In a bad-vibes moment, they’re denying a huge outlet like IGN a review code. No matter what I think of IGN in particular (nothing good tbh), that’s not something I can find a real explanation for other than “We made DC’s Gollum and want to avoid bad press as long as we can”.

    • Katana314@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      I have seen it happen before when review outlets don’t get copies, but the game still turns out awesome. I think it happened for Doom Eternal.

      It feels pointless to play devil’s advocate here though, since one way or another, I’m basically sure it’s going to be terrible. I just don’t like consigning internet opinion based on anything other than gameplay and actual reviews.

      • ThunderingJerboa@kbin.social
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        5 months ago

        You are referring to Doom 2016 actually. While that turn out decent, one of their key arguments was due to it being online focused. We all know Doom 2016 had rather generic multiplayer.

        With that said, it feels silly not to have issues when publishers refuse to send out review keys. Its a huge red flag for a game, this doesn’t mean it will be bad but its a trend we shouldn’t be happy about. Its only done to help preserve preorder numbers.

    • woelkchen@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      I’ve read somewhere else a couple of days ago that the official explanation is that without the public servers being live, reviewers would not get the full experience.

      Not defending WB (I’m not interested in that game at all), just giving context.

      • caseofthematts@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        That’s just an excuse. WB choose when to activate the servers. They could have easily put them online for reviewers.

        • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
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          5 months ago

          So they could be in a game world with like 50 other people?

          *turns out it’s just a 1 to 4 person game.

          • heyoni@lemm.ee
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            5 months ago

            Reviewers getting copies a week before launch are generally netting like 40-50 hours of game time in a short timeframe. Combine that with the fact that it’d be more like hundreds of reviewers and you might actually have a decently active community.

        • JJROKCZ@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          Unless they’re having trouble getting them working, which isn’t encouraging for launch.

          They at least have some working, they flew a bunch of streamers to LA for an event and had them stream the game a few weeks back.

          Looked like a crackdown-ish game with DC character running around. Think like the Spider-Man games of the last few years but without the beloved characters

        • woelkchen@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          Well, now they’ll be reviewing a fully Denuvo’ed copy, so the version actual buyers get to play.