Game Developer Experiences Stock Price Boost after Tweet from Elon Musk

Category: Business

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. massive / ˈmæs ɪv / (adj) – very large in amount or degree
    Example:

    The country is expecting a massive boost in tourism once international travel begins again.


  2. aesthetics / ɛsˈθɛt ɪks / (n) – the appearance or effect of something that is beautiful or pleasing
    Example:

    The newly opened coffee shop was praised for its aesthetics.


  3. backlash / ˈbækˌlæʃ / (n) – a strong, negative reaction to something
    Example:

    The movie received backlash because the cast’s acting was terrible.


  4. assure / əˈʃʊər / (v) – to tell someone that something is true or will definitely happen
    Example:

    The seller assured the customers that they would receive a refund for the damaged items.


  5. encrypted / ɪnˈkrɪp tɪd / (adj) – changed into a series of numbers and/or letters for protection from unauthorized access
    Example:

    I feel more secure when I send encrypted emails.


Article

Read the text below.

CD Projekt Red, the company that developed the role-playing video game Cyberpunk 2077, experienced a massive stock boost after Tesla founder Elon Musk tweeted that he enjoyed the game.


Musk’s post promoted Tesla’s new electric car model, the Model S Plaid. Musk tweeted a photo of the car and said that it can run games such as Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, which he said had great aesthetics.


After Musk’s tweet, CD Projekt’s stock price increased by 19%, the highest jump the company had experienced since June 2015.


Just a few months ago, CD Projekt received backlash after the December release of Cyberpunk 2077. Gamers complained that the game had multiple bugs and performed poorly on some consoles. Sony even took the game out of its digital PlayStation Store because of the negative comments and offered refunds to those who purchased it.


In response to these issues, CD Projekt assured players that the company would continue to improve the game. Since last year, the company has been fixing the bugs and addressing other complaints. After they finish the necessary improvements, the Polish game company promised to begin working on free downloadable content and multiplayer features.


Despite Cyberpunk 2077 having several bugs, Musk still thought the game was great and expressed his admiration for its design.


This was not the first time a tweet from Musk helped boost a company’s stocks. Previous tweets from the entrepreneur also raised the price of GameStop, a gaming merchandise retailer, and Signal, an encrypted messaging app.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Do you think it is a good idea for Musk to promote Cyberpunk 2077 along with Tesla’s new model? Why or why not?
• If you were as famous as Musk, what product or service would you promote? Discuss.

Discussion B

• Why do you think people buy products or services that celebrities and other famous people promote? Discuss.
• Do you think celebrities should be picky when it comes to choosing which products/services they would promote? Why or why not?