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Activision supposedly not sending out early review copies for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice [update: some review copies are out, see threadmarks]
- Thread starter Masagiwa
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I mean it's dumb, I guess I'm just not concerned because I can't even buy the game until next month anyway. If everyone is so worried they can just wait to buy it until after reviews drop. Might even pick up a sale too. It doesn't hurt to wait. Then FromSoft can try a different publisher that's not going to reviewscum.
But yeah I don't think it's because of spoilers. It's Activision being Activision.
But yeah I don't think it's because of spoilers. It's Activision being Activision.
FROM has a story of releasing games in far-from-desireable states just in the Souls series: DS on PC, DS2 60fps+weapon durability bug on PC, Blighttown´s framerate on consoles, Bloodborne´s loading times before the patches...I hope that not sending reviews doesn´t mean we´re in for another disgusting surprise like these ones.
I kind of hope it does, better having long loading screens or framerate issues than the game being trash.
I don't know how people can defend this, even if it's From Software. They're deliberately creating asymmeteical information here which has no benefit for the consumer.
Always reason to worry no matter who the dev is. There's a reason they don't want opinions in the wild before people could buy it.
Now that I think about it, there might be something to this. There's something to be said about youtube streamers and playing to their audiences to get sales over reviews.
I can imagine they are leveraging the Souls Influence community more than review sites for hype. They flew a bunch of them to Japan recently including the Lore video creators, LobosJR, Ella, etc. They likely view that as more important and worry sending it to review sites will be detrimental to the games reception... possibly due to extreme difficulty, or how short the game is.
Shitty regardless.
Shitty regardless.
Well they try their hardest hiding the twist about the game and the secret enemies werent allowed to be shown too. I guess it's really about spoilers too.
It's an action game. It won't take longer than 20 hour, that a safe bet.
Performance being shit on console is also a safe bet.
It will definitely hurt the game long term if reviews proof anything to be a mess.
I find that hard to believe, just due to the game's pace. The same amount of content that would take you 4 hours in a DMC game will take you far more in a From Software game, you have to stop and explore, go back to the hub, talk to NPCs, change your equipment, eavesdrop, bosses will likely take a few tries, all of that adds up time.
Hell, the way I play their games, 6 to 8 hours I'll probably be in the second or third area at most, not enough time to ramp up the stakes and get to the endgame.
Unless it's literally unfinished and ends abruptly.
"There are no plans for microtransactions in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice," the PR representative, Wiebke Vallentin, told COGconnected over email. Vallentin also said that the "In-game purchases optional" blurb on the PlayStation Store page seemed to be "an erroneous tick box" and said that this was going to be fixed.
Given that Activision is only distributing the title in US and EU, and FROM is self publishing in Japan, Activision probably hasn't stuffed anything anywhere.
"It's my favourite developer, therefore, I must find the silver lining to everything".
There is no silver lining here. It's a shit decision, full stop.
Almost all major outlets have given out early impressions for the game. EZA, IGN, Gamespot,polygon. Even metro uk which is one of the source of this news.
And they have already mentioned the game will be as long as their previous titles so there is nothing to worry about length.
I can see the reason being extremely difficulty. Nevertheless the decision is just dumb. I am sure the game will be great though.
I guess it will be easy to skip the game with The Division 2 releasing soon as well, reviews could have definitely pushed me to get it at launch.
Could it be possible that FROM might send review copies to Japanese outlets? Where they're self publishing?
I don't get the defense force here, really.
Sending out early copies is great for everyone. (or possibly: great for many, and - at worst - irrelevant for some)
Those relying on reviews can make a somewhat informed purchase decision even on day 1 and experience the game - spoiler free - just like everyone else. And those who don't care about reviews and are buying it due to From's pedigree can just ... buy the game on day 1 as well.
How is there any disadvantage to giving reviewers access? Why would one defend this practice, even if it's by a beloved studio?!
Let's not normalize this shitty m.o. just because it's a studio many of y'all really really like.
Spoilers don't ever really come from review copies but from copies sold prior to official release - so this wouldn't prevent any of those...
Sending out early copies is great for everyone. (or possibly: great for many, and - at worst - irrelevant for some)
Those relying on reviews can make a somewhat informed purchase decision even on day 1 and experience the game - spoiler free - just like everyone else. And those who don't care about reviews and are buying it due to From's pedigree can just ... buy the game on day 1 as well.
How is there any disadvantage to giving reviewers access? Why would one defend this practice, even if it's by a beloved studio?!
Let's not normalize this shitty m.o. just because it's a studio many of y'all really really like.
Spoilers don't ever really come from review copies but from copies sold prior to official release - so this wouldn't prevent any of those...
I guess that is what will show us if the decision comes from them or Activision.
Strange if true. With Bethesda, it was a publisher-wide decision for all of their games, whereas other times games aren't sent out because they're trash.
None of these are (presumably) the case with Sekiro, and they're not doing it to save money as they've just flew a load of people to New York for previews. Very odd indeed.
None of these are (presumably) the case with Sekiro, and they're not doing it to save money as they've just flew a load of people to New York for previews. Very odd indeed.
Where'd you come up with this conspiracy theory?
Just because games you like are bad games that get bad scores doesn't mean that most reviewers don't do a proper job in reviewing games. Stop trying to discredit games journalism and reviews, it only helps pubs make bad games.
Not a good sign... But then again, if it was going to be absolutely littered and ruined by microtransactions, Activision would be more likely to shove them in after the game's release anyway...
... unless it's just so integrated into the experience that they can't hide it any other way...
... unless it's just so integrated into the experience that they can't hide it any other way...
I love Souls games to death, i have no doubts the game will be fantastic and i still think this is a shitty thing to do. I don't understand why would anyone think this is positive for consumers.
This makes me a little worried only because we thought that Bungie was a safe publisher to trust and that the reason for no Destiny review copies was the online nature of it. I do think FROM is a way better developer than Bungie, but it's hard when we just got burned by the same thing from Activision.
Yeah Famitsu can't compete with the impartiality of Activision flying people out for review events. Kappa.
There have been plenty of games that have had no early reviews that end up great.
Not concerned at all unless early impressions start tiling negative.
Not concerned at all unless early impressions start tiling negative.
Wow even in review threads there will always be someone who brings in their thoughts on Breath of the Wild lol.
I agree with this. I don't think it's wise to hold onto "From Software, nothing to worry about." They're fallible people who can experience rough times and projects like everyone else. I don't wish it upon them, but it's almost unfair to expect perfection every time lol.
ridiculous...will save this post for release, will be nice to revisit
I won't buy this game until those reviews drop. You're not gonna get my money while keeping me uninformed.
What did that poster say that's so absurd? Action games are rarely more than 20 hours (if ever?) and From Software games, while good, usually have some technical issues.
What's wrong with 20 hours though? I didn't really get that post. And while From's games had technical issues in the past, they still reviewed extremely well.
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