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[Heisenberg007]

No, I'm not seriously telling you that.

I'm pointing out that it is a UK only issue, as reported by multiple websites.

You're turning it into a "because EG and Edge are the only websites which give harsh reviews" narrative, which is clearly not true.

If it was an issue they could not resolve, how come they managed to give EuroGamer a review copy within an hour of this becoming a big news?



And if they could it now, they could have done it before.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, they specifically asked Digital Foundry not to share the review code with EuroGamer. This was no "technical UK issue". It was simply because they didn't want to provide review codes.

 

[Montauk]

Sounds very professional.

But denying review outlets review codes because of what randos on Neogaf thought of some of their past reviews would be very professional, right?

I’m sorry that you didn’t get what you were fantasising about today, but you’ll get over it.

 

[Pedro Motta]

Wow man the DF obsession is truly insane here. You guys are so off the deep end you’re at the bottom of the Mariana trench.

Some of you must have been holding this laughable conspiratorial grudge for like approaching a decade by now.

Aren’t half of you in your 30s and 40s? Isn’t it time to let it go lads?

Bespoke gagging.

 

[The Alien]

Ya mean I don't get to read reviews from "games activists" that I'd ignore anyway.

Moving along. Nothing to see here..

(Insert Jeremy Clarkson "anyway" gif)

 

[oji-san]

But denying review outlets review codes because of what randos on Neogaf thought of some of their past reviews would be very professional, right?

I’m sorry that you didn’t get what you were fantasising about today, but you’ll get over it.

Hogwarts Legacy.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Hyperbole inaccurate reviews incoming?

 

[gaming_again]

Fucking lol.

And from Kuckatu to the Guardian. Talk about red flags.

Honestly, every mainstream publication in the UK is beyond dire. I wouldn’t want anything to do with it either.

 

[adamsapple]

That is why people started taking notice. Because what controller you prefer and where you friends are have fuck all to do with a "tech breakdown." But conveniently popped up last gen but not the gen prior, at all.

I'm just curious, can you give some examples of this. I looked up a few PS4/XBO gen comparisons (RDR2, GTA V, AC Unity, Black Flag, some CoD games) and didn't see any mention of that in the articles.

Just sounds like some made up stuff to try and get a point across TBH.

 

[Morrie’s wig shop]

All these Starfield threads tell me is who has the means to play the game and who doesn’t.

It’s becoming quite sad to read in real time but entertaining nevertheless.

 

[Topher]

If it was an issue they could not resolve, how come they managed to give EuroGamer a review copy within an hour of this becoming a big news?



And if they could it now, they could have done it before.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, they specifically asked Digital Foundry not to share the review code with EuroGamer. This was no "technical UK issue". It was simply because they didn't want to provide review codes.

What I want to know is why is it Microsoft seems to be incapable of launching a big game without creating some bullshit controversy in the process.

 

[Robb]

Sucks for them I guess. Not that I’ll be very interested in reviews for this one anyways, I’ll try it out when it hits GamePass either way.

 

[Heisenberg007]

What I want to know is why is it Microsoft seems to be incapable of launching a big game without creating some bullshit controversy in the process.

This!

I swear I was about to create a thread on this earlier. Every time Xbox is about to launch, they mess up one way or another. But then I decided not to as I suspected most would just disregard at fanboy-ish instead of having a conversation about it.

But yeah you're right. They do seem to create problems on their own.

Now imagine if Starfield is reviewed and scored poorly. This "hiding all the reviews" will look even worse that would have a direct impact on future Xbox game releases as well.

 

[adamsapple]

If it was an issue they could not resolve, how come they managed to give EuroGamer a review copy within an hour of this becoming a big news?

Social media whining won ?

I don't know what to say, the Metro article itself points out that this issue is not happening for outlets in the US.

Additionally, if anyones gonna bring up "JEZ GOT A CODE", why didn't Pure Xbox, the name should enough, why didn't they get a code ?

Clearly Zenimax is not shy of selectively not sending codes to reviewers, they've very famously blocked Kotaku for years. But this seems to go beyond that.

 

[Stuart360]

Based on the things we've seen from leaked footage, I don't think 90+ was ever on the cards anyway.

A 90+ game is mostly flawless (e.g., Elden Ring, Witcher, TLOU, Zelda, Mario). Starfield seems to have multiple issues: poor visuals, poor animations, tiles, loading screens, 30 FPS, weird water animation, problems with shooting and how bullets home in to enemies automatically, etc. That's too much baggage to hit 90+, but I could be wrong of course.

I have been avoiding most Starfield threads on here (or the ones with potential spoilers anyway), but i had a look at the first 3 or 4 pages of the 'leaked footage' thread and most people seem to think the opposite of that, especially the animations.
Plus even if that was true, i dont think we have had many cases where a game got reviewed down for graphics.

 

[DeepEnigma]

I'm just curious, can you give some examples of this. I looked up a few PS4/XBO gen comparisons (RDR2, GTA V, AC Unity, Black Flag, some CoD games) and didn't see any mention of that in the articles.

Just sounds like some made up stuff to try and get a point across TBH.

It's not made up, but keep carrying the water. People have posted those exerts years ago which was mainly in the great massive "next gen" tech thread. If I have free time, I will try and do some digging, you are free to do so as well.

It was with early on games.

Just like mid-gen refreshes are now not so exciting and concerning, since one brand is PRing they may not be doing one. They gushed over that brand's mid-gen last gen. And the "concern" for devs, but not the same concern back when the X/S was announced? They specifically said "scaling should be simple." What changed?

Edit:
Over the years since people noticed.

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/digital-foundry-call-of-duty-black-ops-3-face-off.1142180/#post-185931248

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/digital-foundry-call-of-duty-black-ops-3-face-off.1142180/page-3#post-185943986

Face-Off: Call of Duty: Black Ops 3

Black Ops 3 is perhaps the biggest Call of Duty game yet. Single-player and co-operative campaign modes - online and sp…

www.eurogamer.net

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/digitalfoundry-rottr-xbox-one-x-vs-ps4-pro-first-look-graphics-comaprison.1423858/page-20#post-247097824

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/rumor-ps5-devkits-13-tflops.1479115/page-11#post-254181988

Just some examples. It also disappeared from their articles when the X dropped.

 

[Heisenberg007]

Social media whining won ?

I don't know what to say, the Metro article itself points out that this issue is not happening for outlets in the US.

Additionally, if anyones gonna bring up "JEZ GOT A CODE", why didn't Pure Xbox, the name should enough, why didn't they get a code ?

Clearly Zenimax is not shy of selectively not sending codes to reviewers, they've very famously blocked Kotaku for years. But this seems to go beyond that.

Eurogamer is still outside of the US. They managed to get a code to them when it all started blowing up.

Besides, the most important sign here is Bethesda telling Digital Foundry not to share their review code with Eurogamer. That's bad and clearly shows intent - not a technical issue, to me at least.

 

[DrFigs]

I just don't often hear movie critics or music critics complain like this for not getting early screeners. They listen/watch with the rest of the public. And often times this means that their reviews come in after the movie/album has already been out. Which is like fine. Probably not ideal for their revenue streams, but creators don't have some obligation to share free copies ahead of time with anyone.

 

[solidus12]

MORE IMPORTANTLY, they specifically asked Digital Foundry not to share the review code with EuroGamer. This was no "technical UK issue". It was simply because they didn't want to provide review codes.

Because John is based in Germany, this a UK specific issue.

Spoiler

 

[yurinka]

Thanks, CMA.

Bethesda not wanting to send a code to Eurogamer or Axios has nothing to do with CMA.

Because John is based in Germany, this a UK specific issue.

Spoiler

Axios is based in the USA, it has nothing to do with UK.

 

[DenchDeckard]

Hyperbole inaccurate reviews incoming?

First there was tilegate

Then there was ladder gate

Loading gate


Now we must go with reviewbiasgate

I've never seen so much Weight put into the UK as this generation. Can't work out if I'm proud or not.

Weekly uk sales charts...the CMA and now reviewgate

 

[adamsapple]

Eurogamer is still outside of the US. They managed to get a code to them when it all started blowing up.

First, let's dispense the notion that this is a UK wide issue, Bernoulli's terribly formatted OP is making people think it is.

It's not a UK wide issue, outlets in the UK are also getting the codes, just more restricted, and the US branch of Zenimax has to come in and give codes to UK outlets. It's in the original Eurogamer article itself :

Meanwhile, some other UK outlets have been provided access through Bethesda's US arm.​

 

[Darsxx82]

Axios too

Axios and Tolito (Like Eurogamer group) are high representatives of the press that has shown continuous articles in opposition and negatives to the acquisition of ABK.

I may be being unreasonably conspiratorial, but I don't think it's a coincidence that they are focused on the UK and that it has affected the groups and media that have been strong opponents of the ABK acquisition.

 

[solidus12]

Bethesda not wanting to send a code to Eurogamer or Axios has nothing to do with CMA.


Axios is based in the USA, it has nothing to do with UK.

I was being sarcastic

 

[DenchDeckard]

So eurogamer haven't got codes because of Microsoft. It's normally zenimax who are petty as fuck and have a long list of blacklisted "journalists" and who they work for.

Even Arthur Geis is blacklisted, and everyone knows his allegiance. Bethesda are just petty as fook. But they can do what they want.

 

[FullMetalx117]

But denying review outlets review codes because of what randos on Neogaf thought of some of their past reviews would be very professional, right?

I’m sorry that you didn’t get what you were fantasising about today, but you’ll get over it.

It's not about past reviews...it's about a certain no review...for a highly anticipated AAA game.

 

[adamsapple]

So eurogamer haven't got codes because of Microsoft. It's normally zenimax who are petty as fuck and have a long list of blacklisted "journalists" and who they work for.

Even Arthur Geis is blacklisted, and everyone knows his allegiance. Bethesda are just petty as fook. But they can do what they want.

Eurogamer already got their codes, they updated the article and put out a new tweet.

 

[Montauk]

It's not about past reviews...it's about a certain no review...for a highly anticipated AAA game.

I’m sure one day you’ll get over it.

 

[Gaiff]

Bethesda not wanting to send a code to Eurogamer or Axios has nothing to do with CMA.

 

[DenchDeckard]

Eurogamer already got their codes, they updated the article and put out a new tweet.

I wonder what was going on there. Has eurogamer ever spoken badly of Bethesda?

I've heard many a rumour of, talk shit get banned.

I kinda respect it in a way.

 

[DeepEnigma]

So eurogamer haven't got codes because of Microsoft. It's normally zenimax who are petty as fuck and have a long list of blacklisted "journalists" and who they work for.

Even Arthur Geis is blacklisted, and everyone knows his allegiance. Bethesda are just petty as fook. But they can do what they want.

But now Bethesda has the MS banner in the great war, so now Geis should glow for them!

 

[FullMetalx117]

I’m sure one day you’ll get over it.

Nah, if it's a hobby you care about then will continue to stay on your mind. Video games, a highly lucrative multi billion dollar industry at this point where serious publishers/investors care about reputation, deserves real professional journalism. And gamers/consumers must continue to naturally select away the bad actors/clown show journalism

 

[Darsxx82]

Axios is based in the USA, it has nothing to do with UK.

But Tolito has been a clear representative of the opposition to the acquisition of ABK with his articles and monitoring of the process.... Surely cheap conspiracy, but it is still curious.

 

[Hugare]

Edge aswell.



Tbh both these publications should never be given review codes by anyone.

One uses their reviews to push their agenda the other one is pretentious.

You are naive if you think its due to any "agenda"

Eurogamer is fucking up a lot of MC scores with their rating system, and Edge is known for being harsh when reviewing games.

MS is protecting Starfield's MC/Opencritic scores to boost sales

Simple as that

 

[DenchDeckard]

But now Bethesda has the MS banner in the great war, so now Geis should glow for them!

Ms fighting Bethesda to unban him lol

 

[Thabass]

Tell me, what stops them from buying the game and review themselves?

Ego and hubris.

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

Honestly I don’t really care, other than I’m curious as to why

 

[solidus12]

Nah, if it's a hobby you care about then will continue to stay on your mind. Video games, a highly lucrative multi billion dollar industry at this point where serious publishers/investors care about reputation, deserves real professional journalism. And gamers/consumers must continue to naturally select away the bad actors/clown shown journalism

Indeed, chief among them is Stevivor and their lack of integrity.

 

[adamsapple]

I wonder what was going on there. Has eurogamer ever spoken badly of Bethesda?

I've heard many a rumour of, talk shit get banned.

I kinda respect it in a way.

Kotaku and some of its off-shoot staff are banned by Bethesda, but that has been a long standing thing for almost a decade now..

 

[Arsic]

I’d love to say it won’t effect scores but you know it’s a free minus 1 to 2 points for these guys when you don’t get them a code on time but others are not being ignored.

Oh well. We will just have to rely on the US reviews if they are vastly varied.

Personally I’m getting it day one even if it was a 1/10 average. It’s a new Bethesda game. It’ll be magic even if it’s a mess.

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

Ego and hubris.

Because they’d have to wait to start it til early access and that’s 2 weeks behind other media who got review copies

 

[Ozriel]

Really bizarre and embarrassing behaviour in here.

Some guys even fantasising that this was MS ‘revenge’ against the CMA. Yeah that makes sense, with the CMA being the parent company of Edge magazine.

Sorry guys, you’ll have to come up with a new fantasy where all your favourite brands enemies are being vanquished.

…most of the people mentioning CMA are using that in an attack on Microsoft.

Like the post below.

Why make things up because of videogames? That’s bizarre.

Hahaha petty Microsoft punishing the CMA for not supporting their merger. So childish.

I feel sorry for UK game review sites that have to deal with this. But, when a mega corp is told no, this is the kind of behavior they opt for.

 

[Thabass]

Because they’d have to wait to start it til early access and that’s 2 weeks behind other media who got review copies

Yeah, I know, I used to be a game journalist. There's a legitimate reason there, but it's not such a big deal that they need to complain about it as they are. That's where the ego and hubris comes in.

 

[Heisenberg007]

You are naive if you think its due to any "agenda"

Eurogamer is fucking up a lot of MC scores with their rating system, and Edge is known for being harsh when reviewing games.

MS is protecting Starfield's MC/Opencritic scores to boost sales

Simple as that

That would be review score manipulation and extremely disingenuous.

 

[Topher]

So why did PureXbox UK not receive a code either?

 

[Montauk]

A generous score, too!

 

[Ozriel]

And that’s the exact same score WindowsCentral gave Redfall.

 

[Topher]

And that’s the exact same score WindowsCentral gave Redfall.

Is it? Well then I have no idea what MS is doing. lol

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

Yeah, I know, I used to be a game journalist. There's a legitimate reason there, but it's not such a big deal that they need to complain about it as they are. That's where the ego and hubris comes in.

But as you’ve seen in the reports, the whole deal with so many UK outlets being barred and the reasons why is unprecedented. Which makes the reports newsworthy. Hence all the attention.

 

[Panajev2001a]

If it was an issue they could not resolve, how come they managed to give EuroGamer a review copy within an hour of this becoming a big news?



And if they could it now, they could have done it before.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, they specifically asked Digital Foundry not to share the review code with EuroGamer. This was no "technical UK issue". It was simply because they didn't want to provide review codes.

Allow adamsapple to get the right “evangelist guide”, probably got confused with a thread where Tools or Technical problems can be blamed…

.

 

[DForce]

Damn, a lot of people are getting denied review codes.