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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]

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Masagiwa

Masagiwa

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Jan 27, 2018
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There have been some mentions of this in the preview thread and I thought I create a separate thread for it.

I'm basing this off the information we have received from some of the previews.

Metro.co.uk
Before we attended the preview event for Sekiro we were warned that review copies would not be available before release at the end of this month. That's just about the worst warning sign you can get for a game, but we feel confident in saying that, in this case at least, it's just the publisher being weird – and not a comment on the game's quality. We suspected that would be the case after having played it briefly at Gamescom last year, but even without that experience knowing that this is by the creator of Dark Souls is guarantee enough of something interesting.
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VG247
Activision, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice's publisher, has confirmed that it won't be sending out review code for the From Software game before the official release. In other words, press will be getting access around the same time as consumers.

The publisher confirmed this to VG247 at a recent preview event, and the same has been relayed to other publications. Interestingly, it seems Activision also won't be sending out early code to YouTubers.
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I don't know if this will apply to all outlets & content creators but wanted to generally hear peoples thoughts and why you think this is bad or a good thing. I know there are plenty of reviewers on this board and they can probably share some interesting information.

Sources: Metro | VG247

Update (March 16th)

Some reviewers have been playing the game.
Mercenary09 said:
At least two of the people on PSNProfiles who have it are reviewers. One of them being Patrick Klepek. Evidently they sent them out to some people.

We are identifying them because a lot of reviewers list either their real name or their site in their bio if you click on them.
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signal

signal

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Oct 28, 2017
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Confirmed omega kusoge bomba.

Or just spoiler / data mining prevention?
 
texhnolyze

texhnolyze

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No early review copies is always a bad thing for customers. But then again, it's a From Software game so there's no reason to worry. Maybe there will be performance issue as usual but that's it.
 
Dphex

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dVDJiez.gif
 
Sasliquid

Sasliquid

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Oct 25, 2017
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Guess I won't be getting it launch day then. I feel Sekiro could be something special but I'm not confident to spend full price on Day one.
 
KiLAM

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Probably because Fromsoft doesn't want spoilers in the wild? Game looks incredible so I can't think of any other reason they would do this.
Also yeah if anyone has earned benefit of doubt, atleast for me, it would be fromsoft.
 
Triggerhappytel

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Is this a typical Activision thing? I would think if they're going to have confidence in one game they publish this year it would be Sekiro.
 
Ferrs

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Already said it in the other thread but as much as I love From and I'm sure the game will be really good and I'll be there day 1, it's not a good look for them and I think it's the wrong decision. I say this with every dev and From shouldn't be different as much as I love them.

If it's Activision doing the point still stands, but please take out the love talking from my post lol
 
Dphex

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Sasliquid said:
I feel Sekiro could be something special but I'm not confident to spend full price on Day one.
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if there is any dev where you should be confident it is From Software...don´t even know why people need reviews for this game, to spoil themselves?

ffs, this review culture is annoying, just wait a few days then and let other people go in without being spoiled
 

Deleted member 12555

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This is potentially useless if they can't absolutely control who breaks the release date or not.

But I suppose they can always try.
 

Deleted member 2834

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Buying games day 1 is completely and utterly pointless anyway. This might help you guys make better decisions if anything.
 
Sasliquid

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Dphex said:
if there is any dev where you should be confident it is From Software...don´t even know why people need reviews for this game, to spoil themselves?

ffs, this review culture is annoying, just wait a few days then and let other people go in without being spoiled
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Well I personally didn't get on well enough with DS2+3 and it's shifting pretty far away the typical structure. Not everyone is as in love with From Software as some people are. Every developer has the potential to dissapoint.
 
Protome

Protome

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Dphex said:
if there is any dev where you should be confident it is From Software...don´t even know why people need reviews for this game, to spoil themselves?

ffs, this review culture is annoying, just wait a few days then and let other people go in without being spoiled
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Yes this terrible "review culture" because god forbid customers be informed about a product before they spend money on it. What a terrible thing to want.
 
YuSuzzune

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I remember rumors about Sekiro being supershort with only six bosses or something like that, maybe it's really true and they are afraid of the backlash since it's a full price game?
 

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Dphex said:
if there is any dev where you should be confident it is From Software...don´t even know why people need reviews for this game, to spoil themselves?

ffs, this review culture is annoying, just wait a few days then and let other people go in without being spoiled
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You can't just add "culture" after something you don't like lmao.
 
Ferrs

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Dphex said:
if there is any dev where you should be confident it is From Software...don´t even know why people need reviews for this game, to spoil themselves?

ffs, this review culture is annoying, just wait a few days then and let other people go in without being spoiled
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Spoilers tend to come more from leaked early copies (there will be) than from reviews.

At the end, all games, like movies and other media, get reviewed, and usually get reviewed early than release.

I don't need any review for this game, I'll be there day 1 no matter what, but I can recognize it's not a good move to do.
 
Blindy

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Well usually FROM Software as shown by DARK souls 3 had to give reviewers watered down versions for the belief that they aren't judged of making too hard of a game so I get it with this. I just hope theres enough content that's my only concern.

There's no online play with this so the need to get this Day One isn't as huge as the other games where you can invade, join, leave notes etc. while the iron is hot.
 
Pillock

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They need to save a few $$$ on review copied as Bobby is saving up for a new golden toilet seat to shit into every morning.
 

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signal said:
God forbid you just wait for reviews then? It's not an eternal embargo.
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Early review copies aren't for customers but for the reviewers to have enough time to play the game and properly assess them. We've seen this backfire on companies like Bethesda where outlets had to rush reviews for Prey.
 

Deleted member 984

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There are going to be some half arsed reviews for this, then again some outlets have absurdly low requirements for how much a reviewer has to actually play before putting their thoughts into words so might not make any difference.

Plus editors at the big outlets are likely just going to manipulate whatever their reviewers write anyway for those clicks.
 
Nere

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It's obviously not a good thing for consumers but that doesn't mean anything for the game's quality. The same thing happend for DOOM and everyone thought it was going to suck and we ended up with the best shooter this generation.
 
Protome

Protome

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signal said:
God forbid you just wait for reviews then? It's not an eternal embargo.
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Abriael said:
You know that you don't really need to buy the game on day one if you're not confident in its quality.

If you want to rely on reviews to make an informed purchase, you can.
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Sure, that's not really the point though? Not sending out review copies serves no purpose other than stifling information about your game prerelease so that those who are interested in the game and do want it day one are going in without the ability to actually make a real value judgement on it. I do agree people shouldn't buy things day one in general though.

Yes in this case I'm sure From hasnt suddenly made their first bad game in years or anything but it's a bad look regardless and a worse one if the game does have issues.
 
Dphex

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Protome said:
Yes this terrible "review culture" because god forbid customers be informed about a product before they spend money on it. What a terrible thing to want.
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lol, after Breath of the Wild reviews i wouldn´t trust any reviewer anyways because that game was terrible and got crtitical acclaim. when you play long enough you don´t give a shit anymore about reviews. i´ve played games deemed terrible that were awesome and i´ve played games that were hailed as the second coming of jesus and they just sucked.

did you guys see the marketing? they held the game very close to their chest till yesterday, 14 days before release. they don´t want to let people get spoiled, not after the Bamco disaster of releasing the japanese DSIII three weeks earlier than the western version.
 

rude

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WHAT ARE PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING WITHOUT A METACRITIC SCORE????
 
shaneo632

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I never really give pubs the benefit of the doubt with this sort of thing. I'd be surprised if the game reviewed badly but still makes me suspicious.
 
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