"You people...you Ciri fans." I love checking the internet to find out which rabid subgroups I apparently belong to because I think something would be cool in a videogame. This isn't some longstanding demand that has me flying to Poland in protest. This is a little idea many fans discussed and, since I first saw it mentioned, I felt it would be an exciting moment.
People have been thrown in groups since the dawn of humanity. It allows a person to quickly identify how someone thinks. I honestly don't care if you're offended by it. It's just something you'll need to deal with.
Many fans have discussed it. Many fans have disagreed with it. Many fans, including myself, think it would be detrimental to the Cyberpunk universe. It takes time away from Cyberpunk content, and it makes the world of Cyberpunk lessened. By that I mean instead of being it's own place, it becomes 'just another place Ciri has gone.' No thanks.
Gaming is a unique medium in its ability to speak to the audience more directly. Deadpools aside, movies can't get away with this in the same way. The idea of in-game universes having rules can of course be a make-or-break for actual plot elements, but this is entirely different territory. I'm not exactly asking for Geralt to come out with a leather jacket and an eye patch telling V "we're putting a team together" after the game's credits. Easter eggs don't wreck your universe, and anyone who's that stingy about them should think twice before calling someone else asinine.
No, easter eggs don't wreck immersion. Straight up cameo's and side-quests of a character that doesn't belong
does diminish the immersion. Actually, I wouldn't mind an easter egg like that. Beat the game on the hardest difficulty, watch the credits through their entirety, and then you get a little scene like that post-credits. Because the story is over. It wouldn't do anything if you skipped the scene. It wouldn't count against a 100% playthrough.
A percentage of 2077's fans have this automatic loyalty to CDPR because of their last major release. There's nothing wrong with something that says "Welcome back, guys. We see you." I probably buy this game either way but my preorder, my hype, or my involvement with these fun discussions/forums owe themselves to my enthusiasm for, as you said, a different IP. That hardly means I require Witcher content in every breath of CDPR creativity. Of course I don't. This is a new game and I appreciate that it's new. I just think she'd be a cool moment which, until very recently, wasn't a controversial thought.
People are loyal to CDPR because of their work ethic. They actually care about gamers, and aren't trying to screw us over at every turn. It was controversial the moment people started wanting her appearance in Cyberpunk 2077. If you don't want Witcher content in every CDPR game, why are you pushing so hard for her to be in Cyberpunk? The next Witcher game will be out soon enough. Have her make a cameo in that.
I see that the sanctity of your Cyberpunk canon is a very sacred thing, and I guess I didn't realize how my "oh hey, I know her," moment wielded such a power over your experience. You're putting a tremendous weight on one scene in an 80+ hour game that, I maintain, isn't harmed by taking a moment to indulge in a cameo.
Canon is very important in a role-playing game. I'm baffled at how you
don't see that. Again, resources to a cameo or sidequest for Ciri is detrimental to the Cyberpunk universe.
1) Because she doesn't belong in the Cyberpunk universe
and
2) It takes away development from actual Cyberpunk content.
I can admit that, to your point about Badowski, there's clearly a profound pain among "you people" (while we're generalizing one another) whenever this idea comes up. I don't imagine you've been asked the Ciri question quite as many times, so I can better understand his frustration than yours. At the end of the day, if a fun easter egg for some is a creative aneurysm for others, I guess CDPR has been wise to steer clear of ruining the Cyberpunk universe for you.
It's frustrating that people want to shoe-horn in a character that clearly doesn't belong. And as I've said previously, it won't ruin the game. It'll diminish and cheapen the experience.
I wouldn't even mind a dialogue between two main characters akin to that in the Witcher 3:
Character: Man we almost died in the mission we took.
V: What happened?
C: You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
V: Try me.
C: Well I didn't get a good look, but some chick with a sword came in and saved us. Dressed like a medieval warrior.
V: You're right. I don't believe you.
There. There's what the cameo should be if Ciri makes an appearance. Just as vague as what was in the Witcher. Not really clear if it was actually Ciri or not.