And there's the largest source of blame, complacent gamers who bend over to defend "their" developer. The rabid assholes making threats then make the general public dismiss everything as over-reaction and being ungrateful.
agreed, however I doubt CDPR got any credible death threats. If there were any death threats that WERE credible, I would default to assuming they were acting on the investors interests. I don't take the death threat thing seriously when there are no arrests or charges to back them up. Its a scapegoat imo.
Us consumers do need to be wiser with our purchases though.
Thing is not a single developer can do anything without facing a lawsuit. You as a software developer have to sign mandatory NDA. So the best you can do is anonymous tips and you were careful enough to not get yourself exposed. So no matter how much you think it is justified to call developers responsible or lazy, well you better stop, because you know nothing about what you are talking about.
If there is legislation to protect the company, and if we assume this won't ever change, us consumers need equal protection too under legislation. The devs can do their thing and not have a moral pressure to become an insider or leaker, while consumers should have legal protection with their purchase. CDPR is just abusing the same qualified immunities that other tech companies like Facebook, Twitter, and other big names abuse too.
They can virtually do anything they want and say anything they want.
I am right wing politically, and a free market capitalist--however this now has crossed the line. Now that even CDPR is doing this. This is a monopoly of products from corporations who have no interest in self policing themselves or being honest. Healthy competition that benefits the consumer and increases the quality of products is not happening and will not happen now that these companies have their multi billion dollar niches in the entertainment market.
What CDPR has done would be considered a bait and switch in any other industry.