverse the change. Refusing to comply, the subreddit’s users have now taken to posting nude images of in-game characters as a form of protest, aiming to demonstrate why the subreddit deserves to be categorized as NSFW.
The Battle Between Reddit and Its Users
Since May, Reddit has been embroiled in a battle with its users and various subreddits as the company tightens its grip on third-party apps and their access to the site’s backend or API. However, these efforts have not been well-received, resulting in popular subreddits like r/bestof, r/sports, and r/music going dark.
In response, some subreddits have adopted the NSFW designation, primarily reserved for porn-related content, as a way to block ads and allow the posting of adult content. This has become a means for mods and subreddits to push back against Reddit and its CEO, who are widely despised. The Cyberpunk 2077 subreddit seems to have unintentionally found itself caught up in this ongoing struggle.
According to a post from moderator Tabnam on July 5, the decision to switch the Cyberpunk 2077 subreddit to NSFW was made due to the game’s mature rating of “18+,” with the mods admitting that they had not considered making the change until recently. Tabnam emphasized that the subreddit should have been NSFW from the start. However, Reddit did not respond positively to this decision.
Reddit’s Reaction and Subsequent Protest
Tabnam revealed that Reddit’s infamous Mod Code of Conduct messaged the moderators, demanding that they revert the subreddit back to its previous status. The message claimed that users were confused by the NSFW content they were seeing.
Unfortunately, the moderators were unable to respond to explain that the subreddit is dedicated to an explicit game and that none of the content had changed. Despite being in violation of Reddit’s sitewide rules, the moderators adamantly refused to revert the change, citing the sexually explicit nature of Cyberpunk 2077.
In response to Reddit’s demand and as part of the ongoing clash between Reddit and its community, Cyberpunk 2077 players flooded the subreddit with a plethora of NSFW content. The subreddit is now filled with screenshots featuring nudity from the game itself, as well as fan art related to the popular open-world RPG and its anime spin-off, Edgerunners.
The Impact and the Subreddit’s Stand
Visiting the Cyberpunk 2077 subreddit on July 6 reveals an array of explicit content. It goes without saying that if you are at work or in public places, it may be wise to refrain from checking the subreddit for now.
The subreddit’s moderators, knowing that Reddit might remove them, stated that at least they would leave with a memorable event. They also made it clear that if the subreddit reverts back to its previous status, it would indicate a loss of control over it.
In conclusion, the Cyberpunk 2077 subreddit’s protest against Reddit’s demand to revert its NSFW status has led to an influx of explicit content. The community’s response serves as a testament to their dissatisfaction with Reddit’s policies and actions, showcasing their commitment to fighting back against perceived encroachments on their freedom.
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