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[Bernoulli]

All UK sites seem affected

Axios too


UPDATE: they just received a code


Just two days away from Starfield's review embargo, Eurogamer is still to receive a copy of the game from Bethesda.

No publisher is obligated to provide a copy of their game to us, but it is important we are able to be transparent with you, our readers, about the delay this will have on the Eurogamer coverage you expect, especially as it has become clear that copies of the game are abundant elsewhere, and in particular in the US.

​

Access to the game appears to have been heavily restricted in the UK, where Bethesda has also not provided copies of Starfield to other websites and YouTube channels owned by Eurogamer parent company Reedpop. Meanwhile, some other UK outlets have been provided access through Bethesda's US arm.​

Throughout the past two weeks, since copies of the game were made available to the media, I've spent hours trying to discuss the issue with Bethesda, and the matter has been repeatedly flagged to both Bethesda and Microsoft at senior levels.

Lastly, a note on Digital Foundry. You should expect to see relatively prompt coverage of the game by Rich and his team after a separate delivery of Starfield code was provided to them. However, this was provided alongside instruction to me by Bethesda that no other parts of Eurogamer were granted access. This was an unprecedented request, but one I ultimately felt compelled to honour to ensure the access granted to Digital Foundry was not subsequently impacted by any other mandate.​

Eurogamer and Starfield

UPDATE 1/9/23: With the dust now settled after Starfield's review embargo, I'd like to clarify a couple of points I've …

www.eurogamer.net

 

[funking giblet]

No performance reviews from DF then....

 

[diffusionx]

Based Bethesda dabbing on Eurocucks

 

[kanjobazooie]

Poor eurogamer

 

[Gaiff]

Thanks, CMA.

 

[ckaneo]

No performance reviews from DF then....

Hmmm...I think Digital Foundry has it because they have already released impressions

 

[Arsic]

Sounds like they can wait for the 1/10 and let the rest fall into place first.

 

[VitoNotVito]

Performance must suck then, they're afraid of DF roasting them.

 

[RagnarokIV]

Was expecting it to be a delayed review so they can check if a producer said something controversial on twitter first.

 

[Sleepwalker]

Skill up also did not get a copy.

 

[adamsapple]

No performance reviews from DF then....

Lastly, a note on Digital Foundry. You should expect to see relatively prompt coverage of the game by Rich and his team after a separate delivery of Starfield code was provided to them. However, this was provided alongside instruction to me by Bethesda that no other parts of Eurogamer were granted access. ​

DF is fine, fuck eurogamer - Zenimax

Performance must suck then, they're afraid of DF roasting them.

I'll take "Posts that age terribly before even made" for $100, Alec.

 

[GymWolf]

Who gives a fuck?

 

[violence]

It’s not a game I would read reviews for anyway.

 

[oji-san]

Still waiting for Hogwarts Legacy review...

 

[Plantoid]

"Times change" - garrosh hellscream

 

[Sensei]

 

[T0minator]

Skill up also did not get a copy.

That's not a good look not giving Skillup a review copy. Seems like they gave review copies to outlets and people they know will give them the highest metacritic on day 1, then eventually others with review the game and the metacritic will be more accurate. I could be completely wrong but that's what it seems like

 

[MMaRsu]

Eurogamer, VG247 and RockPaperShotgun have all been shitting on the game in their articles for months.

Bethesda apparantly also has an issue with the parent company of all these websites, ReedPOP.

What that issue is, we don't know.

But when VG247 writes shit like this in their articles

Assassin’s Creed, Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3, The Outer Worlds just to name a few. All of those games are basically Bethesda spin-offs.

Who can blame them?

 

[Topher]

Jez Corden gets a review copy but Eurogamer does not.

 

[OverHeat]

A big FU because of CMA

 

[Fredrik]

DF is fine, fuck eurogamer - Zenimax

Yeah, no loss, Eurogamer is the outlet with the dork that felt bad when Ashley didn’t like when you turned the camera to look up her skirt. People like that scare me.

 

[Bernoulli]

Jez Corden gets a review copy but Eurogamer does not.

Free 100

 

[DenchDeckard]

Where we are going...we don't need reviews!

 

[RoboFu]

It’s not DF just eurogamer . Nothing to see here.

 

[RagnarokIV]

DF is fine, fuck eurogamer - Zenimax

 

[XXL]

Jez Corden gets a review copy but Eurogamer does not.

Jez probably got the 1st review copy that was sent out.

 

[jm89]

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.

 

[AlteredForms]

Eurogamer and Starfield

UPDATE 1/9/23: With the dust now settled after Starfield's review embargo, I'd like to clarify a couple of points I've …

www.eurogamer.net

Bethesda be like:

 

[TexMex]

I love this. Blacklisted media outlets publishing articles crying that they've been denied early access to any publisher's game is always so satisfying. It's the most comically un-self aware shit. Just dripping entitlement. All of these gaming websites started as just fan enthusiast blogs that started generating revenue and none of them are owed early (or any) free access to any game. They should publish an article every time they do get an early review code thanking the publisher. Should be the exception, not the rule. These people should be out there buying the game on day one like the rest of us and I don't care if that means their review goes up a week or two after launch. Kotaku (unsurpsingly) does this same shit.

 

[Elysium44]

That's not a good look not giving Skillup a review copy. Seems like they gave review copies to outlets and people they know will give them the highest metacritic on day 1, then eventually others with review the game and the metacritic will be more accurate. I could be completely wrong but that's what it seems like

Yes it looks like a big red flag. Or alternatively the game is great but Microsoft are seriously petty which is unbecoming for such a big company.

 

[Nonehxc]

I wouldn't provide anything to anyone that works for Redpoop.

 

[nowhat]

Yes it looks like a big red flag. Or alternatively the game is great but Microsoft are seriously petty which is unbecoming for such a big company.

While I agree, there was a point when Bethesda didn't send review copies to anyone:

Bethesda No Longer Sending Early Review Copies To The Media

In a new blog post, Bethesda announces that review copies for its upcoming games won't be sent to media outlets until the day before release.

www.gameinformer.com

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

I know Bethesda blacklisted Kotaku because of the fallout 4 leak of it being based in Boston. But what’s the backstory on Eurogamer being blacklisted by Bethesda?

This must be a story I haven’t heard yet.

 

[MMaRsu]

Yes it looks like a big red flag. Or alternatively the game is great but Microsoft are seriously petty which is unbecoming for such a big company.

Are they or are they ignoring shit publications like EG who did not review Harry Potter because of 'issues'

Or someone cried because you could look up Ashleys skirt in RE4

 

[RagnarokIV]

Their reviews are shit anyway. FFXVI had this shite globbed in the middle

The world is also conspicuous for its ethnic homogeneity, which producer Naoki Yoshida has explained as a reflection of the "geographical, technological, and geopolitical constraints" of medieval Europe. Leaving aside the fact that there were Black and brown people in medieval Europe, this justification rings hollow given that several locations take open inspiration from north Africa and the Middle East, with towns that, for example, riff on Islamic architectural traditions and attire, but are predominantly or exclusively populated by anglophone white people (I hedge, here, simply because I haven't been around and talked to everybody). I find the deletion of people of colour from these spaces more sinister than the racial stereotypes of older Final Fantasies, particularly in a game that wants to talk about overcoming structural injustice and bringing people together. That "togetherness" is worth fighting for, but it's characterised here by what it excludes.

They shit all over Kingdom Come: Deliverance and the game's rep really tanked because of it.

 

[SLoco]

Still waiting for skillup to review Hogwarts game,any day now for sure

 

[Elder Legend]

Skill up also did not get a copy.

Wow, that's crazy. So even big peeps got denied. Now I do not feel as bad for getting denied. Lol.

 

[Montauk]

Poor eurogamer

Why is this your reaction?

What’s good about this prominent, good quality outlet being unable to promptly review one of the biggest games of the year?

 

[Elysium44]

Are they or are they ignoring shit publications like EG who did not review Harry Potter because of 'issues'

Or someone cried because you could look up Ashleys skirt in RE4

Microsoft are at least as 'woke' as EG in that regard so they probably agreed with that dumb RE4 reviewer.

 

[SlimySnake]

This is a bad look on Digital Foundry. They have always been chummy with MS and this reeks of favoritism.

Also no loyalty from rich towards his parent company lmao.

 

[MMaRsu]

Microsoft are at least as 'woke' as EG in that regard so they probably agreed with that dumb RE4 reviewer.

Im not saying they are ignoring them because of woke issues, but because the publications are trash.

This is a bad look on Digital Foundry. They have always been chummy with MS and this reeks of favoritism.

Also no loyalty from rich towards his parent company lmao.

Todd has stated multiple times that he respects DF's work and how everyone in the industry watches their videos.

 

[cireza]

Publishers can send review copies to whoever they want and don't have to explain themselves.

 

[adamsapple]

This is a bad look on Digital Foundry. They have always been chummy with MS and this reeks of favoritism.

Also no loyalty from rich towards his parent company lmao.

Rich did the Hogwarts Legacy video, Eurogamer boycotted the review.

I don't think there's a loyalty aspect here.

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

Long day at work. Was reading "parent company redpoop".

 

[Montauk]

Eurogamer, VG247 and RockPaperShotgun have all been shitting on the game in their articles for months.

Bethesda apparantly also has an issue with the parent company of all these websites, ReedPOP.

What that issue is, we don't know.

But when VG247 writes shit like this in their articles



Who can blame them?

So you’re openly supporting publishers fucking around with free and open journalism because they’ve published something you don’t like?

 

[Skyfox]

Not a great loss,Eurogamer is not the site it used to be. DF still decent.

 

[ARK1391]

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.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

3/5 incoming

 

[DenchDeckard]

Tons of people are blacklisted by Bethesda. They petty as fook.

 

[MMaRsu]

So you’re openly supporting publishers fucking around with free and open journalism because they’ve published something you don’t like?

Publishers are free to send out review codes to whomever they want. This has nothing to do with free and open journalism you crybaby.