ScreenRant's 'Black Myth: Wukong' Review Was Written By Consultancy Firm Employee...

Splendid Communications employee Samar Abedian is also a 'journalist' for ScreenRant. Quite the conflict of interest, I'd say...

The integrity of game journalism has come under scrutiny quite a bit as of late, especially with controversies surrounding reviews and their underlying motives. But this is just beyond wild.

This gets wild.

The review of 'Black Myth: Wukong' by ScreenRant gave the game a 3 out of 5 stars, citing a "lack of inclusivity and diversity" - However, what I'm going to get into here exposes the layers of the critique and how it extends well beyond mere 'game analysis'...

Another activist posing as a journalist

The Curious Case of Samar Abedian and Splendid Communications

Samar Abedian, initially credited as the author of the controversial ScreenRant review, later had her name removed for "safety reasons."

Or to hide the fact that it's been discovered that she also works at a consultancy firm...

This reasoning doesn't hold up under closer inspection... As you'll begin to see here:

Not very diverse, Samar...

It's been discovered (thx Minimal Effort Gaming) that Abedian is ALSO a PR intern at Splendid Communications, a firm boasting of its prowess in "People-First Creativity" and shaping brand narratives. Sound familiar?

She deleted her LinkedIn but forgot about her old Twitter account

This 'dual role' poses quite the conflict of interest, particularly when Abedian critiques a game on the grounds of "diversity"—a hot-button issue seen as aligning with a broader PR strategy rather than an honest game review.

Let's remember that Black Myth: Wukong is based on Chinese Mythology, and the idea of 'diversity' shouldn't even be a part of this conversation in particular... But hey, details, am I right?

According to Splendid Communications on their company LinkedIn page:

"It used to be that a loud voice and a decent ad spend was all you needed to get your message across. In today’s fragmented world the only way to project a consistent message is with brand stories strong enough to remain intact wherever they are told and shared. At Splendid we call our approach People-First Creativity. From our strategic thinking, to the way we generate ideas, to the way we work with our clients, our starting point is real people living real lives in the real world. Brief us and we’ll challenge you, we’ll urge you to keep it real and we’ll collaborate as if we’re an extension of your team. We’re here to deliver creative work that lives beyond the industry bubble. We love what we do. We’re Splendid."

The Broader Media Assault on 'Black Myth: Wukong'

The critical narrative against 'Black Myth: Wukong' isn't isolated. It echoes a similar, now-debunked hit piece by IGN, which was accused of using mistranslations in its critique of the game's developer, Game Science.

Shameful ScreenRant

This pattern suggests a concerted effort to tarnish the reputation of a non-Western game developer, driven by external consultancies like Sweet Baby Inc., which reportedly failed to secure Game Science as a client. This failure has led to speculation about the motivations behind such negative coverage, suggesting that financial interests are more at play here than anything, aiming to 'coerce' developers into partnerships.

In her review, in regards to the comment of lacking diversity, Samar wrote:

As far as Chapters 1 and 2, while characters are clearly fictitious and fantastical creatures, there were no female or feminine NPCs, enemies, or bosses present. The only exception, if you can call it 'female', is a boss named Mother of Stones in Chapter 2, which is nothing more than a still, glowing rock with no abilities, being guarded by other enemies.

The lack of diversity and inclusivity resonates with the misogynistic comments reported to have been made by developers, which expressed disdain for women playing their games. Although Black Myth: Wukong does have truly enjoyable moments, the underlying feeling that women aren't welcome in this world felt present throughout my gameplay experience.

It's worth noting the game is based on the novel, Journey To The West, which does consist of a few important female characters. To not include any women or to only include a few in an adaptation meant for a modern audience is quite disconcerting.

Journalist Posers

The role of journalists in the gaming industry is being called into question yet again. Are they impartial critics, or activists pushing specific agendas? The involvement of individuals like Abedian, who operate both as journalists and PR practitioners, blurs these lines, compromising the trust readers place in journalistic outlets. This practice can have far-reaching effects, not only misleading consumers but also potentially harming game developers who do not conform to certain ideological standards. There's clearly something far more at play here...

Huh?

The situation surrounding 'Black Myth: Wukong' reveals more than just a single game's review; it unveils EXTREME systemic issues within game 'journalism'. As consumers and creators in the gaming industry, it's crucial for us to demand transparency and integrity from those who present themselves as the arbiters of game quality.

This was proven to be false. But don't let facts get in the way of a good narrative to push!

They continue to push the IGN lies (above). Only through honest discourse can we hope to maintain the credibility of game reviews and ensure that they serve the audience and the art form, not hidden corporate or ideological agendas. As for now, Samar has deleted her LinkedIn account, been removed as the author of the review, and by the looks of it, gone completely into hiding until this all blows over.

There's a Samar in "Team"

Just so they can do it again down the road to push their agenda - when everyone forgets.

~Smash