The constantly evolving video game industry strives to offer more immersive and visually spectacular experiences. However, behind innovation and creativity there are significant challenges related to accessibility, especially for players with photosensitive epilepsy. The launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in December 2020 it catalysed attention on this issue, bringing to light the serious consequences that the absence of an inclusive design can have. The incident that involved Liana Ruppert, Associate Editor of Game Informer, who suffered an epileptic crisis playing a pre-release version of the CD title Projekt Red, deeply shakes the community, raising crucial questions about the responsibility of developers and the adequacy of existing warnings. This event was not an isolated case, but rather the last of a series of incidents that occurred during the history of digital media, from cartoons to video games, which highlighted the imperative need to adopt more secure and inclusive approaches in visual content design. Photosensitive epilepsy, although it does not affect the majority of the population, is a real medical condition that requires careful consideration by content creators, especially in an era in which visual stimuli is increasingly intense and rapid. This article aims to explore in depth the nature of photosensitive epilepsy, retrace its history in the context of entertainment, analyze the case Cyberpunk 2077 as a turning point, and outline the technological solutions and best practices that industry can and must adopt to ensure that the gaming experience is safe and accessible to all, transforming awareness into concrete action.
Photosensitive epilepsy: A Hidden Challenge in Digital Entertainment
Photosensitive epilepsy (PSE) is a specific form of epilepsy where crises are triggered by visual stimuli, such as flashing lights, repetitive geometric patterns or certain contrasting colors. Although it represents a relatively small percentage of the total epileptic population – it is estimated that about 100,000 of the 2.7 million Americans diagnosed with epilepsy have some form of photosensitivity, with a potential of well 80,000 undiagnosed that may be affected – its incidence is significantly higher in the younger age ranges, particularly between 7 and 19 years, a demographic that corresponds to a considerable part of the video game audience. The neurological mechanisms at the base of the PSE are complex, involving a hypereccitable response of the visual cortex to particular light frequencies, usually between 3 Hz and 60 Hz, with a peak of sensitivity around 15-20 Hz. Flash of very bright light, especially with high contrasts between light and dark or red and white, can overload the brain, leading to abnormal electrical discharges that manifest as epileptic crises grand mal seizures. The consequences of a crisis are not limited to the event itself; they may include post-crisis confusion, fatigue, physical injury due to falls, and a significant psychological impact, generating anxiety and fear of repeating experience. For those affected by PSE, exposure to certain types of media content, particularly video games with intense and rapid visual effects, can turn a recreational activity into a source of serious risk. The lack of adequate awareness and preventive measures makes these vulnerable individuals, often forced to navigate a digital world designed without considering their basic needs. Understanding the nature of this condition is the first step to implement concrete and responsible solutions that protect all players, ensuring that entertainment is really for everyone, without unacceptable risks. The identification of specific triggers and their mitigation in the development process therefore become not only a matter of design, but an ethical and health imperative for the entire industry.
A Historical Retroscene: When Entertainment Meets Risk
The question of risks related to photosensitive epilepsy in the media is not at all new; on the contrary, it is a well documented problem and that it sinks the roots in decades of painful experiences and lessons learned at high price, which unfortunately, as the case shows Cyberpunk 2077, sometimes they are forgotten or underestimated. One of the most famous and dramatic episodes dates back to 1997, when an episode of Japanese anime Pokémon, titled “Dennō Senshi Porygon” (Soldato Elettrico Porygon), provoked an epidemic of seizures, bringing nearly 700 children to the hospital in Japan. The cause was identified in a sequence of red and blue strobe lights, flashing at a frequency of 12 Hz, which lasted for about four seconds, but it was enough to trigger adverse reactions in a vast and unaware audience. This event not only caused a huge public concern and led to the suspension of the anime for a certain period, but also pushed television broadcasters and animation producers to review their guidelines on the production of visual content, introducing stricter rules to prevent excessive flashes and dangerous patterns. Even before, in 1993, the death of a fourteen-year-old due to complications related to an epileptic crisis suffered while playing Super Mario World had already generated international sensationalistic titles on the overall security of the games. These accidents, far from being isolated, have historically shaped the approach of industry. Giants such as Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft have introduced health and safety warnings in their game manuals and console operating systems, alerting the potential danger of stroboscopic effects. However, as pointed out in the case of Cyberpunk 2077, the simple inclusion of a disclaimer in the EULA (End User License Agreement) or in an instruction manual does not always result in effective protection for players, who often ignore such warnings or are unable to react in time. History teaches us that prevention requires a more proactive approach, that goes beyond the mere bureaucracy and translates into conscious and accessible design choices from the early stages of development, recognizing the potential impact of artistic choices on health and safety of the most vulnerable consumers.
Cyberpunk 2077: A Case Study and Comparison with Expectations
The case Cyberpunk 2077 represented a particularly sound alarm bell for the video game industry, not only for its size and hype surrounding it, but also for the clear evidence of a significant gap in accessibility. The experience of Liana Ruppert, documented on Game Informer, has become a symbol of this issue. The sequence of braindance, a neural interface that allows players to explore memories of other characters, was identified as the main trigger factor. This introductory scene featured a device that emitted red and white flashing lights on a whole screen with a growing cadence, projecting the player into a virtual world. What made this particularly problematic sequence was the impossibility of jumping it, forcing photosensitive players to divert their eyes or close their eyes every time they came across, an action that was repeated in multiple points of the main plot. But braindance was not the only risk; Ruppert also noted other critical visual elements, such as a “short blue glitch effect” on certain characters and objects, both inside and outside braindance sequences, and the ubiquitous high contrast and flashing neon lights present in the numerous bar and club scenes of Night City, transforming the world of play into a series of “danger zones” for photosensitive players. The reaction of the British charity Epilepsy Action was vehemently: they said they were “armed and saddened” by the accident, underlining how such features were “insecure and should have been avoided to make the game more accessible.” Their most incisive criticism was the total failure of a simple warning in the EULA, a document that few read carefully, and the absence of a clear warning at the beginning of the game itself. The initial response of CD Projekt Red was to include a separate warning in the game, as well as that already in the EULA, and to explore a “more permanent solution”. However, the criticality lies in the fact that these measures were only adopted after that the problem came to light dramatically, highlighting a lack of prediction and accessibility test in the development phase. This episode underlined the tension between the artistic vision of developers and the responsibility to create a safe and inclusive experience for a diversified audience, leading to a review of priorities in the design of high-budget video games.
Industry Responsibility: Between Standards, Guidelines and Best Practices
The debate from the case Cyberpunk 2077 has rekindled the spotlight on the intrinsic responsibility of the video game industry in ensuring that its products are safe and accessible to all potential users, especially those with medical conditions such as photosensitive epilepsy. Beyond generic warnings present in manuals or EULAs – which, as pointed out, have proved inadequate – there are several guidelines and best practices that developers and publishers should follow to mitigate risks. Organizations such as Game Accessibility Guidelines and the Game Accessibility Conference (GAConf) have for years outlined specific recommendations, which include avoiding blinking frequencies between 3 Hz and 60 Hz, especially with high contrasts, and offering in-game options to reduce or eliminate potentially dangerous effects. This goes beyond simple legal compliance and extends to a fundamental ethical issue: the right of all to enjoy the entertainment safely. The absence of specific accessibility tests in the early stages of development is often the main cause of these issues. Many studies, especially large ones with significant resources, do not systematically integrate accessibility consultants or testing processes dedicated to identifying epileptic triggers or other barriers. The warnings, though necessary, cannot replace a weighted design. Instead of asking players to “distract their gaze”, games should be designed so that such actions are never necessary. The responsibility also extends to distribution platforms, which could adopt more stringent standards for the games that are published, verifying the presence of adequate accessibility options or at least of more visible and detailed on-screen warnings. The pressure from the community, charities such as Epilepsy Action, and specialized journalists is essential to push industry towards a significant change. Implementing such practices is not only a matter of morality, but it can also translate into a competitive advantage, expanding the base of players and improving the reputation of the study as inclusive and attentive to the needs of its users. The challenge is to transform recommendations into widely adopted and culturally integrated industrial standards in the development process, raising accessibility from an appendix to a fundamental pillar of the design of each video game.
Beyond Warnings: Technology and Design strategies Accessible
Effectively addressing the issue of photosensitive epilepsy in video games requires an approach that goes far beyond the simple warnings, embracing a philosophy of inclusive design and the implementation of proactive technological solutions. The key is theaccessibility by design, i.e. integrating accessibility considerations from the very first stages of conception and development of the game, rather than attempting to apply retrofitting corrections. This means that developers should consider the potential impact of every visual effect, animation and sequence of lights on all players. Among the most effective solutions is the introduction of toggles and customizable options that allow players to adapt their experience to their needs. These options may include: the ability to reduce the frequency or intensity of flashing lights and stroboscopic effects, to deactivate specific animations that present problematic visual patterns (such as the “blue glitch flicker” of Cyberpunk 2077), to adjust the saturation and contrast of colors to reduce visual peaks, and to activate filters for the range of colors (similar to the modes for dalthonics) that can make stimuli less aggressive. Some games have already successfully implemented similar features, offering, for example, the option to reduce motion blur effect, camera trembling or rapid animations, improving the experience not only for photosensitives but also for those suffering from chinetosis or other sensibilities. Moreover, the advancement of artificial intelligence and machine learning could offer new opportunities. Automated visual analysis systems could be developed to scan game content in search of light and color patterns known to be epileptic triggers, alerting developers during pre-production or even offering automatic changes that the player can enable. At the hardware level, console and monitor manufacturers may explore the integration of system-level filters or “epilessia-safe” modes that act on all displayed content. The ultimate goal is to give the player control, allowing him to model the game experience so that it is fun and, above all, safe, without necessarily compromising the artistic vision of the game for those who are not at risk. This proactive and user-based approach is the only way to ensure that visual innovation does not exclude, but includes, all those who wish to immerse themselves in digital worlds.
The Role of the Community, Advocacy and Specialized Journalism
In the digital age, the role of the community, advocacy organizations and specialized journalism has become more crucial than ever in promoting accessibility and security in the video game industry. The case Cyberpunk 2077 is a striking example of how the intervention of these parts can generate a significant change. It was the personal experience and courage of a journalist, Liana Ruppert, to bring the problem to the forefront, demonstrating the power of journalism to investigate, inform and trigger a necessary debate. Without his testimony, the question could have remained confined to marginal discussions or ignored warnings. Similarly, charitable organizations like Epilepsy they play a vital role, not only by amplifying the voices of patients and their families, but also by exerting direct pressure on developers and legislators. These organizations provide guidelines, raise awareness of the public and actively promote a more responsible industry, transforming individual concerns into a collective campaign for change. The community of players themselves, through online forums, social media and streaming platforms, has a growing influence. When an accessibility problem is identified, the speed with which the news spreads and the pressure that can generate online can force developers to take urgent steps. Photosensitive players, in the absence of complete in-game solutions, have often found themselves having to “go alone”, sharing strategies to reduce the risk: lower the brightness of the screen, avoid certain sections of the game, use hardware filters or external software, or simply “look elsewhere” at critical times. This type of self-help demonstrates the ingenuity and resilience of the community, but also highlights the persistent gap in the approach of industry. The combination of attentive journalism, well-structured advocacy organizations and a community of attentive and vocally active players creates an ecosystem of pressure and support that is indispensable to push industry towards higher accessibility standards, ensuring that the voice of those who are more vulnerable is heard and that their needs are met proactively and not only reactively.
The path to a fully inclusive video game industry and aware of the risks associated with photosensitive epilepsy is still long, but the case Cyberpunk 2077 it has undoubtedly accelerated the debate and the need for concrete action. It is clear that the only legal warnings, often hidden in remote clauses, are not enough to protect vulnerable players. History has taught us through episodes like that of Pokémon or Super Mario World, that the impact of unweighted visual stimuli can be severe and widespread, and that lessons learned in the past must be constantly reaffirmed and integrated into today’s practices. Accessibility should not be considered an optional addition or a last-minute rethink, but a fundamental principle of game design, inherent in each stage of development. This involves a commitment by developers and publishers to actively implement accessibility guidelines, to conduct extensive testing with specialized consultants and, above all, to offer players tools and customization options that allow them to adapt the gaming experience to their own security needs. The goal is not to censor creativity or limit artistic expression, but rather to balance these aspirations with social responsibility to create a safe and welcoming entertainment environment for all. The future of video games, rich in increasingly vast and detailed worlds and increasingly immersive technologies, must be a future in which no one is left behind due to avoidable barriers. Through the collaboration between developers, players, associations of advocacy and media, we can build an industry where the beauty and depth of the videoludic experience are accessible to every individual, regardless of their own conditions. Only then can it really be said that the game is really for everyone, an art that enriches life without risking health.
