Forced Music on Players Theory

[KAObserver]

I wanted to bring up a topic that's been on my mind lately, and I'm curious to hear your thoughts on it. It seems like Cyberpunk 2077's integration of music into the game might be more than just a creative choice—it feels like a marketing ploy by music companies to force audio on its players.

Now, I don't want to come across as overly critical of the game itself because I've enjoyed many aspects of it. The world-building, storylines, and visual design are all impressive, and it's clear that the developers put a lot of effort into creating Night City. However, the way music is handled in the game has left me with some reservations.

It's no secret that music plays a crucial role in setting the atmosphere for a game like Cyberpunk 2077, and I appreciate the effort that's gone into curating the soundtrack. But my concern lies with the way certain tracks are aggressively integrated into the game, almost to the point of feeling forced upon the player. Or that there are at least four radios playing songs full blast, sometimes not even the same songs. Blaring music coming from speakers and at times, hidden sound sources buried in the architecture.

Firstly, the radio stations in the game frequently play specific tracks during key moments, such as when you're cruising around Night City or engaging in intense combat sequences. While this can enhance the experience, it sometimes feels like these songs are being used to promote certain artists or albums, making me wonder if there's some financial incentive involved.

Additionally, the game's use of copyrighted music can be problematic for content creators who want to share their gameplay experiences online. Many streamers and YouTubers have encountered issues with copyright strikes due to the game's audio, which raises questions about the intentions behind this decision.

I'm not saying that having popular music in a game is inherently bad—it can be a fantastic way to immerse players in the world. However, when it starts to feel like a marketing strategy to boost album sales or restrict content sharing, it can become frustrating.

I'd love to know your thoughts on this matter. Do you feel that Cyberpunk 2077's use of music is excessive or forced, or do you think it's just a creative choice? Do you believe there might be some financial arrangements with music companies behind this? Let's discuss and share our perspectives on this aspect of the game.

Looking forward to hearing your opinions!

[Zebedee]

Fwiw, so far as the music director has commented, and devs involved in using music for scenes, it's purely creative choice from which artists are approached through to when the music is deliberately being used. Don't think they really go out for commercial hits - Adamczyk has talked about how Namakopuri ended up in game in the past, as well as more broadly what the music is aiming for, and it's much more specific to what kind of vibe they want for parts of the game.

I'm sure there's artists and music companies who see the chance of having songs played to millions of people as their opportunity to have success and it plays a part in them saying 'yes' when approached, but don't see anything wrong with that.

[KAObserver]

Needs to be more creative when three different songs are blaring on world radio speakers and hidden sources. It is a known annoyance that people, not just me, want to be addressed and fixed. There's no reason to force this on people. I play with no music for a reason. I like immersing myself in my games, which seems more realistic. Again, it's just a personal choice. And a gang sitting around drinking, playing music on a radio isn't the issue. It's when you have three to four in one area, sometimes hidden away.

[vikingman33]

Honestly I don't really like most of the music in the game, especially the rap crap and other songs where every other word is the N word. When i'm doing missions in an area with alot of music going on i'll usually go around shooting or blowing up all the music sources I can find. LOL

Also BTW there is a switch in settings now to turn off copyrighted music in the game. I'm guessing added for those who are streaming the game and want to avoid copyright issues.

[Soul]

pretty sure there is a mode where you can disable copywrite music in the game.... at least ive heard of content creators mention that it exists...

[Drahknon]

These comments make no sense. Many, many of the non-score songs are from absolute nobodies. The only big name is Grimes.

That said, do yourself a favor and listen to El Tiempo from the PL soundtrack. It's a banger.

[2019 Nissan Sentra]

Consider that someone designed the sound in the game. Consider the game is set in a world where EVERYTHING is excessive and in your face. Sounds like putting circles in the circle hole to me.

[Hidden Gunman]

Its not the first game to do so, even Farm Simulator has done it.

I'm just surprised that the corporate world hasnt realised the potential marketting value of having ingame advertising or real world product placement would have. Cooperative ventures would see game production costs covered by the sponsors, who in turn have their products as consumables or gear in games, i.e. Moonchies become Oreos, etc.

[OldDog]

I just started to play the game. I love music. And as the OP stated, it can enhance game play if used correctly. However, I don't care for most of the music in this game. In the Settings under Sound, I've set Music Volume to 0, Vehicle Radio & Radioport Volume to 0 and Disabled the Copyrighted Music. And yet there's music still blaring away in my apartment?

Wow. 2 minutes after posting this, I found the radio in my apartment. It's off and I don't have a headache anymore.

[justfaded]

What a dumb take

[Holografix]

seriously, a terrible take. Cyberpunk 2077's OST is one of the best in a video game ever. Every radio station is good, and even the instrumental in game original score is good. Samurai songs are decent too. idris elba made music for the game too.

amazing music

[Silverbane7]

I think I know what they mean.
There is an ncpd point in Watson, a market being turned over by Tyger Claws. I can turn off the radios. I can stab throwing knives into the speakers.
But there are at least three other points of the area where two or three different stations are playing. Stand in just the right place and you still get hit by them together
A cacophony of nose.
Its rare tho. Most of the time I can just turn off one or two radios.
Walk past the shutter area or fake bar that's playing noise.
Little China is one of the worst zones for this I think.
(Tho it could just be I spend most of my time there. Serial restarter, that I am lol)

Don't mistake me tho. I love the music. I swapped a couple of songs out that I'm not keen on (to swap in Archangel and Black Dog I think)
I listen to Samurai at work (the 5 or 6 songs I like)
And I love the games music. Have 1hr versions of some of it in my playlist. Johnny playing guitar for one.

Its not the combat or sneak music, its the fact that you can be in one small area on occasion, and get blasted by three different songs at once.
Some folks can 'turn off' the sounds in their head, so to speak. Some can't tho.
I'm kind of in between. I can ignore stuff sometimes, but when I get caught in the crosswave between three different pieces of music, PLUS the sneak or combat background music, it can cause me issues.
Usually its not too bad, I just whipe the Tygers and turn off the radios and its a bit less of an issue.

[Holografix]

Originally posted by Silverbane7:

I think I know what they mean.
Its not the combat or sneak music, its the fact that you can be in one small area on occasion, and get blasted by three different songs at once.

there's a place like that where a Cyberpsycho attack takes place. kill all the radios but the speakers keep blasting music.

the constant noise is part of Night City.

[m662]

I think you give CD Project Red to much credit as far as going Cyberpunk on marketing direction for the main game.

Hell even the in game marketing billboards they probably could have gotten real life companies involved if they wanted to those that are not the Top A brand but can do more edgy stuff. They might in fact have had those offers and refused them. Lets not forget in the alien franchise Wallmart bought Weyland-Yutani as company and Pepsi was a decoy against aliens. Now if we are talking numbers of casualties of Arasaka compared to Weyland-Yutani arasaka is a corpo toddler.

So No I think CD Project Red most likely was more afraid of any negative image of doing it than reverse because brands are known to sell out but if a game developer does that oh boy...

With regards to the music choice for that honestly to be considered a commercial success it is not mainstream enough for most people. Not to say the music is not good but this is not the music you want to reach a large audience with. If they wanted that they could have done that. Even in the electronic, dark-wave, techno scene which is a lot smaller than mainstream if they went that route there are larger parties that probably would have done this for free just for fun or publicity.

Just take a look at the most popular song of the original release your looking at 19 million in 4 years. The Edgerunnner song from the anime is at 31 millions in 1 year. You can see where the commercial success with regards to music lies.

Now if we are talking streamers and content ID I don't think there are many streamers who are not familiar with modding if they are in fact worrying about that. For a medium like YouTube it is even easier as that is post editing if it did not have such a button already.

No what I think we are looking at is time constraints with the original launch which they are now ironing out a bit.

Want a more convincing argument for that? If they truly wanted to have you blasting the music for marketing why did they not release the on foot radio feature at launch? It would have been higher on the priority list than than let say for example the police chases or even more basic finding murals. Technically it was not difficult to to so they just had to put the same controls on active while on foot. Modders figured that stuff out just under a half year after release.

[Titan Awaken]

Another necro it seems. Whatever, I’ll indulge this post this time.

Originally posted by KAObserver:

it sometimes feels like these songs are being used to promote certain artists or albums, making me wonder if there's some financial incentive involved.

Very astute observation.

Next you’ll be telling me that the commercials on TV and social media are trying to elicit me into buying their product.

… OK fine, I’ll drop the snark and facetious attitude.

Radio is a form of media. The purpose of ALL forms of media is to send a message and/or tell a story to a large demographic/population. In other words, media (and thus radio) is intrinsically and inherently designed to promote whatever message or tale the original broadcaster is trying to spread.

Media is mass communication.

This isn’t a massive conspiracy theory or a grand society upheaving revelation; it’s literally just what media is designed to do.

Music on the radio is clearly a form of mass communication (media) so no offence but your statement is really just an obvious truth much akin to “the sky is blue.”