Fact check: The only evidence you need to know that "professional" game reviewers are all talentless hacks on the till of the AAA studios is the fact that these same "professionals" gave positive reviews to the absolute pile of dogshit that is Dragon Age The Vielguard.

1. Summary of the results

The original statement makes a sweeping condemnation of game reviewers based on a single game's reviews. However, the reality of game journalism is far more complex. Professional game reviewers are expected to provide objective, evidence-based evaluations while maintaining transparency and avoiding personal biases ^[1]. While there are legitimate concerns about conflicts of interest and paid reviews in the industry ^[2], many game journalists are passionate professionals striving to provide honest, balanced reviews despite challenges like low wages and tight deadlines ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial pieces of context are missing from the original statement:

• The gaming industry has documented cases of actual corruption, as evidenced by the recent NetEase scandal where nine employees, including senior executives, were investigated for fraud and bribery totaling $139.3 million ^{[4] [5]}.
• Game reviewers have sometimes been vindicated after initial backlash, as in the case of Kallie Plagge's Cyberpunk 2077 review ^[3].
• There exists a toxic dynamic between reviewers and passionate fans, often fueled by marketing hype and team-based gaming culture ^[3].
• Professional review standards actually require balanced, evidence-based evaluations that consider multiple aspects of a game ^[6].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement contains several problematic assumptions and biases:

• It presents a false dichotomy suggesting that all professional reviewers are either completely honest or completely corrupt, ignoring the nuanced reality of the industry ^[6].
• The statement ignores the existence of established professional standards in game journalism that emphasize objectivity and transparency ^[1].
• It fails to acknowledge that readers can benefit from finding reviewers whose tastes align with their own, rather than dismissing all game journalism ^[3].
• The statement appears to be part of a larger pattern of aggressive backlash against critical reviews, which the sources identify as a problematic aspect of gaming culture ^[3].