The Controversy Surrounding Dan Stapleton’s Starfield Review: An Analysis of Bias
Video game journalism is an intriguing intersection of media, entertainment, and technology. In a fast-paced world of game releases, acquisitions, and exclusives, reviewers are looked up to for providing unbiased evaluations.
However, the recent controversy surrounding Dan Stapleton’s review of Bethesda's “Starfield” raises significant questions on the presence of bias in reviews.
IGN Dan Stapleton Starfield Review is A Black Eye For Game Journalism
To provide some context, Stapleton is the Director of Reviews at IGN USA. When he published his review of "Starfield," he gave it a 7/10. While this might seem like just an opinion, what raised eyebrows was the fact that other IGN outlets from around the world had a stark contrast in their reviews, with scores of 9/10 and even perfect 10/10's.
Stapleton's Past Tweets and The Underlying Bias
Some past tweets from Stapleton have provided fodder for those claiming his bias against Microsoft.
He stated:
"Microsoft could've done nothing at all and all Zenimax/Bethesda games would've come out on Xbox. It could've offered them day 1 on Game Pass, like it has done with EA Play, for a LOT less than $7.5 billion. The only reason to buy Zenimax is to make its games Xbox exclusive."
In a now-deleted tweet completely exposing his bias, he also mentioned:
"Unless you own Microsoft stock there is no reason to cheer on acquisitions like this. Studios that had been making multiplatform games will now be focused exclusively on Xbox. That's good for Xbox, not good for consumer choice."
At face value, these tweets show a clear discontent with Microsoft's acquisition strategy. Critics argue that Stapleton's reviews could be colored by this underlying sentiment against Microsoft, especially since the company acquired Zenimax Media, the parent company of Bethesda who developed Starfield.
Distinguishing Personal Opinion from Professional Review
While it is true that everyone, including reviewers, is entitled to their personal opinion, there is an expectation in professional circles to keep personal bias at bay. Given his role at IGN USA, Stapleton's reviews bear a significant weight in the gaming community. So, it’s only fair for readers to expect a level of objectivity.
In the age of social media, past comments can and often do come back to haunt individuals, especially if they suggest a bias that might have affected their professional judgments.
The Impact on the Gaming Industry
Such instances not only question the credibility of the reviewer but also raise concerns about the authenticity of reviews in the gaming industry. A biased review can have profound effects, influencing player choices and potentially impacting game sales.
Furthermore, controversies like these only create divides in the gaming community. While some may rally behind Stapleton's right to his personal opinion, others feel cheated, believing that the review isn't a genuine representation of the game's quality.
Why IGN US is perfectly fine with it
In today's digital age, controversy and sensationalism often drive traffic, much like how a wreck on a highway draws the attention of passersby. The situation surrounding Dan Stapleton's review of "Starfield" and its subsequent criticism is a testament to this phenomenon. While on one hand, the review has faced backlash for perceived bias, on the other, it has undoubtedly increased the number of eyeballs on IGN US's website. Curiosity seekers, whether in agreement or disagreement with the review, are flocking to the site to read and engage with the content.
This spike in traffic can be advantageous for ad revenues and overall site metrics. However, such a tactic, whether intentional or not, reinforces the dangerous precedent that in today's media landscape, controversy sells. It perpetuates the idea that sparking discord might be a viable strategy for capturing attention, even at the risk of credibility or authenticity.
The Starfield review controversy is a lesson for the gaming journalism world. It underscores the importance of transparency, objectivity, and the need to separate personal feelings from professional evaluations. The gaming community deserves reviews that are free from bias and that offer genuine insights into the games they love... and once again reinforces why NO ONE should care about what a biased review thinks, no matter what outlet they represent.
~Smash
You should also mention that in IGN's podcast interview, Dan was exposed as to not even knowing about some of the most basic mechanics within the game, showing either utter incompetence, laziness, or that he didn't even play much of the game at all.